Environmental Health and SafetyEnvironmental Compliance

Storm Water Management Policy

MAR10CM90

I.
 Scope
II.
 Purpose
III.
 Applicability
IV Snow and Ice Treatments
V Chemical and Pesticide Applications
VI Motor Vehicle Fluid Release
VII Construction Site Erosion Control

I. Scope

This policy is prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Water Act, the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 40 CFR 122.26(b), the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) 314 CMR 3, and the Amherst College Environmental Health and Safety Committee.
II. Purpose
The Storm Water Management Plan is a standard operating guideline that was developed by the Amherst College community in an effort to limit negative environmental impact. The goal of this management plan is to prevent accidental or deliberate release of hazardous materials or waste into the environment through the ground, sanitary sewer or storm drain system. Amherst College shall prevent the spread or potential spread of contamination that may take place from our parking areas, construction sites, and streets. The goal is to limit vehicle fluids, salt (calcium Chloride), fertilizers, paints and thinners, and other surface treatments from entering the storm drains, brooks and rivers
III. Applicability
The Storm Water Management Plan shall apply to the entire Amherst College Community, including faculty, staff, students, outside contractors and visitors. Each and every person is responsible for their automobiles and the fluids that may be discharged from them.  In addition, the college must limit environmental damage by reducing the amounts of potential pollutants that it places upon the ground and roadways for control of insects and weeds as well as for the management of ice and snow. It will be the responsibility of the Amherst College Physical Plant Athletics, Grounds and Landscaping Supervisor and his/her Department to minimize whenever possible the negative environmental impact caused by the application of fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, pesticides, calcium and sodium chloride and the newest forms of ice and snow control. The Amherst College Campus Police will monitor parking lots and roadways for the accidental and intentional discharge or release of antifreeze, gasoline, oil and other motor vehicle fluids, and shall report same to the office of Environmental Health and Safety for proper clean-up and disposal.

The Storm Water Management Plan also applies to construction sites on the Amherst College campus.  The contractor will be responsible for all activities on the construction site, such as construction vehicles, handling of chemicals, using machinery, etc.  The construction site will have storm water control measures in place to control the runoff of storm water and soil from the area.  All personnel working on the construction site will follow the procedures defined in the Storm Water Pollution Prevention Policy for the handing and storage of chemicals on the site. The site manager will be responsible for the regular inspection and maintenance required for any storm water control method.  Any discharge affecting the storm water will be reported to the Amherst College Campus Police and Amherst College Environmental Health and Safety Officer, and managed according to the Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures Policy.

Finally, Amherst College Physical Plant (Engineering, Grounds and Landscaping) with the assistance of the Landscape Architect and Town of Amherst shall when installing new or repairing existing parking lots and roadways make every effort to control potential run-off of hazardous materials such as oil into a storm drain or waterway by either diverting water run-off away from points of collection or by installation of environmentally friendly storm drain systems.

IV. Snow and Ice Treatments
Amherst College Physical Plant shall control the amount of hazardous materials that enter or have the potential to enter our bordering brooks and ponds. At driveways, parking lots and roads where there is a strong possibility of Storm Water run-off into a brook, river or conservation area, the Physical Plant Grounds and Landscaping Department shall minimize the amount of chemicals and other surface treatments that could potentially harm the environment. The parking lot to the east of the Physical Plant is of particular interest. Storm water run-off from this point into the neighboring brook is a very real possibility. Therefore;
  1. Salt as well as other ice and snow control distribution must be kept to an absolute minimum.  Whenever possible, the use of untreated sand shall be considered the norm.
  2. Already applied sand and salt shall be picked up frequently (even during the winter months) to minimize the negative environmental impact that will occur if the material is left in place for extended periods of time.
  3. The installation of granite or macadam curbs at locations such as these will also hamper unwanted storm water run-off. Sand, salt and other applications to control ice and snow will be held in check until the above referenced treatments have been removed.
V. Chemical and Pesticide Applications
The Physical Plant Grounds and Athletics Department shall avoid using fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, and pesticides in and around areas that lead to a storm drain, brook, river or other potential ground water source. All chemicals, fungicides, herbicides, insecticides and pesticides shall be purchased, stored, mixed, transported and used in accordance with manufacture’s specifications. If chemicals and pesticides are mixed or otherwise handled outside, the licensed applicator shall insure that they are not located in close proximity to a waterway or storm drain that could inadvertently receive the accidentally discharged materials. Chemicals and pesticides that must be used in and around the conservation area, near a waterway or storm drain shall be mixed, stored, transported and used in accordance with guidelines already established by manufacturer’s specifications for that intended purpose.

