Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure Plan
University of Massachusetts Boston
100 Morrissey Boulevard
Boston, MA 02125-3393
MANAGEMENT APPROVAL
This SPCC Plan has the complete support of management at UMass Boston and will be implemented as herein described. I am at a management level with authority to commit the necessary resources.
Signature: Zehra Schneider Graham
Name: Zehra Schneider Graham
Title: Environmental Manager
CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify that I have examined the facility, and being familiar with the provisions of 40 CRF, Part 112, attest that the SPCC Plan has been prepared in accordance with good engineering practices.
Alan F. Mount Alan F. Mount
Printed Name of Signature of
Registered Engineer Registered Engineer
Date 04/26/02 Registration No. 39838 State MASS
Stamp on file
SECTION 1 - EMERGENCY CONTACT LIST
| 1. University of Massachusetts Boston Public Safety Office |
Emergency 911 Non-Emergency (617) 287-7799 |
| 2. Environmental Health & Safety Office |
On-Campus 7-5445 After Hours Cell (617) 293-6840 Zehra Schneider Graham,Environmental Manager Alternate Cell: (617) 293-6479 Brian Dumser, Interim Director |
| 3. Facilities Administration | On-Campus 7-5580 Work Order Control |
| 4. Regional U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,Boston, MA | (617) 223-7265 |
|
5. Spill Response and Cleanup Firms Clean Harbors Environmental Services Co., Inc. |
(800) 645-8265 or (617) 269-5830 |
| 6. Massachusetts DEP, Northeast Regional Office |
(617) 935-2160 (8am-4pm) (617) 566-4500 (within 2 hours of oil entering surface water and if 10 gallons or more spilled on land) Mon.-Fri.) |
| 7. National Response Center (NRC) | (800) 424-8802 (within 2 hours of oil entering surface water, including wetlands, storm water and sanitary sewers) |
| 8. Fire/Police/Ambulance | DIAL 911 |
SECTION 2 - SITE-SPECIFIC INFORMATION
The following is site-specific information employing the number of systems shown in 40 CFR 112.4 for onshore non-transportation facilities, which due to their location could reasonably be expected to discharge oil in harmful quantities, as defined in 40 CFR 110, into or upon navigable waters of the United States. Due to the University's proximity to Savin Hill Cove, Old Harbor and Boston Harbor, which are all navigable waterways subject to the ebb and flow of the tide, and the volume of oil stored, the University is required to prepare a Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure Plan (hereinafter "SPCC Plan") in writing and in accordance with 40 CFR 112.7. The SPCC Plan is included below in Section #.
(1) Name of Facility
University of Massachusetts Boston
(2) Name of Owner/Operator of Facility
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
University Chancellor: JoAnn Gora
(3) Location of Facility
100 Morrissey Boulevard
Boston, MA 02125-3393
(4) Date/Year of Initial Facility Operation
The University of Massachusetts Boston campus was built circa 1969 and has been in operation at this location since 1972.
(5) Maximum Storage Capacity and Normal Daily Throughput
There is one underground 5000 gallon UL-listed storage tank storing gasoline that supplies a dispensing pump for refueling University vehicles. The normal daily throughput varies, but is estimated to be 75 gallons per day.
There are a maxiumum of (12) 55 gallon Waste Oil Collection drums located throughout the campus inside mechanical rooms and within the Accumulation Area in Building #160. The total volume of these drums is 660 gallons. Daily throughput is negligible because the waste oil is only generated during maintenance work on the emergency generators, the ATC compressors and the sprinkler compressors.
There is currently (1) 275 gallon Waste Oil Collection tanks located in the service garage of Building #150. Daily throughput is negligible because the waste oil is only generated during maintenance work on the University vehicles.
There are 29 transformers on the University campus, all of which are cooled with non-PCB oil. The volume of oil in each transformer varies, but the average volume is approximately 460 gallons per transformer, for a total estimated volume of 12,440 gallons. A complete listing of all the transformers is included in Appendix B. Daily throughput does not apply to transformers.'
