Spill Response

Documents

Fort Novosel conducts activities involving a wide array of hazardous substances, including, but not limited to, oils, fuels, solvents, paints, and various wastes.  If improperly managed, these operations could result in releases to the environment.   In order to minimize potential adverse environmental impacts, Fort Novosel has implemented operational controls relating to these activities. These controls include operational practices within individual organizations, as well as planning for the installation as a whole.  Each person has a responsibility to limit the risk of spills and releases while completing their activities in support of the overall mission.

Spill Prevention and Response Plans

Fort Novosel has implemented several management documents which address spill prevention and response activities.  These plans address spill prevention measures for oil storage sites, oil transfer sites, and hazardous substance storage areas located within the Fort Novosel Reservation boundaries, as well as all other off-post properties managed by Fort Novosel. The following plans are used at Fort Novosel:

•        Installation Spill Contingency Plan (ISCP) 
•        Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures Plan (SPCC Plan)
•        Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP)

The ISCP has been recently revised and is available at the link posted above.  The revised ISCP incorporates revised requirements from 40 CFR 112 and AR 200-1 as well as information in the recently revised SPCC Plan.

Mandatory Spill Training for Individual Organizations

At least once per year, all organizations (including contractors) must provide initial or update training for all employees who handle or use hazardous materials, hazardous waste, and/or POL  of any type in quantities equal to or greater than 1 quart at a time (this requirement does not include refueling a ground vehicle at a fuel pump). New employees must not be allowed to perform any operations involving hazardous materials, hazardous waste, or POL without direct supervision until they receive training. Training will, at a minimum, cover the following subjects:

•        Installation Spill Contingency Plan (ISCP) requirements 
•        General requirements of the SPCC Plan
•        Container-specific requirements of the SPCC Plan applicable to their assignments

This training is required to meet federal and state regulations and is very important.

 Spill Response and Reporting Actions

 Any person discovering a spill or release of oil or hazardous substances must immediately report the incident to his/her supervisor. The supervisor will determine if the spill is minor and should be cleaned up without further notification, or if further notification is required.

If a supervisor cannot be quickly notified or if a major spill threatens personnel safety or may reach surface waters, storm drains, or sanitary sewer drains, the Fire and Emergency Services Division (Directorate of Public Safety) must be notified immediately by calling 911.

 The employee or supervisor reporting a spill to the Fire and Emergency Services Division should provide the following information to the fullest extent known:

•       Location, time, and type of incident (spill, fire, injury, etc) 
•       Name and quantity of spilled material, and the rate of release (an estimate is OK if not known)
•       Provide a safety data sheet for spilled material if readily available; can be faxed to the Fire and Emergency Services Division (if it can be done quickly) or provided at the time of their arrival to the scene
•       Direction of the spill, vapor, or smoke release
•       Fire and/or explosion possibility
•       Coverage area of spill, and intensity of any fire or explosion (if applicable)
•       The extent of injuries (if any)

As part of the existing notification procedures, the Fire and Emergency Services Division will always notify DPW-ENRD so there is no need for the reporter of the spill to place a second call to the environmental office once the Fire and Emergency Services Division has been notified.

When the Fire and Emergency Services Division has determined that there is no longer a threat to life or property, DPW-ENRD will serve as the on-scene coordinator and will determine if the spill is reportable to others as required by the ISCP. Cleanup assistance and remediation of the site (if necessary) will be provided by the installation maintenance support contractor. The unit or organization responsible for the spill will be billed later for any cleanup or remediation expenses.

The organization responsible for the spill or release must complete a written spill report by utilizing USAACE Form 2718, Spill Notification Report. The form should be faxed to DPW-ENRD at (334) 255-2058 within 5 days of the incident. A link for the referenced report is available on this page.