5.5 Spill Response and Environmental Hazards

The 3 C's of Spill Response

Every pesticide applicator should memorize the 3 C's of spill response. They are the universal first steps regardless of spill size.

1. Control

Stop the source of the spill.

• Put on the label-required PPE before approaching.
• Right the tipped container, close the valve, shut off the pump, or plug the leak.
• If you cannot safely control the source, evacuate and call 911 or the local emergency response agency.

2. Contain

Keep the spill from spreading.

• Build a dike of soil, sand, or absorbent booms around the spill to prevent movement toward wells, streams, storm drains, or tile lines.
• Use absorbent materials - cat litter, sawdust, peat moss, commercial absorbent pads, or activated charcoal - to soak up liquid.
• Do not hose the spill down; water spreads the contamination and pushes it into drains and soil.
• If the spill reaches a water body, notify DNR immediately.

3. Clean Up

Recover the material and dispose of it properly.

• Sweep or shovel the absorbed material into a labeled, sealable container (drum or heavy bag).
• Remove and containerize any contaminated soil; it is now a pesticide waste and must be disposed of as hazardous waste if the product is listed or characteristic.
• Decontaminate the area and tools with the appropriate solvent (water, detergent, or the product-specific decontaminant on the SDS).
• Do not leave the site until the material is secured.

Iowa DNR Spill Reporting Rules

Iowa Code 455B.386 and 567 Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 131 require any person manufacturing, storing, handling, transporting, or disposing of a hazardous substance - which explicitly includes pesticides - to notify the Iowa DNR and local police or county sheriff of a hazardous condition as soon as possible but no later than six (6) hours after onset or discovery.

What Is a Reportable Hazardous Condition?

A spill is reportable if the pesticide has the potential to:

• Leave the property.
• Reach a water of the state (surface water or groundwater).
• Be detected in the air at the facility's boundaries.
• Threaten public health, safety, or first responders.

When in doubt, report. DNR staff decide whether the incident meets the threshold; the applicator's job is to notify.

When You Must Call the Hotline (Not Just File Online)

DNR's online reporting tool cannot be used if any of the following are true:

• Immediate technical assistance is needed.
• Risk to public health or safety.
• Evacuation or shelter-in-place order issued.
• 25 gallons or more of petroleum spilled.
• 100 pounds or more of anhydrous ammonia spilled.
• Impact to surface water, a well, a storm drain, culvert, or drain tile.

In those cases, call the hotline first.

Emergency Contacts

Federal Reportable Quantities

Under EPCRA Section 304, if a release meets or exceeds a federal Reportable Quantity (RQ) for the specific pesticide, the applicator must notify both the NRC and the Iowa DNR within 15 minutes. RQs are listed in EPA's "List of Lists." Iowa's 6-hour rule applies more broadly to any hazardous condition, regardless of whether a federal RQ is met.

Written Follow-Up Report

A written report must be submitted to DNR within 30 days of the request. It includes:

• Exact location of the spill.
• Time and date of onset or discovery.
• Material name, manufacturer, and volume.
• Affected medium (land, water, air).
• Responsible party and reporter contact information.
• Weather conditions.
• Circumstances and containment measures.

Penalty

Violating the reporting requirement is subject to a civil penalty of up to $1,000 under Iowa Code 455B.386.

Preventing Soil and Water Contamination from a Spill

The best spill response is to prevent the spill in the first place. Practical prevention practices include:

• Mix and load on a contained pad away from wells, surface water, and sinkholes.
• Use a backflow preventer or keep the fill hose above the water line of the tank.
• Inspect hoses, valves, and fittings before each season; replace worn gaskets.
• Carry a spill kit on the sprayer and the nurse truck: absorbent pads, booms, granular absorbent, a shovel, a drum, and PPE.
• Never leave a sprayer unattended while filling.
• Keep the Iowa DNR spill hotline and the product SDS in the cab so you can report and respond immediately.

Spill Response Checklist

1. Control - put on PPE, stop the source.
2. Contain - dike and absorb; protect water and wells.
3. Clean up - containerize the absorbed material and contaminated soil.
4. Report - call Iowa DNR at 515-725-8694 within 6 hours (15 minutes if a federal RQ is exceeded).
5. Document - submit the written follow-up within 30 days.
6. Dispose - ship contaminated material to a permitted hazardous-waste facility.