The remaining oil stored on the University campus is #2 diesel fuel oil that is contained in bulk tanks ranging from 80 to 1000 gallons that supply the day tanks for emergency generators. In addition to an emergency generator, a 1000 gallon bulk tank in Building #160 supplies fuel to two fire pumps. The day tanks range in size from 10 to 15 gallons. All tanks are aboveground. The capacity of all bulk and day tanks combined is approximately 4,400 gallons. The daily throughput is negligible because the emergency generators are only run once a week (for maintenance purposes) or when there is a power outage, and the fire pumps should only run in the event of a fire or during testing. All the above information is summarized in Table of Appendix B.
(6) Facility Description
The University of Massachusetts Boston campus is a public educational and research institution consisting of several buildings situated on 175.25 acres on Columbia Point. Three academic buildings (#010,#020, #080) contain offices, classrooms and laboratories. One building (#090) houses a library and offices, one building (#120) is an athletic center, and one building (#110) is an administration building. Two buildings (#160 and #150) contain essential services and utilities.
The site is bordered by Savin Hill Cove, the Massachusetts State Archives, the John F. Kennedy Library and Boston College High School. Appendix A includes a locus map and a map of the campus showing the location of all the buildings described above.
There are walkways connecting the buildings to each other, and a large underground parking garage. The primary power service for the entire campus is electrical, with emergency generators located in all buildings to provide backup power in case of a loss of electrical power from Boston Edison. The SPCC Plan will cover the bulk tanks and day tanks that supply the emergency generators, the waste oil collection drums, the gasoline UST, the transformers and all associated piping.
(7) Complete Copy of SPCC Plan
Contained below in Section 3.
(8) Cause of Spill
This facility has not discharged more than 1,000 gallons of oil onto or upon the navigable waters of the United States or adjoining shorelines in a single spill event. This facility has not discharged oil in harmful quantities, as defined in 40 CFR Part 110, into or upon navigable waters of the United States or adjoining shorelines in two spill events, reportable under Section 311(b) of the FWPCA, occurring within any twelve month period.
(9) Corrective Action Taken for Spill
Not applicable.
(10) Additional Measures to Minimize Recurrence
Not applicable.
(11) Other Required Information
Not applicable.
SECTION 3 - SPILL PREVENTION CONTROL AND COUNTERMEASURE PLAN
The following is the SPCC Plan prepared in accordance with 40 CFR 112.7. For simplicity and easy reference to te EPA rules and regulations, the numbering system associated with this plan is the same as that for Guidelines shown in 40 CFR 112.7.
(a) Spill Events
This facility has not experiences a spill event as defined by 40 CFR 112.2.
(b) Spill Potential and Direction of Flow
There are numerous sources at the UMass Boston campus that have a reasonable potential for equipment failure that could result in a spill event. They include the underground 5,000 gallon gasoline tank, the 55 gallon waste oil collection drums, the 2-275 gallon waste oil collection tanks, the 29 transformers, the bulk tanks and day tanks systems that supply the emergency generators and fire pumps, and all associated piping.
There is one 5,000 gallon UST containing gasoline that is piped a very short distance to a dispensing pump for fueling vehicles. This system is located outside the service bay doors of Building #150. A major failure of the storage tank or associated piping would result in a flow of gasoline into the surrounding ground, which would then be reasonably expected to reach the local water table. From there, gasoline could then reach the navigable waters surrounding Columbia Point, The containment and diversionary measures in place for this system are discussed in the next section. Should a major failure go undetected, there is a potential for the release of the entire contents of the underground tank.
The 55 gallon waste oil collection drums are installed on "Drum Tray Dollies," which are polyethylene octagon shape tubs with castors. These units are located inside numerous mechanical rooms. These collection drums are used to collect oil during maintenance on the emergency generators. In addition, the capacity for 6-55 gallon drums is provide at the accumulation area in Building #160. A major failure of any waste oil collection drum would first result in a flow of oil onto the floor of the mechanical room. Containment and diversionary systems for the drums themselves, as well as the mechanical rooms is discussed in detail in the next section. A major failure of a drum in the accumulation area would be contained by the "Spill Skid" on which the drums are stored. The maximum volume of the spilled oil would be limited to the 55 gallon capacity of the drum.
