After oil refinery and mining operations, agricultural facilities are the next largest group of businesses that handle hazardous waste. Everything from the fertilizer needed to grow lush fields of hay or crops, to the manure produced by livestock, can create hazards for employees and seriously harm the environment when spilled. A spill containment system on even the largest farm is usually more mobile and divided into smaller sections than the designs used for refineries and oil fields. Each type of hazardous material on a farm requires separate storage to prevent mixing and to keep the materials near where they’re needed. This means that secondary containment pads, custom made from a durable geotextile liner, are the best option for most forms of agricultural storage containers.
Fertilizer Mixing and Storage
While powdered and pelleted fertilizers need spill protection as well, secondary containment is often legally required by the state or county if you’re storing any liquid fertilizers. Liquid fertilizers are also growing in popularity as one of the easiest ways to evenly distribute essential nutrients, especially nitrogen, across large fields and acres of grass. Uneven fertilizer distribution leads to over growth in some areas and under performance in others, but liquid fertilizers need durable secondary containment under all containers. You’ll also need these containment pads wherever fertilizers are mixed or loaded onto mobile tanks and trucks. Consider a mix of permanent liner pads under and around the storage tanks and a mobile drive on/off pad for the fertilizer loading and unloading areas on your farm. Check with your state to determine what regulations exist. For example, farms in Michigan are required to set up secondary containment systems when they have a single container with a volume of 2,500 gallons or more, or, over 7,500 gallons stored in total. Agricultural recommendations in general are based around secondary containment that can handle 125% of the volume of the largest container.
Pesticides and Herbicides
Along with fertilizers, states usually set requirements for secondary containment and spill protection for any bulk storage of pesticides and herbicides. These chemicals often require separate storage from fertilizer to prevent the creation of toxic gases and corrosive combinations if there’s a combined leak. If you are storing your pesticides and fertilizers in the same area or building, consider at least making separate containment areas to keep spills apart. A few states regulate pesticide storage for even the smallest containers, but EPA regulations for hazardous materials in general start for 55 gallon storage units and up. Secondary containment for the smallest containers is easily achieved with buckets and small pads, but even a few 55 gallon drums will need a full-sized containment pad sized to their combined volume.
Oil, Diesel, and Other Machinery Supplies
Farms may only store a fraction of the oil, diesel, and other petroleum products found at refineries and mining facilities, but these fuels and lubricants are essential for the daily performance of heavy equipment. Tractors and harvesters also require hundreds of gallons of hydraulic fluid and other supplies that can pose a hazard if spilled or leaked into the environment. Since farms rely on clean water supplies and healthy soil, contamination can directly damage the bottom line through reduced productivity and lost land. Secondary containment pads for large above ground storage tanks are often formed out of concrete or earth covered in liner. If that’s not possible without disrupting your daily operations, try a custom liner pad that can be slipped under the tank with the help of jacks and supports. There’s no need to excavate or pour new concrete, and you can time the installation of the secondary containment system for when the tank is nearly empty and ready for refilling.
Manure and Sludge
Any farm with livestock, even if the animals are raised on pasture for most of their lives, must deal with the accumulation of manure. Animal manure can serve as an important source of free fertilizer or even generate a profit for the farm as a secondary product. Manure is generally dried or turned into a liquid sludge so it’s easy to spray on fields. Dried manure is relatively non-hazardous aside from dust, but liquid manure sludge is definitely considered by a hazardous material by most state and federal agencies. Secondary containment is essential for open manure piles in some areas, so you may need a lined pit to store raw manure until it can be processed as pellets or sludge. ArmorPro works well as a manure pit liner and material for secondary container pads thanks to a chemical resistant outer layer that can handle the corrosive effects of manure.
Loading Zones and Spill Protection
Don’t forget about the loading zones for your fertilizer, manure, and pesticide deliveries. One damaged hose or loose connection can result in the accidental discharge of hundreds or thousands of gallons of hazardous materials. Keep emergency kits on hand for dealing with chemical spills where all farm workers can access them easily and quickly. These kits should include exposure suits and absorbent materials that reduce the spread of the spilled chemicals. Portable secondary containment pads made from a flexible liner material are also good to keep on hand for dealing with loading zone emergencies. For the best spill control, consider designing your loading zones with a large depression into the concrete or pad paired with a geomembrane liner. The trucks can pull into these containment areas and unload securely away from any drains or sensitive areas. If there is a spill, the depression will hold the fluid or other materials until it can be cleaned up.
For smaller above ground storage tanks, you may only need a liner-based containment pad that is a few inches tall. Larger tanks will require a greater wall height based on the total expected volume of a possible spill. Identify the hazardous materials on your farm, calculate the total amount you’re storing at any one time, and check for both state and federal regulations regarding hazmat storage to avoid fines and dangerous accidents. Proper secondary containment can make the difference between a major loss or a successful agricultural year.
