Wisconsin ban in effect on asphalt loading pads

Madison, Wisc.-Ag operators and mixers, loaders, and applicators are being reminded that asphalt mixing and loading pads can no longer be used. Revisions to Wisconsin’s fertilizer and bulk storage rules required the pads to be taken out of service by Dec. 31, 2009, according to officials with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. The department found that asphalt is too porous to effectively contain spills of liquid pesticides or fertilizers. “We’ve also found that some liquid pesticides will corrode the surface of the asphalt pad, which increases the risk of product seeping through the pad into the ground,” explained Mathew Laak, containment specialist with the department. If the asphalt pad is being taken out of service, Laak said, the area under and around the pad will need to be checked for environmental contamination at some point. This means samples of soil and groundwater must be taken and analyzed by an environmental lab to check for the presence and amounts of pesticides or fertilizers. If the laboratory analysis shows contamination under the asphalt pad, then the soil must be removed as part of an environmental cleanup. If a site cleanup is required, certain costs are eligible for reimbursement under the Agrichemical Cleanup Program. “We understand that many ag dealerships and facilities are affected by this difficult economy, so they may choose to leave the asphalt pads in-place but out-of-service,” Laak said. “Just be aware that if a pad is out of service for five years, a facility will still need to do an environmental assessment of the area under and around the pad to check for possible contamination.” A facility might be able to delay the costs of the environmental assessment right now, but they will still need to complete the environmental assessment in the future, Laak said. Another option for facilities with asphalt pads is to replace them with Portland cement concrete pads. Design plans for a new concrete pad must be submitted to the department, with written certification by a professional engineer, at least 21 days prior to construction.