There is currently (1) 275-gallon waste oil collection tanks located in the service garage area of Building #150. The tank is used to collect waste oil from the maintenance of University owned vehicles. The tank sits within a raised concrete curbed area on the floor of the garage. A failure of the 275 gallon tank would result in flow of oil into this concrete curbed area. The maximum volume of the spilled oil would be limited to the 275 gallon capacity of the tank.
All of the 29 transformers located throughout the campus are contained within concrete vaults. A failure of any of the transformers would result in a spill of non-PCB oil onto the floor of the vault. The containment and diversionary measures in place for the transformers are discussed in the next section. The maximum volume of spilled oil would be limited to the volume contained within each transformer, which is approximately 200 gallons.
All bulk tanks and day tanks storing #2 fuel oil are within mechanical rooms located throughout the campus. A failure of any one of these tanks, or the connected piping would first result in a flow of oil onto the floor of the mechanical room. Depending on the type and magnitude of failure, there is also the possibility of oil filling up the vent lines of the systems and discharging out into the environment. The maximum volume of spilled oil would be limited to the size of the bulk or day tank. Containment and diversionary systems for the mechanical rooms is discussed in detail in the next section.
Overall facility drainage follows the topographical elevation of the ground surface theat lead to storm drains that collect and discharge stormwater into Savin Hill Cove. A discussion of the floor drains within the facility, in particular, within mechanical rooms and parking garage areas, is in the next section.
(c) Containment and/or Diversionary Structures
The 5,000 gallon gasoline UST was installed in December 1996, and includes all the modern day accessories to limit the chance of undetected leak or spill event. The tank was designed and installed per all governing codes and regulations. The tanks is a UL listed, double wall steel tank, complete with leak detection and overfill protection. The short run of underground piping between the tank and the dispensing pump is a double wall containment piping system. The materials of construction of the tank and associated piping are both sufficiently impervious to contain spilled gasoline.
The 55 gallon waste oil collection drums are placed on "Drum Tray Dollies" that themselves provide containment for small spills and overfills however, a major failure of the 55 gallon drum would in no way be contained by the drum tray dolly. For this reason, it is imperative that these satellite collection drums remain within the mechanical rooms they serve. Containment and diversionary structures employed within the mechanical rooms is discussed at the end of this section.
The 275-gallon waste oil collection tanks in the service garage of Building #150 is located inside a concrete curbed area that would provide containment for minor spills and overfills however, the containment volume provided is sufficient to contain the entire contents of the tank should a major leak occur. Should spilled oil ever spill over the concrete curbing, it would flow towards the entrance to the garage, where it would flow into a trench drain that is located across the overhead door openings. The trench drains are connected to an oil water separator that would trap the spilled oil. Water leaving the oil water separator discharges into Savin Hill Cove. The concrete curbing and the concrete floor of the garage are both sufficiently impervious to contain spilled oil.
All 29 transformers at the UMass Boston campus are installed within concrete vaults that provide containment in the case of a spill event. In addition, floor drains within each of the transformer vaults are hard piped to a "backup" containment tank/vault, located away from the transformer itself. The locations of these secondary containment structures are located in the underground parking garage mechanical rooms, and one is located underground. The concrete and CMU construction of the transformer vaults and secondary containment structures are sufficiently impervious to contain spilled oil.
The bulk tanks and day tanks that contain #2 fuel oil for the emergency generators and two fire pumps are all located within mechanical rooms. In some cases, a 4" sill has been installed across the door opening to provide containment within the room, in other cases, the sill is actually a foundation wall that provides several feet of containment height. In mechanical rooms where no sill is provided, the floor is sloped away from the doorway and the floor area is large enough that the room itself would contain the volume of oil stored in the event of a spill. As an additional means of preventing a release of oil to the environment, every drain from every mechanical room is tied into an oil/water separator that would trap any oil prior to discharge. The discharge from the oil/water separators is to Savin Hill Cove. All the catch basins in the underground parking garage are also tied into this system. The concrete floors of all the mechanical rooms are sufficiently impervious to contain spilled oil.
In addition to the containment and diversionary structures described above, absorbent materials are on hand and readily available to contain and remove minor spills.
(d) Contingency Plan
Because the installation of the structures and equipment described above is designed to prevent discharged oil from reaching navigable waters, a contingency plan is not required however, the UMass Boston Environmental Health and Safety Office has developed Emergency Procedures/Spill Response and Notification Procedures in the event of a spill of any hazardous material. These two documents are included as Section 4 and Section 5, respectively.
