August 2017 STORM WATER UPDATE A quick guide to dealing...

STORM WATER UPDATE

Spills or releases of liquids and non-liquids are a growing concern at the Port of Stockton. The Port is mandated by its Phase I NPDES Permit to

monitor all spills that occur on a Tenant’s site. With HAZWOPER trained First Responders, we want to ensure that all spills at the Port are reported

properly, full containment of the release is achieved and the spill is cleaned up immediately. This newsletter is to help you comply with applicable

regulations as well as answer frequently asked questions. Questions such as: Who is responsible for cleaning up a spill/release? Under what

criteria do I report a spill/release? Or who do I report to if a spill/release occurs?

Small releases (< 42 gallons) will be cleaned up by trained personnel using absorbent or spill containment materials.

Significant releases ( > 42 gallons) that cannot be contained by the use of absorbents

and spill materials are to be removed by a qualified spill cleanup contractor. The spill

cleanup contractor is to dispose of the spill materials at an appropriate disposal site.

Upon discovery of a spill, site personnel should first

contain the spill if safe to do so, and then immediately

notify the Facility Response Coordinator (or alternate)

and provide the following information to the Port of

Stockton Environmental Department:

• On-site location of the spill;

• Time of the spill;

• Type of material spilled;

• Estimated quantity spilled;

• Source of the spill;

• Affected media;

• Cause of the spill;

• Any damages or injuries; and

• Remedial actions taken.

• The Facility Response Coordinator should then

determine if the spill requires regulatory notification.

General Rules: Under 40 CFR 110.3, reportable oil or oil based product spills are those that: 1. Violate applicable water quality standards, or 2. Cause a Þlm or sheen upon or discoloration of the surface of the water or adjoining shorelines or causes a sludge or

emulsion to be deposited beneath the surface of the water or upon adjoining shorelines.

Your site personnel must be trained in the location and use of absorbents and spill notification requirements. Transporters are

required to maintain additional spill equipment on their vehicles and are to respond to spills during filling operations. All drivers

are required to immediately notify the Facility Response Coordinator of any spills. NOTE: REPORT ALL SPILLS IMMEDIATELY

to Port Police at 209-946-0246. Place spill response signs in plain view at all fueling islands and transfer locations.

When minor spills are identified they should be cleaned up immediately by trained personnel using absorbent materials. Used

absorbent or spill-containment materials are to be placed in empty 55-gallon drums with secure covers and disposed of

properly. Spills of significant volume will require a qualified disposal contractor to remove the contaminated soils and spilled

materials.

According to 40 CFR 112.4, a release of 42 gallons or more of oil or oil based product in each of two discharges over a 12-month period or a single discharge of more than 1,000 gallons into navigable waters or shorelines of the United States requires notification to the EPA Regional Administrator.

#1 Port of Stockton Police Department: (209) 946-0246

#2 National Response Center (NRC): (800) 424-8802

#3 San Joaquin County Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA)1: (209) 468-3420

#4 California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES): (800) 852-7550

#5 Port of Stockton Environmental Department: (209) 946-0246

#6 California State Fire Marshall (All Incident Reporting System): (916) 445-8435

#7 California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Valley Region (916) 464-3291

#8 California Department of Fish and Wildlife (Bay Delta Region Office): (209) 243-3420

!

Upon discovery, report “any spill or release of any material” to the numbers listed (in order) below.

If you have any questions, please contact us at: Email: [email protected] Phone: (209) 946-0426

In following these steps you are not only complying with Sta te and Loca l Laws, but you are partnering with the Port of Stockton to a s s i s t y o u i n operating your site e f Þ c i e n t l y a n d effectively.

dealing with spillsA quick guide to

August 2017

The Port of Stockton (Port) is the land owner of nearly all property in the Stockton Port District and owns and operates the infrastructure that conveys storm water runo� to the local waterways. As a landlord port, the Port leases property to tenants which also use the Port’s stormwater infrastructure.

In accordance with federal and state requirements, the Port’s storm water discharge is covered under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. The NPDES permit identifies the Port as the responsible party for the portion of adverse water quality impacts in local waterways that are caused or contributed to by the port district’s storm water discharge. The NPDES permit also requires the Port to implement a Storm Water Management Program to address sources of pollutants from construction sites, industrial/commercial sites, new development, and illicit discharges on Port and tenant facilities. In compliance with these requirements, but also as part of the Port’s vision to be a proactive Environmental Steward, the Port created the Storm Water Update newsletter in July 2017.

