Unit Review

This review is meant to provide an overview, calling out the highlights of each section within the unit. Please be sure to review the unit in its entirety in order to learn specific best management practices and to get the most out of this classroom.

Section 1: Preventing Spills at the Source

In this section, you covered:

The importance of safely installing, storing, using and transferring oil and oil-based products:
Fuel storage tanks at marinas can significantly impact the environment and can be expensive to remediate when there are problems. Although the day-to-day operation of fuel storage systems is quite automated, you must remain diligent to prevent any release to the environment — whether it is a catastrophic release or a drip.

Several ways you can eliminate or reduce fuel spills and leaks:
Install environmental controls at fuel pumps — remove fuel nozzle holding clips and install automatic back pressure shutoff nozzles, for example. Advocate for the use of oil-absorbent materials. Conduct regular maintenance on yard equipment to minimize spills and leaks.

Employee and boater education about smart fueling and spill-prevention techniques:
Always have a trained employee at the fuel dock, train employees in best management practices and dispose of absorbent pads properly. Post signs illustrating clean fueling practices for employees and boaters.

Equipment, practices and services you can use to help keep petroleum and fuel out of the water at your marina:

  • Avoid waves and wakes
  • Offer spill-proof oil changes
  • Maintain fuel transfer equipment
  • Minimize spills and leaks from machinery

Section 2: Emergency Preparedness

In this section, you covered:

Anticipating and assessing potential hazards at your marina:
Spills, fires, health emergencies, high winds or other weather events, floods and vehicularcollision.

The importance of developing or updating your emergency response plans for marina hazards such as oil spills and fires:
The written Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) plan should describe all measures taken at your facility to prevent and control a release of oil or petroleum products in the event that your secondary containment fails. To help determine whether you are required to develop an SPCC Plan, see: SPCC Plan Guide for Marinas and Boat Owners (EPA). Even if an SPCC plan is not legally required, it is beneficial to have a similar plan in place. Be sure to train employees on proper response protocol.

  • In the event of an oil spill: Control, contact authorities, contain and clean up.
  • Make sure to post the U.S. Coast Guard National Response Center phone number (800) 424-8802 and contact information for local authorities in an easy-to-spot location.
  • To be prepared for the event of a fire, your marina should meet the National Fire Protection Association’s standards for marinas.
  • Prohibit the use of detergents to dissipate spills on the water.

The potential hazards, emergency response plans and procedures, and where to find spill kits:
Develop written procedures describing actions to be taken under given circumstances. The plans should be clear, concise and easy to read during an emergency; use a large font size. Each emergency response plan should contain the who, what, when where and how of each spill or emergency scenario.

How to maintain and safely store your oil spill response equipment:
Store the equipment where the greatest threat of an oil spill exists (fuel receiving and fuel dispensing areas), make the materials accessible to all, make sure it is labeled clearly and replenish used parts of kits immediately.

The importance of staying up-to-date on forms like the Tier II forms and Material Safety Data Sheets, and know where to get more information on requirements:
Keep a file of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for all chemical products used at your facility (including diesel and gas), as required by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 USC Sec. 657).

Facilities covered by Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) requirements must annually submit an Emergency and Hazardous Chemical Inventory Form to the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC), and the local fire department.