Simply blowing the equipment clean eliminates most of the clippings from the unit.

Environmental Common SenseA Sample "In-House"Audit

Some simple steps are all you need to start.. by JAMES FRANCIS MOORE

ing is a sample report to the leadershipof a fictitious course. This report pro-vides a good format that can be cus-tomized to meet the needs of yourcourse.

To: The Green CommitteeFrom: John Smith, Golf CourseSuperintendentDate: 1/15/96The following report has been pre-

pared for the Committee to provideinformation about the environmentalaspects of our golf course operations.

~

ENEVER superintendentsgather for an educationalmeeting, it's a sure bet that

environmental issues will be discussed.Although most superintendents areaware of the need to improve the en-vironmental aspects of their courses, itis often an uphill battle to convincetheir employers that action should betaken. This hesitation on the part of thecourse leadership to address environ-mental issues is due to their failure toclearly understand the problems, thebelief that their course really is notmuch of a threat to the environment,

and the fear that any action might invitecloser scrutiny from outsiders.

It is the superintendent's responsi~bility to make his or her employersaware of environmental problems thatexist on the property. Although theyprobably have raised the subject atmeetings and indicated a need for theorganization to take action, manysuperintendents have not taken thestep of completing an in-house envi-ronmental audit for their employers.The purpose of this article is to givethe superintendent a starting point foraccomplishing such an audit. Follow-

* *

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1996

It's better to replace old tanks before they cause probems. Fuel tank storage can beimproved by the use of safer and cleaner alternative tanks that are available on themarket.

Many aspects of course managementthat have environmental ramificationsare detailed in this report, includingour current state of affairs and optionsfor improvement. This report is anin-house effort for the sole use of theCommittee.

There are six major areas in whichour course operations have the poten-tial to impact the environment:

• Fuel Storage• Pesticide and Fertilizer Storage• Equipment Washing and

Pesticide Mixing Area• Water Use• Pesticide and Fertilizer Use• Wildlife Habitat

Fuel Storage

ConcernsFuel storage is a major environ-

mental issue for most golf courses. Themajor problem areas are fire safetyand the potential for soil and/or groundwater contamination. Although safetyissues are fairly straightforward, soiland water contamination is potentiallya much more difficult and expensiveissue. Leaking storage containers cancause tremendous environmental dam-age, and the cleanup of contaminatedsoil can be extremely costly.

Current SituationWe presently are storing two types of

fuel - gasoline and diesel. Our gaso-line is stored in an underground tankthat is more than 20 years old. We havefollowed federal guidelines for leak

2 USGA GREEN SECTION RECORD

detection and monitoring, and so farwe do not have leakage problems. Ourdiesel fuel is stored in a 500-gallonabove-ground tank. The tank is notleaking, but it is in poor conditionoverall. It is mounted on a metal frameabout eight feet above the ground toraise the tank high enough for fuelingour equipment by gravity feed.

I am concerned about both tanks.Should a leak occur in our under-ground tank, the cost of repairingthe environmental damage could beextremely high. Removal of the tankbefore problems occur is a far betteroption. I have checked with a localcontractor on the cost of removing ourexisting 1,000-gallon tank. Assumingthere is no leakage, removal and dis-posal of the tank and refilling thecavity with the same soil should costless than $3,000.

Our diesel tank also should be re-placed. The frame supporting the tankhas been damaged by. equipmentbumping into it, and the tank itself hasbeen damaged by corrosion because itis fully exposed to the weather. Again,assuming no soil contamination, re-moval of the diesel tank should costless than $200.

OptionsThere are at least two good options

for improving our fuel storage situation.Both options include removing andreplacing the existing storage tanks -before they cause us problems.

Underground tanks are being re-placed on many golf courses with pro-

fessionally designed and constructedunderground structures that greatlyreduce the possibility of leakage. Thesestructures are extremely durable andsafe. We would need to purchase eitherone unit that includes two internal 500-gallon storage chambers (one for gasand the other for diesel) or two 500-gallon structures. The advantage of pur-chasing two structures is that federalguidelines are much simpler for unitssmaller than 1,000 gallons. The disad-vantage is that the two units will takeup more space in our already limitedmaintenance facility area. Regardless ofthe exact design, the units typically areinstalled on a concrete slab and includecollision barriers.

These units provide very good pre-vention against leakage, greatly simplifyleakage monitoring and cleanup, ifnecessary, and are far less objectionablefrom a visual standpoint than ourexisting diesel tank. I have checkedwith the local fire marshall and havebeen assured the units will exceed alllocal environmental and safety codes.I also contacted several suppliers ofthese types of storage units and ob-tained estimates of the purchase price,including installation. Total cost for thetwo 500-gallon units (including pumps,monitoring devices, slab construction,etc.) would be about $15,000.

The second option is less expensiveand, for the most part, could be accom-plished in-house. We would build acontainment structure consisting ofconcrete flooring and walls largeenough to completely surround twotanks (similar in appearance to ourexisting diesel tank). The structurewould prevent leakage from contami-nating the underlying soil, and wouldserve as a barrier between the tanksand our equipment. A roof would beconstructed to help prevent corrosionof the tanks. The tanks themselves arebuilt with interior and exterior walls toprovide additional protection againstleaks.

The two skid-mounted tanks andelectric transfer pumps would cost ap-proximately $4,000. I estimate we canbuild the containment structure androof for about $1,500, bringing the totalto approximately $5,500 for the entireproject. Again, I have checked with ourlocal fire marshall and found thisoption will meet local code require-ments.

RecommendationAlthough we can build our own

storage structure for less money, I

suggest we purchase the prefabricatedunits listed on the attached literature.These units will meet all of our storageneeds and will ensure that we haveaddressed the environmental concernsin the best manner possible. Also, sincethey are completely self-contained, theycan be moved if necessary.

Pesticide Storage

ConcernsThe storage of pesticides also has

become a prominent issue in golfcourse management. Improper storageincreases the possibility of soil andwater contamination, theft and/orvandalism, or injury to maintenanceworkers.

Current SituationWe currently store pesticides in our

maintenance building. This buildingalso houses equipment, the mechanic'swork area, crew facilities, and myoffice. Although the building is lockedat night, it is unsecured during the dayfor reasons of practicality. Products arestored in a locked closet labeled pesti-cides, located adjacent to my office.The closet is neither vented nor does itprovide containment should a pesticidecontainer leak or be knocked over.Alth9ugh we do have an eye and facewashing station near our restroom, thestation is not near the pesticide storagearea. Finally, since the products arestored within the confines of ourmaintenance building, the fire depart-ment may be hesitant to tackle a fireshould one occur in the building. Inaddition to the extra risk of injury to firefighting personnel, the water used toextinguish a fire in a building that con-tains pesticides can itself become ahazardous waste product. For thesereasons I feel it is important to takeimmediate steps to improve our pesti-cide storage facilities.

OptionsAs is the case with fuel storage, there

now are prefabricated pesticide storagestructures available that address each ofthe concerns expressed above. Theseunits are fire rated, secured, ventilated,and lighted, and protected against con-tamination of soil or water shouldleakage of a container occur. They arestand-alone units that can be placedeasily in our existing maintenance area.

The better units have a wide varietyof options, including heating and airconditioning, fire suppression systems,and eye/face washing stations. I con-

tacted a number of suppliers and foundthat prices range from about $9,000 to$12,000 for top-quality structures. Thesmaller figure represents a basic 8' x 8'unit. The larger figure will purchase aunit that is 8' x 12' and fully equippedwith ventilation, lighting, shelving,insulation, and an eye/face washingstation.

The second option is to construct ourown storage unit. We can purchase a10' x 12' metal storage building com-plete with locking door and lightingfor about $1,500. We would finish theinterior and install ventilation for an-other $500. A stainless steel floor (toprovide containment in case of spills)would cost about $800. Containmentshelves are another $500. Eye and facewashing equipment and an emergencyspill containment kit would add an-other $500 and bring the total cost forour homemade structure to approxi-mately $4,000. I have checked with thefire marshall, who has agreed to reviewthe plans for this structure should wechoose this option.

Until we are able to significantlyimprove the way in which we storechemicals, we plan on keeping theamount of pesticides (and fertilizers) onhand to an absolute minimum. Thisshould not be viewed as a long-termsolution since we would not be able tocount on the availability of the requiredproduct when problems arose on thecourse. We also would be unable totake advantage of discounts that areoffered for seasonal and quantity pur-chases.

RecommendationWithout question, the ideal option is

to purchase a prefabricated unit. Theyare much better constructed than thehome-built structure and are morelikely to meet future code requirementsshould they be made more stringent.However, if this option proves tooexpensive, I am confident we canconstruct our own building in goodmanner.

Equipment Washing Area

ConcernsMowing is one of the primary tasks

accomplished on any course. Duringthe washing of equipment, grass clip-pings and other residues are dischargedinto the drainage area. The clippingscontain nutrients and may containsome pesticide residue as well. Fertil-izer and pesticide equipment also iswashed following use. For these rea-

sons, equipment washing areas arebeing closely scrutinized for theirpossible environmental impact.

