  |
 |
 |
 |
New York Home
About Us
News
Programs
Technical Resources
Partnerships
Features
Contact Us |
   |
|
|
The Importance of an Emergency Action PlanAn Emergency Action Plan (EAP) is required as part of a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP) for a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO). The plan is necessary to minimize the environmental impact of discharges, or mishaps while handling manure. Not being prepared for such an emergency may result in personal injury, property damage and environmental damage on the farm, or off-site areas. An Emergency Action Plan provides detailed information on what to do in the event of an accident or emergency. While an EAP is not required by a non-CAFO farm, it is recommended that one be developed. It is important to keep a copy of your EAP with your manure management plan or records. The plan should be in an easily accessed location that is known by you, family members, or employees. An Emergency Action Plan can provide critical information that will reduce the severity of emergencies, the risk to humans and animals, the economic losses, and the potential of environmental pollution. The following event demonstrates how a well-designed and implemented emergency action plan can reduce the severity of emergencies. On January 12, 2009, at approximately 9:30 a.m., a farmer called the Watershed Agricultural Program (WAP) office in Walton, following his Emergency Action Plan, to report that the manure transfer pump on his farm had malfunctioned and that as a result, manure was flowing from the manure storage tank, via the transfer pipe, back into the barn.
The freestall dairy barn was flooded with manure which was running out of the door into the adjacent field. He stated that he attempted to close the valve in the transfer pipe, located between the storage structure and the barn, but was unsuccessful. He called a local farm supplier that sells and services the type of manure pump installed his farm. Immediately, WAP and NRCS staff went to the farm to assist the landowner with the problem, arriving at approximately 10:30 am. Weather conditions at the site were a temperature of 20 degrees, light winds, mostly sunny skies, and approximately 8 inches of dry powdery snow on the ground. Upon arrival, they observed a large plume of manure flowing in a generally southerly direction towards a creek. Two employees from the local farm supply store were on site working on the repair of the pump. They were able to close the valve in the transfer pipe located adjacent to the manure storage structure. This prevented additional manure from draining out of the storage. However, due to the large volume of manure in the barn and in the field, the plume continued to move toward a nearby creek.
Another firm listed in the Emergency Action Plan, was on site with a pump truck and they were in the process of pumping manure out of the barn into a manure spreader for field application. A Nutrient Management specialist was
also on site, and advised the landowner where to spread the manure in compliance with his nutrient management plan.
A shallow hole was then excavated at the end of the ditch to contain the manure in the corn field. This effort was completely successful. No manure reached any watercourse and it was fully contained on site.
The NYSDEC spill hotline was called, and the incident was reported. The NYCDEP was also informed about the event. WAP and NRCS staff remained on site until early afternoon to ensure that the manure had been completely contained and that there was no further risks. It was recommended that the manure plume be allowed to freeze over the next few days as the liquid manure was impossible to handle. Once frozen, the manure could be scraped up, loaded into the manure spreader and spread on cropland in accordance with a nutrient management plan. Manure that couldn’t be picked up would be scraped utilizing the bulldozer, skid steer and/or bucket loader out of the swale and spread in the adjacent crop field. This needed to be done before the next signification snowfall or thaw. Fortunately, the forecast for the balance of the week was daytime highs of 10 degrees and nighttime lows below zero, with no significant precipitation.
Based on observations of the manure drawdown in the manure storage structure it is estimated that approximately 35,000 gallons drained from the tank, 10,000 gallons of which was contained within the free stall barn. The manure pump installed on this farm utilizes two guillotine valves in the pumping process. Similar pumps have experienced the valves staying open when the pump is off resulting in a backflow of manure through the pump. The manufacturer retrofitted all similar pumps with a safety spring to ensure that the valves would remain closed when the pump is shut off. A safety spring had been installed on the pump at the farm where the discharge occurred. This caused problems with pumping efficiency. It was sub sequentially replaced with an air bag system to keep the valves closed. This system also caused pumping problems. According to the landowner, he instructed the dairy supply employees to disable the system after experiencing regular problems with the pump. This was done approximately 4 years ago. Photos by:Lenny Prezorski, Resource Conservationist |
|
|
|
Back to Top