A manure hauler is traveling down the road with a tanker loaded with 10,000 gallons of liquid manure. His caution lights are flashing, and the slow-moving vehicle sign is visible on the back of his tanker. An oncoming vehicle is passing in a “no pass zone.” To avoid a head-on collision, the manure hauler swerves off the road. The impact causes the tanker to tip and fall sideways, spilling the entire contents of its manure onto the road and into a ditch. What steps should be taken to clean up the spill?
That was a question asked during two training meetings for manure applicators sponsored by Michigan State University Extension and Michigan Farm Bureau. A manure spill can happen during transport, land application, or while handling manure on the farm. While preventing spills remains the top priority, experts emphasize that a fast, organized response can greatly reduce environmental damage and regulatory consequences.
A manure spill is defined as any release of manure that has the potential to threaten surface water or groundwater. Training materials used in Michigan's manure hauler education program note that spills most commonly occur during transportation or field application, often because of equipment failure, driver error, distracted driving, or application mistakes.
Source : msu.edu