10 • PCB Accident and Spill Policy

Adopted: 1985-07-19
Revised: 1987-10-16
Reviewed: 1998-09-21

A. General Provisions:

1. WELLS RURAL ELECTRIC COMPANY will comply with EPA requirements spelled out in Federal Register, Vol. 40, No. 761, dated April 2, 1987, for PCB Spills Cleanup Policy.

2. Whenever a suspected PCB accident and spill is discovered, the employee should immediately contact his/her supervisor, the Manager Electric Operations or the chief executive officer.

3.

a) If the spill contains greater than 50 ppm PCB and directly contaminates surface waters, sewers and sewer treatment facilities, private or public drinking water sources, animal grazing lands and vegetable gardens, the chief executive officer or his designee will contact the Regional EPA office of Toxics and Pesticides (415)974-7054, or the 24 hour No. (415)974-8131 within 24 hours after discovery.

b) If the spill involves more than 10 pounds of pure PCBs, (2,700 gallons of untested mineral oil), the Regional EPA office of Toxics and Pesticides and the National Response Center, 1-800-424-8802, shall be notified immediately after discovery.

4. The first priority of the employee after discovery of a spill will be to control the spread of the spill by damming or diking the leak and secure the area against precipitation by covering the area with visqueen. Straw bales or sawdust can be effective in checking the flow or spread of oil. Once the leak is stopped or appropriate emergency action has been taken, a screening test should be made, if the ppm PCB is unknown, to determine if it is PCB contaminated and the appropriate supervisor shall be informed.

5. All contaminated materials shall be placed in an approved barrel and sealed for disposal. All equipment shall be wrapped in plastic and sealed for separate disposal. If soil has been contaminated, it will be dug up and placed in an approved barrel and sealed for disposal.

6. In any spill situation, the member/owner can become quite alarmed. All official information about the spill will be released through the chief executive officer or his designee. Under no circumstances are employees to give interviews or state personal opinions during a spill situation unless directed to do so by the chief executive officer or his designee.

B. Cleanup and Sampling:

1. It is the goal of this company that all electrical equipment containing oil shall be labeled as to its PCB status.

2. When an employee notices a spill, he/she will proceed as in A.4 of this policy.

3. If the electrical equipment involved in the spill or leak is labeled as to its PCB status, the employee will notify his/her supervisor of this status.

a) If the oil involved is labeled less than 50 ppm, all visible traces of oil shall be removed.

b) Spills 50-449 ppm, less than 1 pound pure PCBs (270 gallons untested mineral oil).

1. Cleanup completed within 48 hours.

2. Double wash/rinse all solid surfaces with an approved solvent, such as kerosene. All residue to be captured and disposed of.

3. Double wash/rinse any contaminated indoor, residential surfaces to 10 micrograms per 100 square centimeters (10 ug/100cm2).

4. Excavate all soil within the spill area (visible traces plus a 1-foot buffer).

5. Backfill the excavated area with clean soil (i.e., less than 1 ppm), and restore the spill site to its original configuration.

6. No post cleanup sampling required.

c) Spills 50-449 ppm, greater than 1 pound pure PCBs (270 gallons untested mineral oil).

1. Cleanup to be initiated within 24 hours.

2. Cordon off and restrict access to the spill location (visible traces plus a 3-foot buffer).

3. Place clearly visible signs advising persons to avoid the area.

4. Record and document a diagram of the spill area showing the extent and center of all visible traces.

5. If there are no visible traces, record the fact and contact the Regional E.P.A. office for guidance in completing a sampling scheme of the area to determine the spill boundaries.

6. Initiate cleanup of the spill (i.e., double wash/rinse solid surfaces, excavate soil, etc.). Contact engineering for proper cleanup levels.

7. Contact engineering for proper post cleanup sampling.

d) Spills greater than 500 ppm PCB.

1. Same as B.3c.

4. If the electrical equipment involved in the spill or leak is NOT labeled as to its PCB status, the employee will notify his/her supervisor of this fact.

a) A screening test will be performed (CLOR-N-OIL) to determine if the oil is below or above 50 ppm. Extra oil will be obtained for further testing. A sample shall be sent to a lab to determine the exact PCB level.

b) Cleanup shall conform to B.3b or B.3c, whichever is applicable.

C. Removal of Leaking Equipment that is in Service for Disposal:

1. Spread visqueen plastic on ground and vegetation to prevent further spread of contamination.

2. Disconnect equipment from line in a safe manner.

3. Wrap equipment in 6 mil plastic, tape plastic to equipment with heavy tape to prevent further spill.

4. Place open-end steel 55 gallon barrel at the base of pole (barrel should have 6 inches of sand and/or porous material in bottom to absorb PCB contaminated oil). Do not place soil or other contaminated material in this drum.

5. Exercise care in lowering equipment directly into barrel.

6. Remove visqueen plastic ground and vegetation cover. Dispose of plastic and contaminated soil in same barrel, if possible, and seal.

7. If pole, capacitor, transformer, adjacent equipment, hardware, crossarms, disposal tools (such as shovels, rakes, etc.) become contaminated with PCB oil, care should be used to dispose of them in the prescribed manner. Poles and crossarms should be removed on visqueen plastic and sawed in small sections. Place them in approved barrels. Sawdust should fall on plastic sheet. Dispose of plastic containing sawdust in barrel and seal. (Poles and crossarms can be wiped down with solvent).

D. Personal Protective Equipment Required:

When cleaning up spill or removing LEAKING equipment, the following protective equipment should be worn and used:

1. A plastic face shield, covering entire face area, should be worn to prevent accidental facial exposure or ingestion of PCB contaminated oil.

2. A disposable rainsuit, plastic gloves and boots should be worn by all personnel expected to be exposed to PCB contamination and shall be made available.

3. Regular 20,000 volt rubber gloves and protectors should be worn by all personnel handling equipment and non-porous foot protection, such as quality rubber boots for foot protection.

4. IMPORTANT NOTE: All personal protective equipment contaminated with oil containing PCBs should be disposed of in an approved disposal barrel and sealed.

E. Employee Exposure:

Should liquid or solid PCBs contact the eyes, immediate irrigation of the eyes should be started and continued for a minimum of 15 minutes. Physician should then examine employee. (A drop of vegetable oil on the eye has been found to reduce irritation).

Should liquid or solid material contaminated with PCBs be splashed or spilled on an employee, contaminated clothing should be removed promptly and the skin washed thoroughly with soap and water for at least 15 minutes. Contaminated clothing, wash-water and towels should be disposed of in the approved barrels with other waste material for disposal.

F. Employee Training:

Copies of this policy shall be posted and available to each employee. The policy shall be reviewed regularly at employee job training and safety meetings so that all employees will be familiar with its contents.

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