Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Mitigation Measures
Mitigation measures to avoid or reduce impact from hazardous materials and waste handling associated with an energy transmission project.
The following are examples of mitigation measures that could be applied to reduce hazardous materials and waste management impacts of a project depending on site- and project-specific conditions. Hazardous materials and waste management impacts are related to the type or project and its footprint (e.g., land disturbance, types of hazardous materials required to construct the project or that would be transported by the project, and the types and amounts of waste generated by the project), and type and amount of accidental spills of hazardous wastes that could occur during the lifetime of the project. Many impacts can be reduced or avoided when considered during the siting and design of a project during the site evaluation phase.
Develop a final set of mitigation measures for any project in consultation with the appropriate federal resource management agencies and stakeholders. Conduct these consultations in the project development process and preferably prior to final project siting and design.
Siting and Design Mitigation Measures
Siting and design considerations that mitigate impacts include:
Prepare a comprehensive list of all hazardous materials to be used, stored, transported, or disposed of during all phases of activity.
Develop a hazardous materials management plan addressing storage, use, transportation, and disposal (interim and final) for each item in the comprehensive list. The plan should identify specifics regarding local and federal emergency response.
Develop a waste management plan identifying anticipated solid and liquid waste streams and addressing determination, inspection and waste minimization procedures, storage locations, and waste-specific management and disposal requirements. Include a recycling strategy to be practiced by workers during all project phases.
Develop a spill prevention and response plan for addressing storage locations of hazardous wastes, spill prevention measures, training requirements, waste-specific spill response actions, spill response kits, and notifications to authorities.
Investigate the historical use of the area to be disturbed with regard to the potential presence of hazardous materials.
General Mitigation Measures
General mitigation practices and principles that could apply to any or all phases of an energy transmission project include:
Implement plans for hazardous materials management, waste management spill prevention and response, stormwater management, and pesticide management. Train employees to promptly contain, report, and/or clean up any oil or hazardous material spill.
Provide secondary containment for all on-site hazardous materials and waste storage, including fuel.
Containerize and periodically remove wastes for recycling or for disposal at appropriate off-site permitted disposal facilities.
Provide portable spill containment and cleanup equipment in all vehicles.
Select pesticides that are low in human toxicity, known to be effective against the target species, and have minimal effects on non-target species and the environment.
Keep vehicles and equipment in good working order to prevent oil and fuel leaks.
Project Phase-Specific Mitigation Measures
Mitigation measures specific to a particular phase of an energy transmission project include:
Decommissioning/Site Reclamation
Remove aboveground project components from the project area and either recycle, sell as scrap, or properly dispose of at licensed waste disposal facilities.