(e) Other Spill Prevention and Containment Procedures
The 5,000 gallon UST gasoline tank described above is equipped with a state of the art monitoring system by Veeder Root that continually monitors the system for leaks. Personnel in charge of the garage activities check the tank monitoring system daily, and record results. The installation and correct use of this equipment greatly reduces the chances of an undetected leak.
The transfer of fuel oil from a bulk tank to a day tank is triggered by a low level switch in the day tank. This low level switch is also tied to a central computer system that is monitored 24 hours a day. Seeing the switch is activated alerts the system operator that fuel is being transferred, who can then dispatch trained personnel to investigate the cause, and monitor the activity. In addition, the emergency generators themselves are tied to the same central computer system, so that the starting of the generator will be checked out by trained personnel. This monitoring of the fuel transfer and generator startup greatly reduces the chance of an undetected leak or spill.
Every emergency generator on the UMASS campus is tested by qualified personnel on a weekly basis. As part of the documented testing, the mechanics perform a visual inspection of the tank, pump and piping system at each location. This weekly inspection greatly reduces the chance of an undetected leak or spill.
Every oil/water separator on the campus is cleaned out and inspected at least once a year. Having this equipment regularly serviced increases its' ability to trap oil and grease, and thus further reduces the chance of a release to the environment.
Several of the fuel oil systems are equipped with fusible links to stop the flow of oil to the pump in case of fire or other extreme heat condition. This spring operated valve would close, and thus reduce the volume of fuel that could be spilled during an emergency situation.
Every bulk fuel oil tank is equipped with an audible vent alarm that whistles while the tank is being filled by the oil delivery man. Once the fuel level reaches the top of the storage tank, the whistle stops, alerting the delivery man that the tank is full. This system is a very common method to reduce the chances of the bulk tank being overfilled during deliveries.
Fueling of the University's research vessels is only performed by qualified personnel and in accordance with the procedure described below to reduce the liklihood of a spill event. Fuel deliveries are only made at the request of University Marine Operations personnel, and are scheduled to fuel both vessels during the same delivery, thus reducing the number of fueling operations. All deliveries are made during daylight hours, and preferably at high tide. Marine Operations personnel first manyally stick the fuel tanks to verify the existing fuel level in each tank. From that information, the volume of fuel to be added to the tank is calculated and this information is relayed to the delivery truck operator. The delivery truck operator remains by the truck, while the University employee dispenses the fuel at the fill connection (s) of each vessel. The truck operator and the University employee are in constant visual and audible contact during the operation, monitoring the volume of fuel going into the tank (by the delivery truck driver) and the fuel level in the tank itself (by the University employee). Once the tanks approach their fill level, the fueling operation is stopped. The research vessels currently have 3M pads on board which they use to absorb small drips should they occur during the fueling operation, however the University plans to install a small enclosure at the dock to store a larger supply of 3M pads and absorbent "sausage" boom to better handle a larger spill of oil. A phone is located at the dock, and employees have radios/cell phones that enable them to call for assistance should an accident occur.
(1) Facility Drainage
i) There are no "valves" located on any of the containment structures however, there are floor drains in all the mechanical rooms that are designed to handle a leak. As described above, the floor drain systems from the mechanical rooms are piped to oil/water separators prior to discharge. The containment areas located throughout the campus may only be drained by a manually activated pump or ejector, which allows the condition of the accumulation to be examined for the presence of oil prior to discharge.
ii) There are no valves used for the drainage of diked areas at this facility.
iii) There engineered plant drainage systems from undiked areas of the facility are for the underground parking garage and the vehicle maintenance garage. The catch basins and trench gates from these respective areas are piped to oil/water separators prior to discharge into Savin Hill Cove. Due to the local elevations, some of these catch basins and oil/water separators may be unavoidably subject to periodic flooding.
iv) There are no in plant drainage ditches that can be equipped with a diversion system. This technique does not apply to the UMass Boston campus conditions.
v) The drainage waters from the facility are not treated by any means that require pumping systems, and the existing systems in place for handling drainage from the parking and service garages are adequately engineered to prevent oil from reaching navigable waters.
(2) Bulk Storage Tanks
i) The material and construction of all bulk storage tanks and day tanks is compatible with the material stored and the conditions of storage, such as pressure and temperature. This statement also applies to the 5,000 gallon gasoline UST, the 55 gallon waste oil collection drums, and the 275 gallon waste oil tanks.
ii) The installation of concrete sills, foundation walls and the physical characteristics of the mechanical rooms themselves provide a secondary means of containment that will handle the entire contents of bulk tanks. There is no requirement to provide sufficient freeboard for precipitation because every bulk tank is located indoors. The floor of the mechanical rooms are sufficiently impervious to contain spilled oil.
iii) All the bulk tanks are located indoors, so there is no need to drain rainwater from any containment area.
iv) The 5,000 gallon gasoline UST is the only buried metallic storage tank on the campus. This tank is protected from corrosion by cathodic protection that is compatible with the local soil conditions, and is regularly pressure tested.
v) There are no partially buried metallic tanks on the UMass Boston campus.
vi) The bulk storage tanks, day tanks, waste oil accumulation drums, tank supports, containment sills, and the pumps and piping systems are all visually inspected at least once a week by facility personnel for signs of deterioration, leaks which might cause a spill and accumulation of oil on the floor of the mechanical rooms. This inspection is performed during weekly testing of the emergency generators. A sample Inspection Form is included in Appendix C. Completed forms are kept on file at the facility.
vii) There are no internal heating coils inside any of the tanks or drums.
viii) The bulk fuel oil tanks are equipped with an audible air vent to alert the delivery person of a full tank during filling operations. The bulk tanks are also equipped with visual tank level gauges.
The day tanks are equipped with high and low level switches that control the fuel being pumped from the bulk tank. The low level switch not only turns on the supply pump, but it also sends an alarm to the central computer system to alert plant personnel that fuel is being transferred, and that the emergency generator is running.
ix)There are no disposal facilities that discharge plant effluents into navigable waters on the UMass Boston campus.
x) The tank seams, gaskets, flanges and bolting are visually inspected for leaks once a week by the facility personnel. Any leak which results in the accumulation of oil is promptly corrected. A sample of the Inspection Form is included in Appendix C. Completed forms are kept on file at the facility.
xi) There are no portable or mobile storage tanks at this facility.
(3) Facility Transfer Operation, Pumping and In-Plant Process
i) The small portion of piping that is underground betweent the 5,000 gallon gasoline UST and the dispensing pump is the only underground piping covered by this SPCC Plan. The section of pipe is a double wall containment piping system. Cathodic protection is not required as the primary piping is not in direct contact with the soil.
ii) None of the piping at this facility is out of service or in standby service.
iii) The existing pipe supports are adequately designed to minimize abrasion and corrosion and to allow for expansion and contraction.
iv) All valves and piping are visually inspected at least once a week by facility personnel. A sample of the Inspection Form is included in Appendix C. Completed forms are kept on file at the facility.
v) Vehicular traffic granted entry into the facility is warned by appropriate signage to be sure that they will not endanger the portions of the aboveground piping where such a danger exists.
(4) Tank Truck Unloading Procedures
i) Tank truck unloading procedures meet the minimum requirements and regulations established by the Department of Transportation. In particular, the following procedures are observed during the filling of the bulk tanks and the 5,000 gallon gasoline UST:
1. No smoking is allowed while unloading #2 fuel oil or gasoline.
2. Delivery truck driver is to remain with the vehicle at all times while loading/unloading.
3. Each delivery of oil or gasoline will be supervised by the delivery truck driver and a competent UMass Boston employee. Throughout the process, each person must be alert, have unobstructed view of the delivery truck and the storage tank, as well as being within 25 feet of each. Unless the engine is to be used for operation of the pump, no flammable liquid shall be unloaded while the engine is running.
4. The facility representative will ensure that the wheels of the delivery truck are blocked and that drip pans or oil absorbing pads are placed beneath all hose connections that might be prone to leakage.
5. Unloading operations are to be performed only in areas designated for that purpose.
6. The unloading operation is not to begin before the level in the bulk tank is checked and it is verified that the tank has sufficient volume available to receive the volume of fuel to be transferred.
