Used Oil - Leaks and Spills 
Suggested Best Management Practices (BMPs)

These best management practices (BMPs) are intended to provide some ideas for the content of Pollution Prevention Plans (P2 Plans) and relay helpful information which could minimize generation of wastes and releases of contaminants.  A variety of wastes may be mentioned in the BMPs. BMPs are not a comprehensive guide for waste management compliance.  For example, the owner/operator should be more familiar with the quantities and characteristics of their own wastes and should seek out other available resources for requirements such as determining whether a particular waste should be managed as a non-hazardous waste or a more strictly regulated “hazardous waste.”  More complete regulatory citations and guidance are available from other, separate resources within WDEQ, including the Wyoming Hazardous Waste Rules and the Wyoming Solid Waste Rules.

In the case of used oil, please be aware that used oil is regulated under
Chapter 12 of the Wyoming Hazardous Rules and Regulations and Wyoming Solid Waste Rules.

In addition to regulations, general help with interpretations and guidance can also be found at the following link: http://deq.state.wy.us/shwd/I&C/index.asp

Questions to Consider

Suggested Best Management Practices - BMPs

Do you take steps to prevent leaks and spills?

Keep machinery, equipment containers, and tanks in good working condition and be careful when transferring used oil. Have sorbent materials available on site.

Do you know how to deal with a spill?

Make sure all used oil spill requirements are met, according to Wyoming Hazardous Waste Rules and Regulations.

Do you know how to erect an emergency containment?

One way containment can be accomplished is by erecting sorbent berms or by spreading a sorbent over the oil.

Do you know how to clean up the spilled oil?

Clean up the oil and recycle the used oil as you would have before it was spilled. If recycling is not possible, you first must make sure the used oil is not a hazardous waste and dispose of it appropriately. All used cleanup materials, from rags to sorbent booms, that contain free-flowing used oil also must be handled according to the used oil management standards. Remember, all leaked and spilled oil collected during cleanup must be handled as used oil. If you are a used oil handler, you should become familiar with these cleanup methods. They may also be part of a spill response action plan.

Do you ensure the equipment won’t cause a future oil spill?

Remove, repair, or replace the defective equipment, transfer equipment or container immediately.

YOUR IDEAS FOR YOUR BUSINESS

SEE THE TOOLBOX INTRODUCTION ON WAYS TO START YOUR P2 PLAN. IT’S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION AND POLLUTION FROM HAPPENING AT YOUR BUSINESS. IF A SPILL HAPPENS ANYWAY, YOU MUST BE IMPLEMENTING A POLLUTION PREVENTION PLAN TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR DEQ’S VOLUNTARY REMEDIATION PROGRAM.


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