Operational Area Containment

Section 255 Section 255.90  Operational Area Containment a)         Except as provided in Section 255.140, all transfer of agrichemicals between containers, including loading, unloading, repackaging and mixing, and equipment cleaning performed at an agrichemical facility or a non-commercial agrichemical facility, shall be done with a containment system designed to intercept, retain, and recover operational and accidental spillage, leakage, wash water, and agrichemical residues. Materials of containment structures shall be compatible with the products handled and maintained in a condition to retain recovered material until it is used or properly disposed of. b)         General requirements for permanent operational containment structures consisting of floors, curbs, and walls include: 1)         Floors, curbs, and walls of a permanent operational containment structure shall be constructed of reinforced concrete or other materials compatible with the agrichemical being handled. 2)         A permanent operational area containment structure shall be sealed or otherwise maintained to provide a rate of permeability not to exceed 1 x 10 -6 centimeters per second. 3)         Cracks and seams that develop shall be repaired and sealed. 4)         Storm water drainage shall be diverted away from all permanent containment structures. c)         Loading area containment:  Total loading area containment volume shall be equal to or greater than the volume of the largest tank to be loaded in the loading area.  If the loading area containment area is not protected from contact with precipitation, the containment volume shall be equal to or greater than the volume generated by a 6 inch rain storm (a 25 year, 24 hour storm).  The loading area containment volume requirements may be achieved with a curbed containment area and catch basin or in combination with above ground tanks connected to an automatic sump pump transfer system or by gravity flow where elevation or installation allows. d)         Unloading area containment:  Total unloading area containment volume shall be a minimum of 25 gallons.  The loading area containment may be used as the unloading area containment.  Individual catchment basins or portable containers may be used to meet the requirements of this Section.  The individual basins or portable containers shall be placed to catch and recover spillage and leakage from transfer connections and pumps. e)         Mixing and repackaging area container:  Mixing and repackaging containment areas shall provide curbing or other means (e.g., basins) to intercept, retain, and recover agrichemicals spilled or leaked during mixing and repackaging operations. f)         Cleaning and washing area containment:  Cleaning and washing of agrichemical residue from handling, processing and application equipment at an agrichemical facility or a non-commercial agrichemical facility shall be done utilizing an operational containment system or structure.  Cleaning and washing containment may be accomplished at the loading containment area.  If a separate cleaning and washing area is used, it shall be designed to intercept, retain and recover all wash water and agrichemical residue containing pesticides. g)         Transfer structures and systems:  The use of underground structures or pits for storage of rinsates, washwater or recycle liquid is prohibited. This prohibition includes scale pits but does not include sumps or wet wells containing pumps used for transfer of spilled agrichemicals, rinse waters or wash waters to containment, holding or recycle systems.  Sumps or wet wells are structures that have detention times of 72 hours or less.  Sumps or wet wells shall be constructed and maintained to provide a rate of permeability not to exceed 1 x 10 -6 centimeters per second.  Sumps and wet wells shall be inspected for cracks and leaks and sealed immediately if any cracks or leaks are found.