If an accidental or intentional release of a chemical, fungicide, herbicide, insecticide or pesticide takes place on or around the Amherst College Campus, the employee that witnesses the occurrence or release must take the following steps:

  1. Minimize risk to yourself and others.
    1. Do not cause or create a personal illness or injury
    2. Instruct persons nearby to evacuate the immediate area and keep others out.
  2. Contact the Amherst College Campus Police by phone (542-2111) or radio and tell them:
    1. Where you are located and if possible the telephone number you are calling from
    2. If anyone is ill or injured
    3. What the name of the chemical or pesticide is
    4. How much was spilled
    5. If there is an immediate health or environmental risk present
    6. Storm drain, sewer, waterway or conservation area close by
    7. What (if anything) you are able to do to minimize the environmental damage.
  3. The Amherst College Campus Police shall notify;
    1. The Amherst College Environmental Health and Safety Manager, or
    2. The Pesticide Safety Officer at the University of Massachusetts (545-2682), or
    3. An Amherst College Licensed Pesticide Applicator
VI. Motor Vehicle Fluid Release
Amherst College will immediately respond to any release of hazardous material from a vehicle regardless of size or function. Antifreeze, diesel fuel, gasoline, hydraulic fluids and oils will be managed forthwith through clean-up and proper disposal. Any person (including Amherst College Campus Police) who observe an improper discharge from a motor vehicle or other piece of equipment must immediately report it to Amherst College Campus Police Dispatch at 542-2111. Amherst College Campus Police will:
  1. Notify the Environmental Health and Safety Manager
  2. Respond to the incident to insure personal safety and to help minimize environmental damage. If the EH&S Manager is unavailable, the Amherst College Police Officer will attempt to minimize potential spread by:
    • Applying speedi-dry or other absorbent material directly to the spilled material
    • Contacting the Physical Plant Garage Mechanic for additional assistance and supplies
Any vehicle or equipment fluids that have been released must be handled immediately to avoid ground or pavement absorption.
  1. Speedi-dry or other absorbent material, which is located in Bay 1 or the Physical Plant Garage, shall be applied directly to the motor vehicle fluid spill.
  2. After working the contaminants into the speedi-dry or other absorbent material, the fluid waste must be picked up using the plastic shovel located in Bay 1 and placing same into a plastic (4ml) bag which is then bagged again.
  3. Tape the bags closed, gooseneck the bag and then tape it again.
  4. The bag must now be labeled;
           
          Hazardous Waste
        Gasoline / Oil Soaked Speedi-Dry
            Toxic
  5. The bags must be delivered to Bay 4 of the Hazardous / Universal Waste Storage Building where it will be placed into a 30 or 55 gallon steel drum that has been already identified for that purpose. From this Main Accumulation Area, the Hazardous Waste will be removed by an outside Chemical Waste Hauler and relocated to a site that is licensed to receive that particular waste.
VII. Construction Site Erosion Control
Over the next 5 years, Amherst College will be constructing, demolishing, and renovating several buildings on campus and upgrading the infrastructure as part of the process.  Approximately 20 acres of the campus will be disturbed at different times throughout the 5 years, by the above referenced construction activities.

Amherst College, in order to protect the waterways around the campus, has instituted a storm water runoff program for the college and contractor, and has submitted the appropriate permit for storm water as it pertains to sites of construction in excess of 1 acre to the Federal Environmental Protection Agency and State Department of Environmental Protection.

Outside contractors working on any construction site on Amherst College property shall be familiar with the storm water runoff program and shall utilize the appropriate techniques to control runoff as listed in the Amherst College Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan which outlines Best Management Practices for control of sedimentation and erosion, and inspection reports for both the college and outside contractors.