The Storm Water Update is a monthly communication which provides friendly, frequent, and targeted newsletters on issues relating to pollution prevention and site storm water management to private industrial and commercial facilities whose operations are in the Stockton Port District. The newsletters provide information on one single topic each month and includes the rationale for addressing the highlighted topic; applicable federal, state, or local regulatory requirements; guidance on addressing issues; and contact information if tenants have questions or need additional information. These topics are relevant to seasonal activities or current events, such as preparing an industrial facility for the onset of the wet season (central California has distinct wet and dry seasons), or to address pollutant sources that have recently come to the Port’s attention. The newsletters serve as readily available outreach material or supplemental information that the Port can provide to site operators during routine storm water inspections.

1. WHAT ARE/WERE THE ENTRY’S SPECIFIC COMMUNICATIONS CHALLENGES OR OPPORTUNITIES?The Storm Water Update has allowed the Port to both work towards its vision to be proactive in minimizing impacts on local water quality and to promote compliance with regulatory requirements. The newsletter helps to address the following communication challenges associated with private industrial and commercial facilities as sources of pollutants to the Port’s storm water runo�.

PeriodicalsPORT OF STOCKTON - STORM WATER UPDATE

YEARS

STORM WATER UPDATE

Spills or releases of liquids and non-liquids are a growing concern at the Port of Stockton. The Port is mandated by its Phase I NPDES Permit to

monitor all spills that occur on a Tenant’s site. With HAZWOPER trained First Responders, we want to ensure that all spills at the Port are reported

properly, full containment of the release is achieved and the spill is cleaned up immediately. This newsletter is to help you comply with applicable

regulations as well as answer frequently asked questions. Questions such as: Who is responsible for cleaning up a spill/release? Under what

criteria do I report a spill/release? Or who do I report to if a spill/release occurs?

Small releases (< 42 gallons) will be cleaned up by trained personnel using absorbent or spill containment materials.

Significant releases ( > 42 gallons) that cannot be contained by the use of absorbents

and spill materials are to be removed by a qualified spill cleanup contractor. The spill

cleanup contractor is to dispose of the spill materials at an appropriate disposal site.

Upon discovery of a spill, site personnel should first

contain the spill if safe to do so, and then immediately

notify the Facility Response Coordinator (or alternate)

and provide the following information to the Port of

Stockton Environmental Department:

• On-site location of the spill;

• Time of the spill;

• Type of material spilled;

• Estimated quantity spilled;

• Source of the spill;

• Affected media;

• Cause of the spill;

• Any damages or injuries; and

• Remedial actions taken.

• The Facility Response Coordinator should then

determine if the spill requires regulatory notification.

General Rules: Under 40 CFR 110.3, reportable oil or oil based product spills are those that: 1. Violate applicable water quality standards, or 2. Cause a Þlm or sheen upon or discoloration of the surface of the water or adjoining shorelines or causes a sludge or

emulsion to be deposited beneath the surface of the water or upon adjoining shorelines.

Your site personnel must be trained in the location and use of absorbents and spill notification requirements. Transporters are

required to maintain additional spill equipment on their vehicles and are to respond to spills during filling operations. All drivers

are required to immediately notify the Facility Response Coordinator of any spills. NOTE: REPORT ALL SPILLS IMMEDIATELY

to Port Police at 209-946-0246. Place spill response signs in plain view at all fueling islands and transfer locations.

When minor spills are identified they should be cleaned up immediately by trained personnel using absorbent materials. Used

absorbent or spill-containment materials are to be placed in empty 55-gallon drums with secure covers and disposed of

properly. Spills of significant volume will require a qualified disposal contractor to remove the contaminated soils and spilled

materials.

According to 40 CFR 112.4, a release of 42 gallons or more of oil or oil based product in each of two discharges over a 12-month period or a single discharge of more than 1,000 gallons into navigable waters or shorelines of the United States requires notification to the EPA Regional Administrator.

#1 Port of Stockton Police Department: (209) 946-0246

#2 National Response Center (NRC): (800) 424-8802

#3 San Joaquin County Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA)1: (209) 468-3420

#4 California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES): (800) 852-7550

#5 Port of Stockton Environmental Department: (209) 946-0246

#6 California State Fire Marshall (All Incident Reporting System): (916) 445-8435

#7 California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Valley Region (916) 464-3291

#8 California Department of Fish and Wildlife (Bay Delta Region Office): (209) 243-3420

!

Upon discovery, report “any spill or release of any material” to the numbers listed (in order) below.


In following these steps you are not only complying with Sta te and Loca l Laws, but you are partnering with the Port of Stockton to a s s i s t y o u i n operating your site e f Þ c i e n t l y a n d effectively.

dealing with spillsA quick guide to

August 2017

Challenge 1: Promote AwarenessSite operators and managers of industrial commercial facilities often lack awareness about regulatory requirements, pollution prevention activities, and available resources. The Storm Water Update overcomes this lack of awareness by providing frequent reminders of pollution prevention activities that should occur throughout the year. It also gives information on regulatory requirements and resources that may be applicable to private facilities. Finally, it supplies the tenants with directions on how to obtain further information on topics covered in the newsletters, as well as a direct contact to solicit feedback.

Challenge 2: Enhance Environmental ComplianceEnvironmental compliance activities can be perceived as burdensome among the industrial/commercial community, so it is necessary to maintain a positive, proactive attitude when communicating pollution prevention requirements. Port environmental sta� regularly inspect private facilities at the Port for compliance with applicable storm water management requirements. Although inspections are intended to be positive and helpful, site deficiencies must be addressed, even if it requires the Port to escalate enforcement actions. Some industrial and commercial facilities may view compliance requirements as unimportant or burdensome, but there can be significant ramifications for non-compliance. As such, the Port believes that addressing site deficiencies to prevent pollution of storm water runo� is a benefit to all parties involved.

The Port’s newsletter communicates in a positive manner that environmental benefits are best achieved by taking proactive steps to maintain compliance, as opposed to simply responding to enforcement actions.

2. HOW DOES THE COMMUNICATION USED IN THIS ENTRY COMPLEMENT THE ORGANIZATION’S OVERALL MISSION?The Port takes environmental stewardship very seriously. The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, in which the Port operates, is an important and delicate environment. Not only does the Delta provide drinking water for two-thirds of the state, it acts as a habitat for countless fish, birds, and other wildlife. The Port is deeply committed to maintaining and protecting this area, and the Port’s environmental programs aim to enhance air quality, water quality and wildlife habitats in the Delta and surrounding communities. Industrial and maritime activates at the Port of Stockton have the potential to produce many types of pollutants. The Port of Stockton is proactive in its approach to building positive relationships with private industrial and commercial site operators to ensure that pollution prevention activities are implemented so that storm water runo� discharged from the Port of Stockton and other industrial and maritime activities do not adversely influence the integrity of local waterways.

The Storm Water Update newsletter exemplifies the Port’s proactive approach and works to maintain positive relationships with site operators and managers that can be leveraged for environmental protection.

STORM WATER UPDATE

The State Water Board passed a new regulation on trash pollution prevention on April 7, 2015. The regulation was

adopted as an amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for Ocean Waters of California, it’s goal is to Control Trash in all natural waterways. Applying to all Phase I and II permittees under the NPDES Municipal Separate Storm

Sewer Systems (MS4), these new regulations have been coined, “The Trash Amendments”, and their objective is to

provide statewide consistency for the Water Boards' regulatory approach to protect aquatic life, improve public health,

and reduce environmental issues associated with trash in state waters, while focusing limited resources on high trash

generating areas.

The objective is to ensure that the MS4 has the certified protective material to keep trash as small as 5mm from going

into the storm drain system or natural waterways. In order to comply with these requirements, the new amendment will

be implemented statewide in stages over the next couple of years.

