Pollution Prevention at NH MVSF

A series of Best Managment Practice sheets covering a variety of topics including fluid management, used oil, solvents and parts washers, and vehicle crushing are being distributed to MVSF operators as they are developed. DES will implement a self-certification checklist in an attempt to achieve voluntary compliance. DES will also use traditional enforcement activities focusing on environmentally sensitive areas and areas where surface or groundwater contamination is suspected.

Since starting work on this project, the NHPPP has conducted three site visits. The first site, a poorly run facility, stockpiled cars in an open field without removing fluids and without having any EPA ID number, good management practices, or NPDES stormwater permit. Although the site visit revealed no obvious sources of surface or groundwater contamination, the mismanagement of fluids represented an obvious environmental threat and preliminary results from recently installed monitoring wells indicate the possibility of MtBE groundwater contamination. At the second site, all valuable parts and fluids were first removed from vehicles inside a building and the removed fluids were completely recycled or reused. This facility was a professionally run business that tracked all removed parts and vehicles by a computer-controlled bar code system. Through a sophisticated recovery and reuse system, all fluids are reused or recovered as usable product rather than declared hazardous wastes. The third facility was well run, but it was small and lacked the resources to "close loop" all their wastes.

Finally, NHPPP will focus on mercury switch removal through all its outreach activities and by working with the region's states to help develop the infrastructure necessary to allow for the cost-effective, convenient removal and recycling of these mercury sources.

For more information on N.H. Green Yards, email nhgreenyards@des.state.nh.us