Uncategorized

What’s In Your Spill Kit?

May 2, 2022 by Ken Benoit

April 22, 2019 by NYS BMP ·

Spills happen and being prepared can make the difference between being able to safely contain the spill and not. Have you checked your spill kit recently to make sure you have everything you may need? The following is a checklist for what should be in your spill kit at a minimum to make sure a small issue does not become a bigger problem:

Gloves (nitrile, at least; foil barrier laminate better)
Tyvek® coverall
Goggles
Temporary storage container for spill
Sorbent pads and/or socks
Loose absorbent (SlikWik®, vermiculite)
Sweeping compound
Warning sign or caution tape
Chalk (for marking spill area on floor)
Dust pan or small shovel (plastic preferable)
Small broom
Permanent marker (for marking spill container after clean-up)

Forms of Sorbents

Booms: cylindrical shape; vary in length and width; used to control and contain spills
Socks or mini booms: cylindrical shape; vary in length and width; used in facility spill response or maintenance; contain spills or leaks (placed around equipment)
Pillows: rectangular in shape; used for medium size spills; can be used for leaks and drips
Pad and rolls: flat sorbent sheets of various lengths can be used to line shelves, catch leaks under machinery and clean up spills
Loose sorbents: sorbent media that is not contained in any type of pillow or mesh; typically used on small spills

Sorbent Categories

Universal sorbents: designed to absorb any liquid; they will absorb aggressive liquids such as acids and bases as well as non-aggressive liquids and solvents, such as cleaners, water-based fluids, gasoline and alcohol; made of polypropylene or expanded silicate materials.
Petroleum sorbents (“oil-only sorbents”): designed for absorption of oil and/or petroleum-based liquids; these sorbents are hydrophobic (will not absorb water or water-based liquids); can be used in maintenance applications for hydraulic and engine oil cleanup; made of polypropylene or treated cellulose.
Maintenance sorbents: absorb non-aggressive liquids commonly found in manufacturing and maintenance operations (coolants, lubricants, oils, cutting fluids) will pick up water-based as well as oil-based fluids; made of recycled materials, such as cotton, wool, cellulose or corn cob; can also be made of polypropylene or any combination of the materials listed.

Sorbent capacity: The amount of weight the sorbent will absorb in relation to itself (e.g., absorbs 12 times its weight) or the liquid capacity of the sorbent (e.g., absorbs 8 gallons). Because all liquids don’t weigh the same per gallon, the weight capacity of the sorbent actually varies from liquid to liquid. A more accurate way to assess the sorbent capacity is by its liquid capacity.

For more information and suppliers, see Cornell’s Occupation & Environmental Health Department’s Recommendations – Pesticide Spill Kit Contents.

It’s Spring! Time to Plan for Pollinators

May 2, 2022 by Ken Benoit

April 10, 2019 by NYS BMP

Spring is a great time to consider adding native plants to your facility to create additional habitat for pollinators and review the availability of nesting sites for these species.

Pollinator habitat on the golf course includes both areas planted specifically with pollinators in mind and existing out-of-play areas. One of the most effective BMPs for protecting water quality also protects pollinator habitat, i.e., leaving a low- or no-management buffer strip around water courses and bodies of water.

To add habitat for pollinators, add a diversity of blooming plants of different colors and heights that blossom throughout the entire growing season. Native plants are best, proving the most nutritious food source for native pollinators. Even plants we consider weeds provide important habitat. For example, milkweed is a food source for monarch caterpillars. Monarchs in the Rough, a program sponsored by Audubon International and the Environmental Defense Fund, can provide you with regionally appropriate milkweed seeds to restore monarch butterfly habitat in out-of-play areas.

In addition to food, pollinators need places to nest. Simple efforts can increase nesting sites, such as leaving stems and coarse, woody debris and leaving exposed patches of well-drained soil, or by creating nesting areas such as wooden nesting boxes for hole nesting bees.

For more information on nest site plans and native plants species for pollinators see:

see:

Making Room for Native Pollinators, Matthew Shepherd. https://www.xerces.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/making_room_for_pollinators_usga1.pdf
Host plants for specialist bees of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Jarrod Fowler. Recommendations regarding pollinator plants, native plant nurseries and seed companies, conservation guides, and policies. https://jarrodfowler.com/host_plants.html


First summer of a newly established native wildflower area.	Established wildflower area in mid-summer.

Best Management Practices

Utilize native species when renovating out-of-play areas.
Choose flowers of different shapes, sizes, and colors.
Choose species that bloom at different times of the year.
Include both perennials and annuals in native plant areas.
Choose south-facing sites whenever possible for establishing native areas.
Leave stems and coarse, woody debris in native areas for pollinator nesting.
Leave exposed patches of well-drained soil in native areas for pollinator nesting.
Consider joining the Monarchs in the Rough
Provide water sources with shallow sides to prevent pollinators from drowning.

Educational Plan

May 2, 2022 by Ken Benoit

February 17, 2019 by NYS BMP ·

Since publishing the Best Management Practices for NYS Golf Courses document and this website, the NYS BMP committee has focused on outreach and education efforts to promote the acceptance and implementation of BMPs in New York State’s golf industry.

As part of these efforts, the committee surveyed the state’s golf course professionals to conduct a formative assessment of BMP concepts and a survey of BMPs as implemented on NYS golf courses. This survey was conducted in 2015 and early 2016 with a response window of four months. Once the survey period ended, the results were analyzed to determine educational and outreach priorities for our target audience of NYS superintendents and assistant superintendents. The following topics were identified to emphasize and prioritize: