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EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN

 

In case of a Significant Spill, Land Application or Direct Discharge emergency, implement the following:

1.  Stop all other activities to deal with the emergency.

2.  Assess the extent of the emergency and determine how much help is needed.  To the extent possible considering safety concerns, immediately take steps to stop or minimize any discharges.

3.  If spreading or pumping equipment is contributing to the emergency, stop the equipment immediately.  Close valves.  Separate pipes to create air gap if necessary to stop manure flow.

4.  If hauling equipment is involved, take all measures to stabilize the equipment and control the discharge.

5.  If a containment structure is discharging, take all measures necessary to control and contain the discharge.  If possible, begin pumping manure and spreading in the prescribed fields at the prescribed application rates.

6.  Minimize flow downstream by damming ditches, blocking culverts, diverting flow to temporary areas and by building barriers.

7.  Contain the spill or runoff from entering nearby streams or water bodies by using absorbent material or soil material from a designated area.  If soil material is needed, call for earthmoving equipment (See Emergency Response Plan Contacts sheet).

8.  If flow is coming from a tile, plug the tile with a tile plug immediately.

9.  Call for help, if needed, and notify the individuals and agencies listed for this emergency on the Emergency Response Plan Contacts sheet.

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Agency and local authority contact information:

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Natural Resources Conservation Service &
Whatcom Conservation District
Phone number: (360) 318-8121

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Washington State Department of Ecology
Bellingham Field Office
Phone number: (360) 255-4400

NW Region 24-hour hotline: 425-649-7000

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Washington State Department of Health
Shellfish Programs
Phone number: (360) 236-3330

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Washington State Department of Agriculture
Phone number: (360) 902-1982

WSDA DNMP NW Region: 360-961-7412

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Whatcom County Health Department
Environmental Health
Phone number: (360) 778-6000

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10.  Call or contact downstream public water supply or other water users.  Also, it is suggested that you contact potentially affected downstream landowners.

11.  If a spill is on a public road, call the local law enforcement office for traffic control and clean the spill immediately from the road and roadside if needed.

12.  Prevent further runoff by incorporating the waste into the soil, if possible.

13.  Assess how much manure was released and for how long. Try to determine the environmental impact of fish kills, surface water pollution, and well water or groundwater impact

14.  Initiate additional containment measures, corrective measures, or property restoration measures as directed by emergency agency officials.

15.  Water, pumps, hoses, tank trucks, and manure application equipment may all come in handy for washing off and removing manure.

In case of a Catastrophic Death of Production Animals, implement the following:

1.  Stop all other activities to deal with the emergency.
2.  Notify the integrator to remove useable mortalities and remaining live animals, if applicable.
3.  Call to notify the individuals and agencies listed for this emergency on the Emergency Response Plan Contacts sheet.
4.  Remove mortalities from the production areas.
5.  Dispose of mortalities according to a method in the appropriate Washington Administrative Code.
6.  In case of a catastrophic loss of poultry for which burial is chosen as the disposal method, a permit from the State Veterinarian is required prior to burial.
7.  Record date of catastrophic deaths, number of deaths, approximate weight of mortalities, and the disposal method.  If a disposal pit was used, record the location of burial pit, size of pit, and depth of cover.

In case of a Natural Disaster, implement the following:

1.  Stop all other activities to deal with the emergency.
2.  Take all measures necessary to protect human life.
3.  Take all measures necessary to protect the production animals.
4.  Call for help and to notify the individuals and agencies listed for this emergency on the Emergency Response Plan Contacts sheet.
5.  To the extent possible considering safety concerns, take steps to stop or minimize any discharges to the environment.
6.  Assess the situation and follow the response for other emergencies, if applicable.

 

In case of a Personal Injury, implement the following:

1.  Stop all other activities and address the emergency.
2.  Take all measures necessary to prevent further injury and stabilize the injured persons.
3.  Call 911 and notify the individuals and agencies listed for this emergency on the Emergency Response Plan Contacts sheet.

