DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY HEADQUARTERS, UNITED STATES ARMY AVIATION CENTER AND FORT RUCKER FORT RUCKER, ALABAMA

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1 USAAVNC Regulation DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY HEADQUARTERS, UNITED STATES ARMY AVIATION CENTER AND FORT RUCKER FORT RUCKER, ALABAMA USAAVNC Regulation No FACILITIES ENGINEERING AIRCRAFT/VEHICLE WASH RACK OIL SEPARATOR AND SAND TRAP OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE 6 May PURPOSE. To prescribe procedures for the proper operations and maintenance of wash rack oil separators and sand traps in order to assure compliance with the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit requirements. 2. GENERAL. a. Description. (1) Wash rack sand traps are designed to separate sand and heavy particles from the effluent to automotive and aircraft washing facilities. The common sand trap is located in the center of the wash rack and consists of a concrete pit with a removable grate over the top of the pit, flush with the wash rack. It has an outlet pipe in the sidewall of the pit near the top, leading to the oil separator. (2) Wash rack oil separators are designed to separate and collect oil, grease, and detergent scum from the effluent of automotive and aircraft washing facilities. The common type oil separator consists of a concrete tank in the ground near each wash platform facility. It has an inlet from the wash platform and an outlet at the other end that is connected to a sanitary sewer. Oil, grease, and detergent scum entering the separator collect on the surface and heavy particles that escape the sand trap settle to the bottom. b. Maintenance. Overall maintenance and repair, other than preventive or user maintenance, will be accomplished by the

2 USAAVNC Reg May 2003 Shaw Environmental Group. Preventive or user maintenance, such as unstopping, cleaning, and minor servicing to keep the wash rack operable, rests with the using activity. c. Responsibilities. (1) Shaw Environmental Group will be responsible for periodic inspection, maintenance and repair (except preventive maintenance), operation of oil skimmer, and scheduled pickup of collected waste products from aircraft wash rack oil separator and the policing/pickup of solid waste products at the central vehicle wash rack. (2) Using activities are responsible for: proper operation of diversion values to the oil/water separator; cleaning of sand traps as prescribed in procedures, paragraph d below; preventive maintenance services; and weekly inspections. (3) The using activity commander will appoint, in writing, an individual responsible for the supervision of the operation and proper cleaning of the facilities. A copy of the appointment orders indicating the responsible individual and telephone number will be forwarded to both DEL Engineering Division and Environmental Office. The appointed individual must be trained in this operation by the DEL (Environmental Office), telephone d. Procedures. (1) Using activities will remove sand and sediment from the sand trap when the level of these materials restrict the normal operation and flow of the effluent. The sand trap will be checked a least once a week, and even more frequently during periods of heavy use. The sand and sediment will be placed in a dumpster for disposal. The using activity will be responsible for positioning the diversion valves for proper operation. When aircraft are being washed, valves will be positioned to cause the wastewater to flow through the oil separator. At the end of the day or when the wash racks are not being utilized for washing, the valves will be positioned to cause the runoff to flow into the storm drain system. Personnel responsible for the wash racks will be trained in the proper operation of these facilities by DEL (Environmental office) personnel. Personnel 2

3 using the central vehicle wash rack must pull vehicles between solid USAAVNC Regulation May 2003 Yellow lines on wash rack before washing, and will police area and wash rack down after washing vehicle or equipment. (2) Vehicles or equipment with large volumes of dirt will be shoveled out on work site before entering wash rack to reduce the volume of dirt entering the sediment basin. (3) Airfield wash racks will be used for washing aircraft and related aircraft support equipment on as need basics only (yellow gear and mules). Engine gas-path cleaning is authorized on airfield wash racks, but the amount of gas path cleaner used will be no more than the minimum required by standing operating procedures. This will minimize the impact on the sewage treatment plant. Detergent may be used on airfield wash racks, but the amount of detergent used will be the minimum required for effective cleaning to reduce the impact on the sewage treatment plant. Detergents will not be used to clean the wash rack. Frequent inspections and maintenance will be performed to ensure that full strength detergent does not leak or spill into the wash rack drain. No other substance (oil, fuel, waste, solvents, wastewater, etc.) will be discharged, dumped, or allowed to leak into the wash rack drains. This is extremely important due to the possibility of exceeding discharge limits at the sewage treatment plant, or an illegal discharge to a storm drain. Oil, grease, and dirt washed off of aircraft are acceptable to go into the wash rack drain; however, excessive amounts of oil or grease will be wiped off of the aircraft before washing. (4) Solvents, fuels or other flammable materials must not be allowed to enter the wash racks. Discharge of materials that could cause a fire or explosion in the sewer line or at the sewage treatment plant, and cause property damage or personal injury is considered Knowing Endangerment under the Clean Water Act, and is subject to fines up to $250,000 per day and 15 years imprisonment. Persons subject to prosecution are those actually discharging, or those in a management position that are allowing the illegal discharge to occur. (5) The using organization will be responsible for conducting weekly inspections of the wash rack facilities. The inspection checklist for aircraft wash racks is at Appendix A. 3

4 The inspection check list will be maintained on site for a period of three (3) years as required by 40 CFR , and will USAAVNC Regulation May 2003 Be available for inspection by State or Federal Regulators or Environmental Office personnel. (6) The central vehicle wash rack will be used for washing all equipment and vehicles, except garbage trucks. No substance other than wash water for vehicles or equipment will be discharged into the wash rack drains. Any other substance must be approved by the DPW Environmental Office, telephone number Oil, grease, and dirt washed off equipment, vehicles, and aircraft are acceptable to go into the wash rack drain; however, these substances (oil, grease, solvents or fuels) will not be dumped into the wash rack. Objects larger than the wash rack will be positioned so that wash water from the portion being washed drains into the wash rack drain. (7) Garbage trucks will not be washed out at the central vehicle wash rack because the garbage contaminates the sediment basin and turns it septic. (8) Wash rack facilities used by more than one user will be the responsibility of the predominant user. (9) No maintenance on vehicles, aircraft, etc., will be performed on any of the wash racks. (10) The DPW Environmental Office will inspect monthly to assure that sand traps and oil separators are kept in operating condition and functioning satisfactorily. Wash racks will be operated and maintained in such as manner as to preclude violation of the NPDES permit. Call telephone number 9041 in case of malfunction of the wash rack. 3. A copy of this regulation will be permanently posted at each facility to ensue that the facility is properly operated. The proponent agency of this regulation is the Directorate of Engineering and Logistics. Users are invited to send comments or suggested improvements to the GC, USAAVNC & Fort Rucker, ATTN: ATZQ-DEL-E, Fort Rucker, Alabama

5 FOR THE COMMANDER: KAYE M. McLEAN Chief, DOIM Administrative Services DISTRIBUTION: Distributed in accordance with requirements for USAAVNC Reg as indicated on USAAVNC Form