Lesson 20: Design and Construction

Environmental Stewardship Assessment:

Name of Operation:

Date:

For each issue listed in the left column, read across to the right and indicate the statement that best describes conditions on your farm. If any categories do not apply, leave them blank.

1. Information available about geology below site?

	No soil survey, well log, or soil boring information available.	Corresponding magnitude of risk
	USDA county soil survey information used to evaluate site.
	Soil borings detailing soil characteristics to at least 4 ft below the storage available from nearby site of similar geology.
	Soil borings detailing soil characteristics to at least 4 ft below the storage available from site where storage is located.

2. Characteristics of soils used in construction of earthen liner (see Lesson 23, Table 23-2 for explanation of soil groupings)?

Group 1
Passing #200 sieve:
<20%
Plasticity Index: < 5 Corresponding magnitude of risk

Group 2
Passing #200 sieve:
>20% and
Plasticity Index: < 15
OR
Passing #200 sieve:
<20% and
Plasticity Index: > 5

Group 3
Passing #200 sieve:
>20% and
Plasticity Index: 16-30

Group 4
Passing #200 sieve:
>20% and
Plasticity Index: >30

3. Characterisitcs of soil, sediment, or bedrock below storage site?

Clean gravel (GP), clean sands (GW, SW, SP, SM), cavernous or karst limestone or similar topography, permeable basalts. Corresponding magnitude of risk

Fine sand, silty sand, and gravel mixes (SP, SM, GM, GW-GM, GP-GM, SW-SM, SP-SM) or limestone, dolomites, clean sandstone, fractured igneous and metamorphic rocks.

Silt, clay, and sand-silt-clay mixes, organic mixes, organic silts, and organic clays (GM, GC, SM, SC, MH, ML, ML-CL, OL, OH, GW-GC, GC-GM, SW-SC, SP-SC, SC-SM) or interbedded and shales.

Clay (CL or CH) or unfractured bedrock.

4. Distance to high-risk geology (if high-risk geology noted in previous question)?

High-risk geology < 4 ft below storage bottom or depth unknown. Corresponding magnitude of risk

High-risk geology > 4 ft below storage bottom or depth unknown.

Impermeable layer of clay or unfractured bedrock between storage and high-risk geology.

5. Evidence of seepage into test holes or during construction?

Evidence observed. Corresponding magnitude of risk

No evidence observed.

Soil and geology considerations for dry manure storage

6. Manure stacked in field (temporary storage on soil base)?

For more than 30 days
OR
On coarse-textured soils. Fractured bedrock or water table shallower than 20 ft
OR
Upslope surface water not diverted. Corresponding magnitude of risk

< 30 days, medium- or fine-textured soils. Water table deeper than 20 ft
AND
Upslope surface water diverted around pile.

<30 days, medium- or fine-textured soils. Water table deeper than 20 ft
AND
Upslope surface water diverted around pile
AND
New location for pile each yr.

Never stacked on field or bare soil.

7. Stacked in outdoor feedlot or permanent site for dry manure storage?

Earthen surface with coarse-textured soils. Fractured bedrock or water table shallower than 20 ft. Corresponding magnitude of risk

Earthen surface with medium- or fine-textured soils. Water table deeper than 20 ft.

Earthen surface with medium- or fine-textured soils. Water table deeper than 20 ft.

Well-maintained concrete surface.

8. Stored in roofed animal housing on...

Earthen floor of coarse-textured soils and subject to surface water runoff. Water table of fractured bedrock shallower than 20 ft. or fractured bedrock. Corresponding magnitude of risk

Concrete floor or compacted earthen floor of medium- or fine-textured soils and subject to surface water runoff. Water table shallower than 20 ft.

Concrete floor or compacted earthen floor of medium- or fine-textured soils and protected from surface water runoff. Water table or fractured bedrock deeper than 20 ft.

Building has concrete floor protected from surface water runoff.

Storage liner (soil, membrane, or concrete) considerations

9. Liner designed by...

No one involved in liner design.
Corresponding magnitude of risk

Construction contractor.

Professional engineer, engineer with NRCS or other appropriate agency, or other state-registered designer.

10. Installed by contractor ...

Inexperienced in liner construction.
Corresponding magnitude of risk

Experienced in liner construction.

11. During first filling of storage, soil liner is protected from erosion resulting from

Manure inlets,
Waves,
Agitation equipment, and
Rainfall.

	Protection for more than one cause of erosion was not considered.	Corresponding magnitude of risk
	All but one statement is true.
	All statements are true.

12. Liner testing to substantiate liner's compliance with design standards included..

No testing of liner seepage was completed. Corresponding magnitude of risk

Post-construction seepage or testing or construction monitoring testing was completed for storage bottom only.

Construction monitoring of liner moisture and density was completed for both liner sidewalls and bottom.
OR
Design engineer regularly inspected liner construction to ensure acceptablility.

Post-construction seepage testing of representative storage bottom and sidewall by a commercial lab or engineering service.

13. Permeability rate or seepage rate used to design liner (earthen-lined storage structures only)?

No evaluation of permeability rate or seepage rate was made during liner design
OR
Permeability > 10^-6 cm/sec (seepage rate > 0.2 inches/day for 10 ft deep storage with 2 ft thick liner). Corresponding magnitude of risk

Permeability between 10^-6 and 10^-7 cm/sec (seepage rate between 0.2 and 0.02 inches/day for 10 ft deep storage with 2 ft thick liner) AND Permeability < state standard.

Permeability < 10^-7 cm/sec (seepage rate < 0.02 inches/day for 10 ft deep storage with 2 ft thick liner)
AND
Permeabilty < State standard.

14. Liner designed with bentonite or soil-dispersant additives?

No evaluation of permeability rate or seepage rate made during liner design
OR
Permeabilty tested with soil amendment > 10^-6 cm/sec. Corresponding magnitude of risk

Permeability tested with soil amendment is between 10^-6 cm/sec and 10^-7 cm/sec.
AND
Permeability < state standard.

Permeability tested with soil amendment < 10^-7 cm/sec
AND
Permeability < state standard.

15. Sufficient access for complete removal of liquid and settled solids (formed manure storage and earthen storage basins only)?

Existing facility: Solids are accumulating with time.
OR
New facility: Agitation equipment is not readily available or access locations are not provided for agitation. Corresponding magnitude of risk

Only limited access for agitation equipment is provided.

Existing facility: Solids are not accumulating with time.
OR
New facility: Access for agitation equipment is provided at least every 50 ft of storage perimeter.

16. Manure inlets are located ...

Above the liquid level. Corresponding magnitude of risk

Generally below the liquid leve.

Below the lowest liquid level.

17. Outlet pipes pass through the wall or berm and...

Have 1 shutoff valves with no ability to lock valve closed. Corresponding magnitude of risk

Have 2 shutoff valves but no ability to lock 1 valve closed.

Have 2 shutoff valves with ability to lock 1 valve closed.

No outlet pipes exit through berm or wall below storage's maximum liquid level.

18. Pit ventilation fans (below barn storages)??

No pit ventilation fans installed. Corresponding magnitude of risk

Pit ventilation fan WITHOUT appropriately designed inlet plenum.

Pit ventilation fan WITH appropriately designed inlet pelum.

19. Management of liquids from dry manure storage?

No control of runoff from solid manure storage located near well, stream, major drainage, or other surface water. Corresponding magnitude of risk

Runoff is directed toward crop land.

Runoff is directed to designed grass filter strip or constructed wetlands from which some runoff might escape.

Dry manure storage is roofed.
OR
Runoff is directed to holding pond, constructed wetlnad, or grass filter strip from which runoff is unlikely.

20. Fencing and appropriate signage for limiting storage access (outdoor storages)?

No Corresponding magnitude of risk

Warning signs only

Yes

21. An egress ladder for an individual falling into storage?

No Corresponding magnitude of risk

Yes, 1 ladder

Yes, 1 ladder on all four sides.

22. Warning signs of dangers of confined space entry (below barn storage)?

No Corresponding magnitude of risk

Yes

Coarse-textured soils: Sand or sandy loam soils
Medium or fine-textured soils: Loam, silt loam, clay loam, or clay soils

Net Survey Score:
Magnitude of risk:

Back to National Curriculum

	Group 1 Passing #200 sieve: <20% Plasticity Index: < 5	Corresponding magnitude of risk
	Group 2 Passing #200 sieve: >20% and Plasticity Index: < 15 OR Passing #200 sieve: <20% and Plasticity Index: > 5
	Group 3 Passing #200 sieve: >20% and Plasticity Index: 16-30
	Group 4 Passing #200 sieve: >20% and Plasticity Index: >30

	Clean gravel (GP), clean sands (GW, SW, SP, SM), cavernous or karst limestone or similar topography, permeable basalts.	Corresponding magnitude of risk
	Fine sand, silty sand, and gravel mixes (SP, SM, GM, GW-GM, GP-GM, SW-SM, SP-SM) or limestone, dolomites, clean sandstone, fractured igneous and metamorphic rocks.
	Silt, clay, and sand-silt-clay mixes, organic mixes, organic silts, and organic clays (GM, GC, SM, SC, MH, ML, ML-CL, OL, OH, GW-GC, GC-GM, SW-SC, SP-SC, SC-SM) or interbedded and shales.
	Clay (CL or CH) or unfractured bedrock.