7. The drain valve on the truck is to be closed, and the unloading line is to be drained back to the tank before disconnecting the unloading line.
8. Prior to departure of the delivery truck, the lower most drain and all outlets are closely examined for leakage, and if necessary, tightened, adjusted or replaced to prevent any liquid leakage while in transit.
9. Immediately report any leakage or spillage, including quantity, to the UMass Boston Public Safety Office, 911.
ii) There is currently no containment system in place to protect the fuel delivery truck during unloading operations. A release could occur at this location during offloading due to a tank truck structural failure, equipment failure (high level or vent alarms) or human error. The delivery truck is equipped with means to allow the delivery truck driver to immediately stop the transfer operation in the event of a spill or leak. Due to the few number of fuel deliveries to the campus, a containment system dedicated to this operation at each location is not warranted. The unloading procedures as detailed above, especially the presence of a second person other than the delivery truck driver, is taking adequate precaution to prevent a spill event during unloading.
iii) Warning signs are posted in the delivery truck unloading areas to prevent vehicular departure before the complete disconnection of flexible or fixed transfer lines.
iv) Tank cars and tank trucks are not filled from this facility. For precautions during offloading of delivery trucks, please refer to i) above.
(5) Oil Production Facilities
Not applicable.
(6) Oil Drilling and Workover Facilities (Onshore)
Not applicable.
(7) Oil Drilling and Workover Facilities (Offshore)
Not applicable.
(8) Inspection and Records
Once a week a documented inspection is made and the Inspection Form (see Appendix C) is completed by qualified and responsible facility personnel. The inspection shall include all components of the system, including the bulk and day tanks, containment areas, pumps and piping. The inspection includes a visual check for signs of leakage and/or apparent deterioration of the system components. The date of the inspection, a description of corrective action taken or proposed, and the projected completion date for required corrective action is to be recorded on the Inspection Form.
An inspection of any accumulated liquid within a containment area will be made to determine if manual drainage is necessary. If manual drainage is deemed necessary, all visual oil will be removed and the methods employed will be recorded on the Inspection Form.
All records will be maintained on site for a period of at least three years.
(9) Security
i) Access to the UMass Boston campus is restricted to employees, students and visitors. The University Public Safety Office is operational 24-hours a day and its police officers and security staff provide regular patrols to insure the safety of personnel and University facilities including the oil storage areas. Direct access to all the aboveground tanks and drums is restricted to authorized Facilities Administration personnel or other specially trained or authorized personnel.
ii) There are no accessible master flow or drain valves that would permit direct outward flow of the bulk tank contents to the surface.
iii) The oil transfer pumps throughout this facility are located inside rooms accessible only to authorized personnel.
iv) All piping and connections at this facility are in service, and should not be capped or blank flanged.
v) The facility lighting is commensurate with the type and location of the facility. It is sufficiently lit to enable the discovery of spills during hours of darkness, both by operating personnel and by non-operating personnel, and is sufficiently lit to prevent spills occurring through acts of vandalism.
(10) Personnel, Training and Spill Prevention Procedures
i) The owners of this facility have properly instructed their personnel in the operation and maintenance of equipment to prevent the discharge of oil, and applicable pollution control laws, rules and regulations.
ii) Zehra Schneider Graham is the designated person who is accountable for oil spill prevention and reports to line management. Zehra Schneider Graham is the Environmental Manager and SPCC Coordinator.
iii) University personnel with responsibilities for compliance with the requirements of this Plan participate in periodic training that teaches employees to perform their duties in a way to prevent the discharge of harmful quantities of oil or hazardous substances. This training includes familiarization with this Plan, emergency response procedures, PPE, mechanical systems and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for the products they are likely to come in contact with. This training is also intended to make the operational personnel aware of known spill events or failures, malfunctioning components and any recently developed precautionary measures.
A written agenda and attendance sheet is kept on file for each training session.
New personnel will be instructed, as appropriate, within a reasonable time after entering the site. Contractors and other transient personnel will be advised of applicable spill prevention measures upon entering the site, as appropriate.
