Perchlorate Awareness Training

1
Perchlorate Awareness Training

• Stormwater Coordinators

2
Objectives

• Learn what perchlorates are
• Learn the hazards of perchlorates
• Learn the regulations
• Learn the Caltrans Best Management Practices
• Protect ourselves and the environment

3
Perchlorates

• Natural occurring
• ammoniun, potassium, sodium salts
• Chilean nitrate fertilizers
• Perchlorate Material - Special Handling
• Manufactured
• rocket propellant, explosives, fireworks,
• road flares, fusees
• button batteries - CR
• bleach, fertilizers

4
Perchlorate Hazards

• Physical Hazards
• Strong oxidizer, flammable (pure form)
• react violently, explode - BOOM-BOOM
• flammable solid - flares, fusees
• Environmental Hazard
• Water soluble
• drinking water, groundwater, and soil
• been found in food (milk, vegetables)

5
Perchlorate Environmental Hazards

• Interferes with iodine uptake
• thyroid hormone production / thyroid function
• can lead to developmental defects
• Highest Risk - pregnant women, children, infants,
  those with thyroid disorders
• Public Health Goal
• max 6ppb (parts per billion) in drinking water
• 3 teaspoons in an olympic pool

6
Perchlorate Regulations

• Hazardous material (pure form)
• strong oxidizer - explodes, flammable solid
• Perchlorate Contamination Prevention Act of 2003
• Perchlorate Best Management Practices (BMP)
• Dept. of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC)
• effective July 2006
• applies to Caltrans
• Caltrans Memo - May 16, 2006
• Caltrans will adopt BMPs

7
CT Perchlorate BMP agreement

• One time reporting to DTSC
• July 1, 2006 - June 30, 2007 - Due Sept. 1, 2007
• Quantities stored 500lbs. (solids) at any time.
• Or 55 gallons liquid
• Use DTSC form
• Train staff
• Environmental hazards
• Handling, storage, usage of perchlorates
• Dispose of waste properly
• Investigate alternatives to perchlorates

8
Maintenance BMP responsibilities

• Containment of perchlorates at Mtce stations
• One time reporting
• Implement road flare BMP
• Update business plan to include perchlorates
• Proper handling of perchlorate spills
• Proper disposal of perchlorate materials
• Update stormwater BMPs, procedures and manuals,
  provide training
• Review and implement non-perchlorate alternatives

9
Perchlorate Containment

• Packages
• designed and constructed so no release to
  environment
• water-resistant package
• Storage
• weather resistant structure with floor
• water resistant to prevent seepage in or out
• no drains unless permitted
• srong enough to hold load
• Doesnt apply to fertilizer stored site of use

10
Road Flare BMPs

• Minimize release of perchlorate to environment
• to the extent practical without impeding
  immediate safety considerations
• allow flares to burn completely
• limit number and duration necessary to ensure
  safety
• everyone who uses flares at work needs training
  on environmental hazards and BMPs
• Combustion Residuals not covered
• let flares burn out completely

11
Perchlorate Spills

• non-hazardous perchlorate materials
• take action to stop and contain spill
• determine if any hazardous waste
• manage waste appropriately
• collect material resulting from spill
• prevent and minimize releases to storm drains

12
Disposal of Perchlorates

• Combustion Residuals - throw in dumpster
• perchlorates burned up
• Non hazardous perchlorate waste
• hazardous waste landfill
• composite lined portion of municipal solid waste
  landfill meeting October 9, 1993 requirements
• Waste from use of safety flares for public safety
  is exempt
• Used detonators - dispose of properly per
  manufacturer

13
Stormwater

• Keep all perchlorates out of waterways and drains
• natural occurring
• fertilizers, bleach
• flares / fusees
• spills
• Awareness is the key
• Review Perchlorate Stormwater Bulletin with crews

14
Perchlorates - Wrap up

• Found in rocket fuels, explosives, fusees,
  Chilean fertilizers, bleach, button batteries.
• Now in drinking water and groundwater
• Interferes with Iodine uptake - thyroid function
• New DTSC rules
• One time reporting
• Containment at Mtce Stations
• Fusee BMPs - minimize, burn out, training
• Combustion residuals exempt
• Handle and dispose correctly
• Protect drains and water - BMPs - Training
• Consider alternatives

15
More Info

• Storm Water bulletin - Perchlorates
• Carlos Lopez - Hazwaste
• DTSC
• www.dtsc.ca.gov/Hazardous Waste/Perchlorate/index.
  cfm
• Stormwater Group