The Port of Stockton will need support from you, the tenant, in order to

successfully comply with all of the new standards regarding trash pickup and

prevention. Listed below are 2 action steps that will benefit the Port greatly in

meeting these new goals:

The most important step in cutting down on trash pollution is cleaning it up. Routinely having your site evaluated for trash and then properly picking it up and disposing of it helps maintain and keep your site clean. But, if done habitually, it in effect fulfills the requirements of California’s new “Trash Amendments” regulation. Compliance Helps Everyone

Good housekeeping is expected from

tenants. However, the new “Trash

Amendments” regulation is going to help

give that rule a measurable incentive

toward maintaining a trash free site. With

everyone doing their part in simple

preventative care and cleanup, not only

will trash not find it’s way onto your or

your neighbor’s site, but it will be kept

out of the river and ocean as well.


ways to comply withcalifornia’s new 2trash regulation

10 C/

5mm is about half the size of a dime

CertiÞed Full Capture Systems and devices like the Pipe Screen (pictured above), can be found HERE

NOTE: please take the necessary time to review the regulation in it’s entirety HERE

Implementing preventative measures is a key step toward keeping trash out of the waterways. If there is trash on a tenant’s site, even if the tenant did not generate the trash, they are still responsible for it.

Ensure that BMP's are in p l a c e t o p r e v e n t windblown trash from entering any storm drain or the perimeter of your site.

Helpful Tools: Storm Drain Bags & Windscreen help prevent trash from leaving your site and polluting other areas.

1. 2.

STORM WATER UPDATE


October marks the beginning of the rainy season. From October 1st, 2017 until May 31st, 2018, the Port and it’s required tenants will sample their storm water if a rain event meets the state’s standards. The changing of the season also helps serve as an important reminder of how last year’s rain and sampling events took place, which can help in the preparation process in reassessing and evaluating what can be done this year to better improve water flow as well as sampling practices. With that in mind, housekeeping is your first line of defense in achieving water quality. Sweeping loose materials, covering exposed material piles and covering / closing trash bins ensures that these materials don't migrate with storm water into a drain inlet.

Helpful Tools: 1. Strom Drain Bags!2. Grate Gator!3. Filtrex Wattle + Rock

The first step to take is assessing which kinds of BMPs will be most useful at your site. BMPs fulfill many different purposes, some of them collect specific particulates like metals or oil. Some simply filter the incoming storm water. These details are all incredibly important, but the overarching use of any BMP is it’s ability to keep surface material from entering the storm drain. It is not always possible to control what kind of material might flow to your storm drain, but by implementing BMPs, it is possible to control what material ends up in your catch basin. As the slogan says, “Only rain down the drain.” Rain is the only designated material allowed to go down the drain, and without proper BMP installation or maintenance, it is nearly impossible to ensure only rain is going down the drain. Keeping surface material out of the drain will not only result in compliance with state regulation, but will potentially result in better samples, as well as cleaner storm drains.

Best Management Practices (BMPs)

Oct. 1st May 31stStorm Water Sampling

Strategically placed rock or gravel bags are also helpful in Þltering out surface material.

NOTE: If any plastic visqueen has been placed underneath any drain lids, see that it is removed to allow water ßow.

1

23

Remember, even if you, the tenant, are not sampling, whatever material is allowed in the storm drain

will be sampled by another tenant, and ultimately by the Port. Implementing BMPs consequently allows for cleaner water to flow not only into your site’s storm drains, but it also helps keep your site’s surface material from interfering with your neighbor’s storm water samples. With each site implementing strategic BMPs and maintaining them regularly, everyone benefits.

HOW TO PREPARE FORSTORM WATER SAMPLING

October 2017

3. WHAT WERE THE COMMUNICATIONS PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING COMPONENTS USED FOR THIS ENTRY?The goal of the Storm Water Update newsletter is to raise the awareness of industrial and commercial site operators at the Port so that operators take actions to help protect the environment. The primary audience for the newsletters are site operators and targeted sta� involved with environmental compliance and pollution prevention. Because the newsletter demonstrates the Port’s implementation of their Storm Water Management Program, state and federal regulatory sta� that oversee Port compliance with the NPDES permit are a secondary audience.

Objective 1: Provide industrial site operators frequent reminders to help maintain their understanding that addressing pollution prevention related to stormwater management is an ongoing activity.

Measurable Milestones:— Circulate newsletter each month

Metric: Standardize document distribution frequency— Generate and maintain targeted distribution list of sta� at industrial

and commercial facilitiesMetric: Ensure document distribution list is actively managed and maintained

Objective 2: Communicate on a variety of topics that are relevant to site operators regarding storm water pollution prevention, including regulatory updates, best management practices and evaluation results.