SECTION 4 - EMERGENCY PROCEDURES/SPILL RESPONSE
US EPA regulations define a spill as the discharge of oil into, or upon the navigable waters of the United States or adjoining shorelines, in harmful quantities. Harmful quantities are defined as a discharge that violates applicable water quality standards or causes a sheen upon, or discoloration of, the surface water or the adjoining shorelines. Contaminated groundwater may also have the potential to seep, leach or flow into navigable waters which would be included in this definition. Storm sewers are considered to fall under the definition of a navigable waterway.
An important goal of an effective emergency response procedure during an oil or hazardous substance release incident is to keep the material separated from water to minimize migration and the resulting potential increase to human health and environmental exposure. Every effort should be made to prevent spills and emphasize substance containment at the source rather than resort to separation of the material from expanded portions of the environment or downstream water.
The following section outlines the Emergency Procedures in place should a release of oil or hazardous substances occur at the UMass Boston campus.
(1) Discovery of a Release
The person discovering a release of material from a container, tank or operating equipment should initiate certain actions immediately, including:
i) Extinguish any sources of ignition. Until the material is identified as non-flammable and non-combustible, all potential sources of ignition in the area should be turned off. If the ignition source is stationary, attempt to move spilled material away from ignition source. Avoid sparks and movement creating static electricity.
ii) Identify the material released. Consult MSDS' which provide the information for proper identification of the characteristics of the released material. MSDS' for materials stored in containers greater than 110 gallons may be attached to this Plan in Appendix D.
iii) Attempt to stop the release at its source. Assure that no danger to human health exists first. Simple procedures (turning valves, plugging leaks, etc.) may be attempted by the discoverer if there are no health or safety hazards and there is reasonable certainty of the origin of the leak.
iv) Initiate spill notification and reporting procedures. Report the incident immediately to UMass Boston Public Safety at 911. If there is an immediate threat to human life (e.g., a fire in progress or fumes overcoming workers), an alarm should be sounded to evacuate the building, which will initiate Boston Fire Department response. Request the assistance of the Boston Fire Department's Hazmat Response Team if an uncontrolled spill has occurred and/or if a spill has migrated beyond the site boundaries. Notification Procedures are contained in the following Section 5.
(2) Containment of a Release
If material is released outside a containment area, it is crucial that the material be contained as quickly as possible. Action to be conducted may include:
i)Attempt to stop the release at the source. If the source of the release has not been found; if special protective equipment is necessary to approach the release area, or if assistance is required to stop the release, a Boston Fire Department response should be initiated by contacting the Public Safety Office at 911. University Public Safety will then notify EH&S who will, in turn, notify the appropriate departments or agencies. UMass Boston EH&S personnel should be present to guide Boston Fire Department efforts.
ii) Contain the material released into the environment. Following proper safety procedures, the spill should be contained by absorbent materials and dikes using shovels and brooms. Consult applicable MSDS' found in Appendix D for material compatibility and environmental precautions.
iii) Recover or clean up the material spilled. As much material as possible should be recovered and reused where appropriate. Material which cannot be reused must be discarded as Massachusetts-regulated hazardous waste. Liquids absorbed by solid materials shall be shoveled into open top drums, or if size warrants, into a roll-off container. When drums are filled after a cleanup, the drum lids shall be secured and the drums shall be appropriately labeled identifying the contents, the date of the spill/cleanup, the site name and location and the words "hazardous waste." Combining non-compatible materials can cause potentially dangerous chemical and/or physical reactions or may severely limit disposal options. Compatibility information can be found on the MSDS' located in Appendix D.
iv) Cleanup of the spill area. Surfaces that are contaminated by the release shall be cleaned using an appropriate substance or water. Cleanup water must be minimized, contained and properly disposed of. Occasionally, porous materials (e.g., wood, soil or oil-dry) may be contaminated, such material will require special handling for disposal.
v) Decontaminate tools and equipment used in cleanup. Even if dedicated to cleanup efforts, tools and equipment that have been used must be decontaminated before replacing them in the spill control kit.
vi) Notification and reports to outside agencies. The SPCC Coordinator shall determine if a reportable spill has occurred and shall make the necessary notifications. Verbal notification to government agencies and emergency planning committees shall be executed, if necessary. In all cases where verbal notification is given, a confirming written report shall be sent to the same entity.
vii) Arrange for proper disposal of any waste material. The waste material from the cleanup must be characterized by a qualified hazardous waste vendor in conjunction with the SPCC Coordinator. Representative sampling and analysis may be necessary to make this determination. The waste must be transported and disposed of in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
viii) Review of the SPCC Plan. Appropriate personnel shall review spill response efforts, notification procedures and cleanup equipment usage to evaluate their adequacy during the episode. Where deficiencies are found, the Plan shall be revised and amended.
