BMP Field Manual

Chapter 4 - Fuels, Lubricants, Waste and Spills

• Fuels, Lubricants and Waste
• Spills

Logging, road building and other forest activities require motorized equipment. Antifreeze, fuels and lubricants used in machinery can potentially pollute lakes, streams, wetlands and ground water. Planning for forestry operations should include practices to handle solid and liquid wastes generated in the field.

The following BMPs will help prevent nonpoint source pollution from fuels, lubricants and wastes during forest management activities.

• Use biodegradable lubricants whenever practical. Biodegradable lubricants are less toxic than other lubricants but still need to be disposed of properly. To contact distributors of biodegradable lubricants, see Sources for Help.
• Maintain equipment regularly. Check hoses and fittings to prevent leaks or spills.
• Designate specific areas for equipment maintenance and fueling. Locate these areas on level terrain, a minimum of 100 feet from all streams and lakes.
• Collect all waste lubricants, containers and trash. Store them in leak-proof containers until they can be transported off-site for recycling, reuse or disposal at an approved site. Call your local DNR regional office for more information.
• Note: It is illegal to dump fuel and lubricants on the land or waters in the state of Wisconsin.
• Separate all fluids and materials and keep in different labeled containers to avoid creating "hazardous waste" and expensive waste disposal. Call your local DNR regional office to determine if a waste is hazardous and how to dispose of hazardous waste.

Spills

Spills of fuel, lubricants, or pesticides during forest management operations can occur as a result of fueling, hydraulic hose breaks, mechanical damage or vandalism. All spills of hazardous substances that adversely impact or threaten to adversely impact public health, welfare or the environment must be (1) immediately reported to the DNR and (2) cleaned up. In some instances, small quantities of petroleum products and agrichemicals do not require reporting to the DNR. During timber harvesting operations, reporting a spill is not necessary for a gasoline spill under 1 gallon, or for a diesel or hydraulic fluid spill under 5 gallons, as long as there is no threat to the environment. However, the spill still needs to be cleaned up.

For more details on the spill reporting requirements or clean-up, contact your nearest DNR Regional Spill Coordinator:

• Milwaukee (414) 229-0838
• Madison (608) 275-3332
• Eau Claire (715) 839-3775
• Superior (715) 392-0802
• Rhinelander (715) 365-8963
• Green Bay (920) 492-5592

The following best management practices are general guidelines for spills of fuel and lubricants used in forestry field operations. These practices complement specialized training given to persons using pesticides or other hazardous materials.

• Maintain a spill-containment and cleanup kit appropriate for the materials on the operation. At a minimum, a kit for petroleum products should include:
• plugs and clamps to control a hydraulic line break
• a container to catch leaking fluid
• a shovel; and
• absorbent material such as sawdust to absorb fluid, especially useful in the winter when soil is frozen.
• If a spill should occur, do the following in order:
1. Protect yourself and others. Wear protective clothing and equipment appropriate for any hazardous materials on the operation. Avoid coming in contact with any toxic drift or fumes that may be released.
2. If you are able, control the spill; stop the leak.
3. If you are able, contain the spill; keep it from spreading. Shovel a dike around the spill. Use absorbent material, such as sawdust or loose soil, to soak up fluid. Place a bucket under a hydraulic hose break. Keep the spill from flowing into lakes or streams.
4. Isolate the spill material.
5. Report all hazardous substance spills immediately to the Wisconsin 24-hour Emergency Hotline number: 1-800-943-0003.
6. Contact your local DNR regional office for disposal guidance.

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