Measurable Milestones— Document pollution prevention deficiencies during storm water

evaluations of industrial and commercial facilities at the Port of Stockton Metric: Perform routine inspections and document deficiencies on inspection forms

— Use Port environmental sta� and environmental consultants to identify list of newsletter topics based on current regulations, site deficiencies noted in inspections, or other relevant topicsMetric: Document that newsletter topic list is being maintained and that Port sta� and consultants provide routine feedback on topic selection

4. WHAT ACTIONS WERE TAKEN AND WHAT COMMUNICATION OUTPUTS WERE EMPLOYED IN THIS ENTRY?The Port has developed and implemented the following strategies to achieve Objectives 1 and 2:

Strategy: Create a newsletter that is simple and organized in an aesthetically pleasing and logical manner.Strategy selection: This strategy helps engage readers who could lose interest if the newsletter was too lengthy, bland-looking, or not organized in an easy to read, straight-forward manner. Actions to carry out strategy: The newsletter is limited to one page; is designed with flow charts/bubbles to guide the reader through the material; demonstrates examples with pictures, photos, or diagrams; and approaches each topic in a concise and e�cient but friendly manner.

STORM WATER UPDATE


October marks the beginning of the rainy season. From October 1st, 2017 until May 31st, 2018, the Port and it’s required tenants will sample their storm water if a rain event meets the state’s standards. The changing of the season also helps serve as an important reminder of how last year’s rain and sampling events took place, which can help in the preparation process in reassessing and evaluating what can be done this year to better improve water flow as well as sampling practices. With that in mind, housekeeping is your first line of defense in achieving water quality. Sweeping loose materials, covering exposed material piles and covering / closing trash bins ensures that these materials don't migrate with storm water into a drain inlet.

Helpful Tools: 1. Strom Drain Bags!2. Grate Gator!3. Filtrex Wattle + Rock

The first step to take is assessing which kinds of BMPs will be most useful at your site. BMPs fulfill many different purposes, some of them collect specific particulates like metals or oil. Some simply filter the incoming storm water. These details are all incredibly important, but the overarching use of any BMP is it’s ability to keep surface material from entering the storm drain. It is not always possible to control what kind of material might flow to your storm drain, but by implementing BMPs, it is possible to control what material ends up in your catch basin. As the slogan says, “Only rain down the drain.” Rain is the only designated material allowed to go down the drain, and without proper BMP installation or maintenance, it is nearly impossible to ensure only rain is going down the drain. Keeping surface material out of the drain will not only result in compliance with state regulation, but will potentially result in better samples, as well as cleaner storm drains.

Best Management Practices (BMPs)

Oct. 1st May 31stStorm Water Sampling

Strategically placed rock or gravel bags are also helpful in Þltering out surface material.

NOTE: If any plastic visqueen has been placed underneath any drain lids, see that it is removed to allow water ßow.

1

23

Remember, even if you, the tenant, are not sampling, whatever material is allowed in the storm drain

will be sampled by another tenant, and ultimately by the Port. Implementing BMPs consequently allows for cleaner water to flow not only into your site’s storm drains, but it also helps keep your site’s surface material from interfering with your neighbor’s storm water samples. With each site implementing strategic BMPs and maintaining them regularly, everyone benefits.

HOW TO PREPARE FORSTORM WATER SAMPLING

October 2017

The steps above might seem simple, but they will go a long way to ensure improvement in your storm water quality.

Not only do these practices help improve storm water quality numbers, they help fulfill requirements set in the Industrial General permit that your business is subject to (Industrial General Permit). Maintaining your site’s BMP’s as well as your DI’s, not only in the rainy season, helps your site stay in compliance under the state’s regulations. Setting aside the time to perform good housekeeping techniques will safeguard that you are being responsible for your Drain Inlets (DI’s) year round. It also alerts any inspector that may arrive on site that you have taken the appropriate measures to safeguard storm water, making sure that it has been thoroughly screened.

Note A: Make sure the edges of the visqueen stick out enough from the drain so that you can step on it while removing the drain lid. This ensures the visqueen doesn’t fall into the catch basins upon removal of the lid.

B: Store wattle, drain bags, & any other BMP’s in a dry location out of sunlight.


Before

1. 2. 3.One of the best ways for increasing the quality of your storm water sampling is to clean out your catch basins. This is as simple as removing the sediment with a long scoop shovel, posthole digger, and/or shop vac.

Consistently cleaning your catch basins each year results in less and less material that will disrupt your sampling during the rainy season. Spending a few minutes performing maintenance tasks now will be time well spent & may produce a more successful sampling event.

