Protecting Our Water How you can help clean up the Spokane River and protect the Spokane Valley- Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer

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Protecting Our WaterHow you can help clean up
the Spokane River and protect the Spokane
Valley- Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer

• Urban Waters InitiativeLocal Source Control
  Program

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Overview

• Urban Waters Initiative and Local Source Control
  program background
• Sources of pollution in the Spokane River
• Local Source Control technical assistance visits
• Benefits of participation in LSC
• EnviroStars certification
• Resources and Questions

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What is the Urban Waters Initiative ?

• Ecology has regulated large and medium quantity
  waste generators to eliminate large sources for
  many years. Smaller sources of toxic chemicals
  have not yet been located.
• The state legislature in 2007 funded the Urban
  Waters Initiative and Local Source Control
  Program to locate and control sources of
  pollution.
• The goal is to improve the water quality in the
  Spokane River, Duwamish River and Commencement
  Bay.

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Spokane River Riverfront Park The Spokane River
is spectacular, but it also contains high levels
of hazardous pollutants.
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Why the Spokane River?

• Ecology Environmental Assessment Program (EAP)
  fish monitoring reports and CSO/outfall sampling,
  PCB fish advisories, historic upstream Coeur
  dAlene basin superfund site, and more
• Contaminants of concern
• PBDE polybrominated diphenyl ethers (flame
  retardants)
• PCB polychlorinated biphenyls
• Dioxin/Furan
• Metals lead, cadmium, zinc

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Ecology SRHD Partnership
Local Source Control Specialist Partnership
Urban Waters Initiative
Spokane Regional Health District
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Urban Waters Project Components
Source Control
Source Tracing
Education
BMP Implementation
Site Cleanups
Clean Water
Permits/Enforcement
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Collaboration is Key

• Ecology
• City of Spokane
• Alpine Homeowners Association
• Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District
• Spokane Aquifer Joint Board
• Spokane River Forum
• Spokane Regional Health District
• Spokane County
• Many others

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Local Source Control Activities

• Ecology Urban Waters Specialists
• Storm drain water and sediment sampling
• Sewer effluent sampling
• Landfill leachate sampling
• GIS mapping piping systems
• MQG LQG business visits
• SRHD Local Source Control Specialist
• SQG business visits
• Sampling assistance

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Preliminary Test Results Liberty Lake Pilot
Project CoC found in all media sanitary
sewer, stormwater, storm drain sediment

• Zinc
• Slightly higher in sanitary sewer.
• Higher in new neighborhood stormwater.
• Lead
• Higher in stormwater.
• Higher in old neighborhood stormwater.
• Cadmium
• Similar in sanitary sewer and stormwater.
• Higher in old neighborhood stormwater.

• PBDE
• Higher in sanitary sewer water.
• PCB
• Similar in sanitary sewer and stormwater.
• Similar concentrations to PBDE in sediment.
• Higher in residential sewer water than industrial
  sewer water.
• Higher in old residential sewer water than new
  residential.
• Dioxin/Furan
• Higher in stormwater
• Highest conc. in new residential.

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Where does the pollution come from?

• Rain water that runs off roads, roofs, parking
  lots and other hard surfaces during a storm
• Contaminants enter storm drains sewers near
  places we live and work when soaps, chemicals
  and other pollutants are flushed down drains

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What is Source Control?
BEFORE

• Finding the pollution source and preventing or
  reducing contaminants that get into the Spokane
  Rivers water and sediment.
• Example materials stored outside can leach
  chemicals onto the ground and contaminate the
  aquifer that feeds the river.

AFTER
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What is the purpose of aSource Control Technical
Assistance Visit?

• Free and voluntary program.
• Identify possible sources of pollution.
• Provide tips and resources to reduce operating
  costs.
• Discuss ways you can safely handle, reduce,
  reuse, recycle and dispose of hazardous
  materials.
• Help business owners and schools understand the
  best management practices and regulations.

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School Health Safety Guide

• References to Chemical Handling
• Section K Science Classrooms and Laboratories
• K 050 Laboratories have a written spill
  clean-up plan and clean-up kit.
• K 051 Waste disposal in accordance with
  Ecology Dangerous Waste regulations. No waste
  or old chemicals disposed in drain or as solid
  waste.
• K 061 Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
  maintained and available for all chemicals.
• K 063 All containers must be labeled
  regardless of the contents.
• K 068 All mercury barometers disposed in
  accordance with EPA and Ecology regulations.
• K 069 Disposal of ethidium bromide.
• K 070 Batelle Research Center website assists
  schools with waste minimization.
• K 071 King County website for school
  laboratory safety.
• K 072 Vermont website for school science lab
  clean out.
• K 073 National Science Education Leadership
  Association website for school science teachers.

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School Health Safety Guide

• References to Shop Waste Disposal
• Section L Career and Technology
• L 014 Hazardous and/or combustible waste not
  allowed to accumulate. Waste removed from the
  shop area and properly disposed of as required
  by Ecology regulations.
• L 015 Waste oil storage and disposal complies
  with Ecology regulations. Spilled oil cleaned
  up immediately. Containers need to be closed
  when not in use.
• L 028 Flammable wastes disposed of in approved
  flammable waste containers.