In case of a Fire, implement the following:

1.  Stop all other activities and address the emergency.
2.  Try to extinguish the fire with appropriately rated fire extinguishers.
3.  If fire cannot be contained, call for help and notify the individuals and agencies listed for this emergency on the Emergency 4.  Response Plan Contacts sheet.

In case of a Fuel Spill, implement the following:

1.  Stop all other activities and address the emergency.
2.  Take all measures necessary to control and contain the discharge as close to the spill site as possible.
3.  Contain the spill or runoff from entering nearby streams or water bodies by using absorbent materials or soil material from a designated area.  If soil material is needed, call for earthmoving equipment (See Emergency Response Plan Contacts sheet).
4.  Notify the individuals and agencies listed for this emergency on the Emergency Response Plan Contacts sheet.
5.  Initiate additional containment and remedial measures as directed by emergency agency officials.

 
Provide the following information when reporting an emergency:

1.  Your name and phone number.
2.  Directions to the farm or site of emergency.
3.  Description of emergency.
4.  If a spill, the type of material and an estimate of the amounts, area covered, and distance traveled.
5.  If contaminants have reached surface waters or major field drains.
6.  Obvious damage:  employee injury, fish kill, property damage, etc.
7.  Actions taken to contain situation.

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Documentation of Emergency Response

The following items shall be documented, as applicable, in writing and filed with the Emergency Response Plan for future reference and emergency response training:

1.  Date, time, and type of emergency.
2.  If a spill, the type, cause, quantity, duration, and location of spill.
3.  Affect of spill on any surface water body or potable water well.
4.  Approximate quantity of spill material that left the farm property and names of affected landowners.
5.  Containment and clean up efforts and their effectiveness.
6.  Any damage, such as personal injury, fish kill, property damage, fire, etc.
7.  Procedure followed to handle the emergency.
8.  List of agencies and authorities contacted, those that responded, and the time for response.
9.  Recommendations to prevent a reoccurrence.

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Biosecurity

Biosecurity is critical to protecting livestock operations. Visitors must contact and check in with the producer before entering the operation or any production or storage facility. Animals should undergo a quarantine period before being integrated into the herd. Contact your veterinarian for more specific information on animal biosecurity measures.

Normal Animal Mortality Management Plan

The producer is responsible for ensuring that animal mortalities are not disposed of in a liquid manure, storm water, or process wastewater storage or treatment system that is not specifically designed to treat animal mortalities. The producer has the option to manage mortalities by performing one of the following:

• Utilization of a rendering company to remove mortalities.

• If the producer intends to bury the mortalities they may do so in accordance with WAC 246-203-121 which requires disposal within 72 hrs, it requires burials be surrounded by 3 ft of earth on all sides, requires burials be at least 100 ft from surface water or wells.  Also, WAC 16-25 applies to animals dying of disease or unknown causes, the distance from wells or surface water is increased to 300 ft.  Livestock that have died from a reportable disease must be disposed of in consultation with the state veterinarian.  

• If mortalities will be composted, the facility shall comply with Ecology Publication No: 05-07-034 “On-Farm Composting of Livestock Mortalities”. Guidelines for mortality composting are outlined in this plan.

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Chemical Handling Plan

Currently this facility uses custom applicators to apply chemical pesticides.  No significant chemicals or pesticides are stored on property.  No other chemicals or other contaminants are disposed of in any manure or process waste water handling facilities. 

Measures for chemical handling:

• Chemicals are stored in proper containers.

• Chemicals are properly disposed of that have expired or will not be used.

• Chemical containers are properly disposed.

• Chemical storage areas are self-contained (no drains or other pathways for spilled chemicals to exit the storage area).

• Chemical storage areas are covered to prevent contact with rain and snow.

• Emergency procedures and equipment are in place to contain and clean up chemical spills.

• Chemicals are handled according to the label.

• All personal handling or applying chemicals are licensed to do so.

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