	High-risk geology < 4 ft below storage bottom or depth unknown.	Corresponding magnitude of risk
	High-risk geology > 4 ft below storage bottom or depth unknown.
	Impermeable layer of clay or unfractured bedrock between storage and high-risk geology.

	Evidence observed.	Corresponding magnitude of risk
	No evidence observed.	Corresponding magnitude of risk

	For more than 30 days OR On coarse-textured soils. Fractured bedrock or water table shallower than 20 ft OR Upslope surface water not diverted.	Corresponding magnitude of risk
	< 30 days, medium- or fine-textured soils. Water table deeper than 20 ft AND Upslope surface water diverted around pile.
	<30 days, medium- or fine-textured soils. Water table deeper than 20 ft AND Upslope surface water diverted around pile AND New location for pile each yr.
	Never stacked on field or bare soil.

	Earthen surface with coarse-textured soils. Fractured bedrock or water table shallower than 20 ft.	Corresponding magnitude of risk
	Earthen surface with medium- or fine-textured soils. Water table deeper than 20 ft.
	Earthen surface with medium- or fine-textured soils. Water table deeper than 20 ft.
	Well-maintained concrete surface.

	Earthen floor of coarse-textured soils and subject to surface water runoff. Water table of fractured bedrock shallower than 20 ft. or fractured bedrock.	Corresponding magnitude of risk
	Concrete floor or compacted earthen floor of medium- or fine-textured soils and subject to surface water runoff. Water table shallower than 20 ft.
	Concrete floor or compacted earthen floor of medium- or fine-textured soils and protected from surface water runoff. Water table or fractured bedrock deeper than 20 ft.
	Building has concrete floor protected from surface water runoff.

	No testing of liner seepage was completed.	Corresponding magnitude of risk
	Post-construction seepage or testing or construction monitoring testing was completed for storage bottom only.
	Construction monitoring of liner moisture and density was completed for both liner sidewalls and bottom. OR Design engineer regularly inspected liner construction to ensure acceptablility.
	Post-construction seepage testing of representative storage bottom and sidewall by a commercial lab or engineering service.

	No evaluation of permeability rate or seepage rate was made during liner design OR Permeability > 10^-6 cm/sec (seepage rate > 0.2 inches/day for 10 ft deep storage with 2 ft thick liner).	Corresponding magnitude of risk
	Permeability between 10^-6 and 10^-7 cm/sec (seepage rate between 0.2 and 0.02 inches/day for 10 ft deep storage with 2 ft thick liner) AND Permeability < state standard.
	Permeability < 10^-7 cm/sec (seepage rate < 0.02 inches/day for 10 ft deep storage with 2 ft thick liner) AND Permeabilty < State standard.

	No evaluation of permeability rate or seepage rate made during liner design OR Permeabilty tested with soil amendment > 10^-6 cm/sec.	Corresponding magnitude of risk
	Permeability tested with soil amendment is between 10^-6 cm/sec and 10^-7 cm/sec. AND Permeability < state standard.
	Permeability tested with soil amendment < 10^-7 cm/sec AND Permeability < state standard.

	Existing facility: Solids are accumulating with time. OR New facility: Agitation equipment is not readily available or access locations are not provided for agitation.	Corresponding magnitude of risk
	Only limited access for agitation equipment is provided.
	Existing facility: Solids are not accumulating with time. OR New facility: Access for agitation equipment is provided at least every 50 ft of storage perimeter.

	Above the liquid level.	Corresponding magnitude of risk
	Generally below the liquid leve.
	Below the lowest liquid level.

	Have 1 shutoff valves with no ability to lock valve closed.	Corresponding magnitude of risk
	Have 2 shutoff valves but no ability to lock 1 valve closed.
	Have 2 shutoff valves with ability to lock 1 valve closed.
	No outlet pipes exit through berm or wall below storage's maximum liquid level.

	No pit ventilation fans installed.	Corresponding magnitude of risk
	Pit ventilation fan WITHOUT appropriately designed inlet plenum.
	Pit ventilation fan WITH appropriately designed inlet pelum.

	No control of runoff from solid manure storage located near well, stream, major drainage, or other surface water.	Corresponding magnitude of risk
	Runoff is directed toward crop land.
	Runoff is directed to designed grass filter strip or constructed wetlands from which some runoff might escape.
	Dry manure storage is roofed. OR Runoff is directed to holding pond, constructed wetlnad, or grass filter strip from which runoff is unlikely.

	No	Corresponding magnitude of risk
	Yes, 1 ladder
	Yes, 1 ladder on all four sides.