Emergency Protocols

Download, print, and post the 1-page WSDA handout: Emergency Spill Response Protocols and Guidance (March 2014) (PDF)

Plan Ahead to Take Quick Action if a Spill Occurs

• If faced with a spill: control, contain, comply, and clean up.

• Prevent spills with good operation and maintenance.

• Have a spill response plan in place that is specific to the type of waterways on your farm.

• Have emergency contact numbers posted so that anyone can find them at any time.

If You are Faced With Manure Spill, Act Quickly and Follow These Four Steps:

1. Control - Identify and stop the spill immediately at the source.

2. Contain - Limit the area impacted by containing the discharge as appropriate for the situation before it gets to a waterway; if it has reached a waterway, follow your spill response plan.

3. Comply - Notify the appropriate authority immediately of the extent of the damage.

4. Clean-up - Follow instructions from the appropriate agency on how to properly clean up the spill and restore the area without causing further impacts.

Emergency Contact Numbers:

Washington Emergency Management Division (24 hour hotline, all areas): (800) 258-5990

Dept of Ecology

    NW Regional Office 24-hour hotline: (425) 649-7000

WA Dept of Ag

    Northwest Regional Inspector: (360) 961-7412

    Puget Sound Regional Inspector: (360) 202-3257

    Southwest Regional Inspector; (360) 902-2894

    Eastern Regional inspector: (509) 969-7140

State Veterinarian: 1-(360)-902-1878

How to Prevent a Spill:

The best way to deal with a spill is to prevent it in the first place. Regular inspection and maintenance of your manure storage and equipment is vital.

Here are things to do regularly to prevent spills:

• Maintain a 12-15 inch freeboard on your lagoon. This is not only to accommodate storm water, but the freeboard maintains the integrity of your lagoon dike, which is not designed to have prolonged pressure on the top foot. Allowing it to fill to the top increases your chances of having your dike fail.

• Inspect all pipelines, valves, pumps, hoses, and other manure conveyance equipment before each pumping. This is the most common place that discharges occur.

• Make smart manure applications. Follow all manure application setback distances throughout the year. Identify any high risk areas on your field such as swales, slopes, ditches, tiles, or low spots and avoid them when runoff risk is high