The easiest way of ensuring no material will continue to fall into the DI is by sealing it with plastic. Regular garbage bags are often too thin to last the summer, a thicker material like visqueen is perfect for the job. Before placing the drain lid back onto the drain, place a piece of visqueen over the entrance and then carefully place the lid back on it’s designated area. Not only does this help keep sediment out, if a hazardous spill occurs, it ensures the drain is completely protected.

Lastly, be sure to dispose of, or clean and store, the BMP’s used in your DI’s. Evaluate if your BMP’s are in good enough shape to be used again in the fall; if so, rinse and store them. Maintained BMP’s help improve your samples, as well as help keep your site from flooding. If they are clogged with too much sediment, it prevents the BMP from doing its job.

NOTE: be sure that on October 1st, the visqueen in your DI’s are removed and your BMP’s are installed properly.

STORM WATER UPDATE

3site For the summerSteps to seal off Your

Since June marks the ending of our rainy season, it’s the ideal month to clean up your Drain Inlets (DI’s), temporarily seal the drains, and clean and store your BMP’s. Between October 2016 and March 2017, California averaged 30.75 inches of precipitation, the second-highest average in over 120 years. Chances are there’s some sediment and pollutants that have flowed into the catch basins of your storm drains that need to be treated, or removed after the season we’ve had. So, here are 3 easy steps you can implement to clean and seal off your DI’s.

Helpful Tools: Catch Basin Spoon, Shop Vac, Visqueen Plastic

July 2017

After

Strategy: Convey information that will help achieve the Port’s goals and that is relevant to the primary audience.Strategy selection: Making sure that the newsletter is carefully targeted and relevant facilitates its value to tenants. If the audience believes the newsletter to contain irrelevant information, the goal of raising awareness may not be achieved.Actions to carry out strategy: The newsletter topics are selected by Port sta� and contractors directly involved with implementing the Port’s Storm Water Management Program, who have day-to-day interactions with operators and managers of private industrial/commercial facilities at the Port, and who are familiar with best management practices and resources available to implement the strategies communicated in the newsletters.

Strategy: Maintain elevated awareness of the need for ongoing pollution prevention activities by distributing the newsletter frequently.Strategy selection: Providing frequent communications helps to keep site operators/managers aware that pollution prevention activities need to continue throughout the year.Actions to carry out strategy: The newsletter is distributed monthly.

Strategy: Use email as the primary method of newsletter distribution.Strategy selection: Using email facilitates quick and direct distribution of the newsletter to the target audience. Opening rates can also be tracked measuring success. Actions to carry out strategy: The newsletter is emailed to the target audience by Port sta�.

COMMUNICATION OUTPUT AND IMPLEMENTATIONEach newsletter is produced and distributed through implementation ofthe following steps:

Ongoing: The Port environmental department works with consultants to maintain a list of newsletter topics.

One month prior to newsletter distribution:• Identify specific topic for next newsletter • Prepare newsletter content and mock-up newsletter• Preparation of final newsletter• Final review of newsletter

The month of newsletter distribution: The final PDF version of the newsletter is distributed to the target audience via email.

5. WHAT WERE THE COMMUNICATIONS OUTCOMES FROM THIS ENTRY AND WHAT EVALUATION METHODS WERE USED TO ASSESS THEM?The Storm Water Update is already showing signs of success. Tenant awareness about pollution prevention activities and regulatory requirements on storm water issues is increasing. Most importantly, water quality is improving in the Delta. To date, 12 Storm Water Updates have been developed and distributed on a broad variety of topics ranging from waste disposal plans to how to identify the appropriate Standard Industrial

Straw wattle can be used in a multitude of ways; it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have a pallet of this on hand for any given occasion. For flooding prevention, wattle can disseminate the path of water flow and keep the water from creating a stream or current. The straw allows water to go through it without blocking it, and disperses the water enough so that it isn’t too concentrated. If you have a problem with loose surface material getting pushed around your site by the rain, the wattle can contain and also prevent any material from getting on the street, driveways, or down the storm drain.

Flooding can be caused by many different culprits. Anything from broken pipes, clogged drain inlets, backed up gutters and more are all unexpected issues that tend to happen at the most inopportune times. It’s no surprise that we see all of these problems increase during the rainy season. Because of this, it is important you have some proactive plans in place so that your site can still function efficiently and safely

through the winter.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is a helpful website that tracks temperature, hourly rainfall percentages, wind, and more.