(3) Internal Reporting
Spills that are regulated per this Plan must be documented using UMass Boston's Incident Report Form. At a minimum, the report will document the following items:
a. Date, time and duration of release;
b. Type of incident;
c. Materials involved;
d. Extent of injuries (if any);
e. Assessment of potential hazards;
f. Recovered material;
g. SPCC Plan discrepancies (if any); and
h. Prevention plan for similar incidents.
(4) Spill, Fire and Safety Equipment
Portable fire extinguishers located throughout the University, are well marked, and are easily accessible. Records are kept on all fire equipment in service and regular testing is performed in accordance with established procedures. A list of fire extinguishers is available from the EH&S Office.
The EH&S Office maintains a spill cart equipped with all material necessary to contain and cleanup small to moderate spills.
(5) Liaison with Local Authorities
Copies of this Plan will be submitted to the local fire department, police department, local hospital and spill control contractors as requested or needed by them. In addition, familiarization sessions will be held with the personnel from these organizations as deemed necessary. It is important that the personnel responding to an emergency are familiar with the chemicals used, the possibilities for release of hazardous materials and the location of fire equipment such as hydrants, stand pipes, etc.
(6) Other UMass Boston Emergency Response Plans
UMass Boston maintains a Contingency Plan for dealing with spills of hazardous materials and/or waste materials. Copies are available in the EH&S Office.
SECTION 5 - NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES
In the event of an actual spill, the UMass Boston employee discovering the release will contact UMass Boston Public Safety (911) as soon as possible after the incident has occurred. Contact preference is in the order listed. If spill discharge to surface water is imminent, emergency agencies should be notified as described below:
(1) Internal Reporting
| Name | Telephone# |
|---|---|
| a.. UMass Boston Public Safety Office | 911 |
| b. Zehra Schneider Graham, Environmental Manager, SPCC Coordinator, EH&S |
7-5444 Cell (617) 293-6840 |
| c. Brian Dumser, Interim Director, Assistant SPCC Coordinator, EH&S |
7-5497 Cell (617) 293-6473 |
| d. Environmental Health & Safety Office | (617) 287-5445 |
| e. Facilities Administration - Work Order Control | (617) 287-5580 |
(2) Reporting to Outside Agencies
After the SPCC Coordinator has been notified, he/she will conduct reporting to outside agencies, if necessary. If a spill threatens to reach an off-site waterway, and the spill cannot be contained and recovered by UMass Boston personnel, then the following contacts shall be made by the SPCC Coordinator:
| Name | Phone # |
|---|---|
| a. Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Incident Response Division (24 hours) | (617) 556-1133 |
| b. National Response Center | (800) 424-8802 |
|
c. US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Emergency Response Number |
(303) 293-1788 |
| d. CHEMTREC | (800) 424-9300 |
| e. Boston Fire Department, Police, Department of Health & Hospitals(via Public Safety Office) | 911 |
The following information shall be communicated when reporting to outside agencies:
a. Name, title, telephone number and address of reporter;
b. Name, telephone number and address of the site/spill;
c. Time, type and amount of material involved;
d. Extent of injuries/illnesses, if known;
e. Possible hazards to human health and the environment;
f. Any body of water involved;
g. The cause of the accident/spill; and
h. The action taken or proposed by the site personnel.
(3) Emergency Reporting Contacts
Regulatory Contacts:
| MA DEP Incident Response Division | (617) 556-1133 |
| National Response Center | (800) 424-8802 |
| US EPA Emergency Spill Number | (617) 223-7265 |
| Boston Fire, Police, Health & Hospitals | 911 |
Spill Control Contractor:
Clean Harbors Environmental Services Co., Inc.
(800) 645-8265 or (800) OIL-TANK
APPENDIX A - MAPS (Available for viewing in the EHS Office)
Figure 1 - Locus Map
Figure 2 - UMass Boston Campus Map