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During a Technical Assistance Visit

• A checklist will be completed and general
  pollution prevention practices will be evaluated,
  such as
• Management of wastewater and wash water
• Waste disposal
• Spill prevention
• Fueling operations
• Outdoor maintenance practices
• Outdoor storage of products waste

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Potential School Wastes

• Art Room
• Paint, ink or ceramic glaze pigments heavy
  metals such as antimony, zinc, arsenic, cadmium,
  chrome, cobalt, lead
• Hydrofluoric acid (HF) for glass etching e.g.,
  Armour etch
• Solvents
• Photography
• Developer and stop bath (OK to sewer post
  process)
• Fixer (toxic silver), toner (toxic)
• Jewelry soldering
• Lead and cadmium solders

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Potential School Wastes

• Auto shop/garages
• Oil and antifreeze
• Solvents
• Batteries
• Wood shop
• Paint booth filters
• Paints and solvents
• Science labs
• Acids and bases
• Chemicals
• Metals
• General building
• Fluorescent light tubes (mercury)
• Batteries
• Paints, caulking (1950-78)
• Pesticides

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Technical Assistance Visit Focus

• Proper Waste Storage
• Secondary containment of liquid hazardous wastes
  (preferably of products as well).
• Containers closed and stored indoors (preferable)
  or under cover on impervious surface.

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Technical Assistance Visit Focus

• Proper Waste Storage
• Flammables rags etc. in closed flammable
  container.
• Material Safety Data Sheets available and
  consulted for storage, clean-up, disposal.

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Technical Assistance Visit Focus

• Proper waste storage
• Labeling of all containers required by
• Dangerous waste regulations
• Labor and Industries
• School Health and Safety Guide

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Technical Assistance Visit Focus

• Labeling of waste containers with
• Hazardous waste or Dangerous waste
• Contents
• Risk statement or symbol
• Collection dates

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Typical School Chemicals- Disposal

• Three most commonly generated waste mixtures from
  school science labs
• Heavy Metal Solutions collect in plastic bag
  inside container. If no volatiles present, water
  can be evaporated to dispose as solid hazardous
  waste (in fume hood not accessed by students).
• Organic Solvents collect waste solvents in a
  labeled glass or metal container with tight
  sealing lid. Log the amount and type of
  compounds added.
• Corrosive Liquids concentrated acids and bases
  disposed as hazardous waste.

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Technical Assistance Visit Focus

• Proper Waste Disposal
• Designate waste if unknown to determine if it
  is hazardous waste (e.g., analyze a sample).
• Dispose of hazardous waste properly with
  hazardous waste handler e.g. fluorescent
  light tubes.
• Recommend written documentation of waste disposal
  to prove proper disposal (receipts, bill of
  lading, etc.).

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Technical Assistance Visit Focus

• Proper Waste Disposal
• Aerosol cans emptied of contents prior to
  disposal as solid waste.
• Reusable shop rags laundered by commercial
  laundry (preferred method by Ecology).
• Paint booth filters disposed as hazardous waste
  if they contain halogenated organic compounds
  (HACS).

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Technical Assistance Visit Focus

• Spill Prevention
• Written spill response plan
• Employee training
• Appropriate spill clean-up kit stored near-by
• Utilize transfer equipment
• Eliminate or have covers for floor drains

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Technical Assistance Visit Focus

• To maintain Small Quantity Generator status
• Limit common hazardous waste generation to 220
  lbs per month (or 2.2 lbs acutely hazardous
  waste)
• Limit waste accumulation to 2200 lbs on site (or
  2.2 lbs AHW)

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Technical Assistance Visit Focus

• Storm water protection
• Store materials and waste indoors and away from
  doorways.
• Conduct maintenance of vehicles indoors.
• Wash vehicles at a commercial car wash.
• Limit and control outdoor fueling operations.

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Technical Assistance Visit Focus

• Storm water protection
• Check and clean parking lot catch basins and
  drywells regularly.
• Keep solid waste dumpsters covered to prevent
  contact with rain water.
• Choose environmentally friendly construction
  materials no galvanized roofing (zinc), asphalt
  sealers with PAHs (polycyclic aromatic
  hydrocarbons).
• Replace and properly dispose of PCB-containing
  window caulking during renovations.

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After the Technical Assistance Visit

• If a practice is found that needs improvement, we
  will work with you to help you properly manage
  wastes and pollutants.
• You may also receive a return visit from us to
  check on your progress and answer any additional
  questions.

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What are benefits of participation?

• Demonstrate to the community, parents and
  students your commitment to the environment.
• Provide a safe and healthy learning/work
  environment for students and teachers.
• Gain access to pollution prevention resources.
• Increased regulatory awareness and reduced
  liability.
• Decrease operating and disposal costs.
• Contribute to a healthier river, aquifer and
  environment.
• An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

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EnviroStars Certification

• Pilot project to complement Local Source Control
• Recognize EnviroStars certified businesses with
  free advertising
• Focus on proper management and storage of
  hazardous waste
• Implementing Partners
• Spokane River Forum
• Spokane Regional Health District
• Spokane Aquifer Joint Board
• City of Spokane
• Ecology

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Resources

• Department of Ecology website www.ecy.wa.gov
• Recycling information 1-800-RECYCLE or
  https//fortress.wa.gov/ecy/recycle/
• Spokane Regional Solid Waste System website
  www.solidwaste.org
• recycling hotline [phone]
• Hazardous Waste Coordinator [phone]
• King County Local Hazardous Waste Management
  Program
• School chemicals database www.lhwmp.org/home/educ
  ators/chemlist.aspx
• School resources http//www.govlink.org/hazwaste/s
  choolyouth/rehab/labvideos.htm

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Questions

• Contact information
• Sandy Phillips
• Local Source Control Specialist
• Spokane Regional Health District
• Email sphillips_at_spokanecounty.org
• Phone [phone]