It’s important to regularly stay on top of housekeeping and clean up during the rainy season. Trash or loose material from the surrounding area could be washed into your drain inlets, and blocked drains or outlets quickly lead to flooding. If you know that your site is prone to having an excess of loose surface material, make sure to clean your site before a windy or rainy day: sweeping hard surfaces, raking up leaves, and picking up trash can go a long way toward preventing flooding, as well as keeping your site’s processes moving along free from track out and debris. Remember to continually check up on these, and clean them from material as soon as possible so that water flow can continue away from your site without dragging unnecessary material along with it.

Keep an eye on screens, drain lids, and drain outlets

Helpful Tools: Straw Wattle, Rain Boots, Leaf Rake

It takes initiative to monitor your site and look out for these issues. Even still, keeping an eye on the weather days in advance as well as during rain days will pay off in more ways than just having a tidy site. Clogged drains lead to flooding and surface material causes track out and hinders business operations. These basic instructions are key steps in making sure your site is able to operate smoothly under such circumstances.


STORM WATER UPDATEPreventing flooding & winter site maintenance

November 2017

STORM WATER UPDATEdecember 2017

Secondary Containment how to maintain

NOTE: The blue line in the pictured secondary containment is to illustrate that in the case of a spill, the material being contained should not exceed the line. The closer any potentially spilled material is to the brim of the containment, the closer the chances are to it spilling over.

Helpful Tools: A fully stocked Spill Kit + any other oil absorbing material.

Secondary containment is a mandatory precaution for all facilities that seeks to “prevent discharges of oil into navigable

waters of the United States and adjoining shorelines.” While this is the main reason for the state requiring secondary

containment, equally as important, is that secondary containment is your first line of defense against large spills. If

hazardous material isn’t properly contained during a spill, it can cause extraneous damage to your site and to the

environment, which means it may cost a significant amount of money to properly cleanup, contain, and dispose of spilled

hazardous material. It is far cheaper and safer to maintain the required secondary containment than it is cleaning up and

excavating material or soil that has been contaminated.

1

2.

In pictures 1 and 2, we see incorrect examples on how secondary containment is being used. The material in the barrels and buckets can easily be spilt on the ground. Whereas in picture 3, we see proper containment. The area is dry, covered, properly contained, and a spill kit is standing by.

2

One of the largest issues workers run into regarding secondary containment is rain. You might have the proper containment, before and after, as well as a fully stocked spill kit in place, but not even these precautions can change the weather. If rain water fills your secondary containment, you must remove it. Otherwise, it makes the containment ineffective. It should also be noted that if your containment has oil residue on it, and it fills with rain water, the rain water cannot be poured down the drain. The rain water must be properly disposed of, or contained.

Secondary containment is containment surrounding any area or item that has the potential to discharge. This includes oil-Þlled operating and manufacturing equipment, oil equipment associated with transfer areas, mobile refuelers, bulk storage containers, tank barriers, etc. The following are ways to maintain your secondary containment .

Spilled hazardous material is not something that can easily be swept up. The precautions listed are some of the surest ways to keep your site from experiencing spills and discharges that can hinder work. The cost of cleanup and remediation far outweighs the cost of proper secondary containment.

3


Classification number. The Port has included information on cost-saving measures and expanding compliance to vendors as well as tenants. Reception has been positive, with tenants contacting Port sta� to inquire about implementing additional best management practices and ensuring compliance with Port directives. Before the newsletter, the Port was the primary initiator of conversation. Now, communication is collaborative and storm water management is a joint e�ort. The Port hopes to begin highlighting tenant success stories to increase collaboration among tenants as well.

Storm Water management is an ongoing e�ort at the Port. The newsletter is just one important piece of a comprehensive program and communication must be multi-faceted to ensure long-term and sustained success. For example, in addition to the update, the Port conducts an annual Storm Water Managers Workshop for Port tenants and employees, who are responsible for storm water protection at their sites. This workshop highlights new and existing storm water regulations and o�ers advice on how to maintain compliance. The success of programs such as these are having a measurable e�ect on the Port’s environment. Despite expanding operations in 2017, storm water compliance issues have dropped. The Port looks forward to furthering the newsletter to other environmental topics in the future.

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