Current SituationWe currently wash our mowing

equipment on a concrete pad behindthe shop. There is a drain inlet in thecenter of the pad that collects rinsatewater, as well as clippings and otherdebris. The drain pipe extends fromthe pad and surfaces in a small drain-age swale that then drains into the lakeon the eighth hole. Prior to the con-struction of the wash pad, we dis-charged all rinsate into the local citysewer. Although I feel retaining ourrinsate on the property by virtue ofdischarging it into the lake on theeighth hole is a better option than theprevious practice, the nutrients in therinsate have increased the severity ofalgae blooms, which affect the ecologyof the pond and make it extremely un-attractive. Also, since the "lake over-flows into a neighborhood creek, I amconcerned about the possibility ofcontaminating that creek.

OptionsThis issue has become such a con-

cern throughout the country thatrinsate recycling equipment is nowavailable for golf courses. This equip-ment is similar in design and functionto the filters used for swimming pools,although special modifications are in-

Where do your clippings end upwhen equipment is washed?

...... ,..,

Good pesticide and fertilizer storage structures canbe built or purchased. These structures should besecure, ventilated, lighted, fire rated, and provideprotection in case of spills.

cluded for neutralizing chemical resi-dues and removing solid debris such asclippings. Since contamination of thesoil and/or water with chemicalsoccurs most often during mixing (spills,overflows, etc.), the unit also includesa mixing area. Predictably, this equip-ment is very expensive (as high as$40,000).

The next option is to reconstructour existing washing area. One designincludes a concrete washing area thatslopes to a collection pit. The pit itselfincludes a trap area and screen at thedeepest end that collects as much ofthe clippings as possible. This pit isbuilt to include a layer of gravel over-laid with sand to provide additionalfiltering. Finally, the collection areaitself is constructed to allow our front-end loader to scoop out the majority ofthe debris, which then is added to ourcompost pile. I have obtained an esti-mate to build this type of wash pad. Thetotal cost will be approximately $7,000.

I have also instituted a number ofsteps to make an immediate reductionin the amount of material we wash intothe lake. First, we have installed five

quick-coupler valves inrough areas throughout thecourse. These areas serve as"pre-wash" sites for ourmowers that accumulatethe most clippings. A differ-ent site is used each day toavoid creating an overlywet area and to keep odorsto a minimum. The vastmajority of clippings areremoved in the pre-washarea. The equipment then issteam-cleaned on our exist-ing wash pad. We also areconsidering using hand-held blowing equipmentto remove excess clippingsfrom our mowers prior tothe final steam cleaning.

To reduce the possibilityof chemical contaminationduring the washing of pesti-cide application equip-ment, we no longer dis-charge any rinsate from thiswashing operation into adrain system of any kind.All spray solutions are ap-plied to the course. We cali-brate the equipment closelyto keep left-over solutionto a minimum. Any excessmaterial is applied to thecourse. The equipment isthen repeatedly rinsed, and

the rinsate is applied to the course aswell. We also keep spill kits on hand toimmediately clean up any contami-nation that may occur during mixing.

RecommendationAlthough there is no question that

the unit that combines storage, rinsatefiltration, and a contained mixing areais the most complete solution to ourequipment washing and chemical mix-ing needs, this may not be economi-cally feasible for our club at this time.Therefore, unless the club can findmoney for the more expensive optionnow, my suggestion is to proceed withthe modification of our wash pad areaas described in the second option.

Water Use, Pesticide andFertilizer Use, and Wildlife Habitat

ConcernsI have combined the last three areas

of concern into one category since theyare closely related. Golf courses can beheavy users of water. In many parts ofthe country, water use by golf coursesis being closely regulated. Fertilizer

and pesticide use on golf courses con-tinues to be one of the most volatileissues in golf course management to-day. Although university research in-dicates there is little to fear as long asthese products are selected and appliedproperly, many people are concernedabout their use. Finally, properly man-aged golf courses are starting to berecognized as excellent sites for avariety of wildlife. There are manycourses in the country that have madeconcerted efforts to further improvethis environmentally positive aspect ofgolf course management.

There is a trend in golf maintenanceto increase wildlife habitat by allowingareas of the course that seldom comeinto play to return to a more naturalstate. This is accomplished by reducingor eliminating irrigation, fertilizer andpesticide applications, and mowing. Inaddition to creating nesting habitatand sanctuary for wildlife, courses arefinding it possible to save money andlabor that can better be used elsewhereon the property.

Current SituationIn my estimation, there are eight to

ten acres on our course that seldomcome into play. At least six of theseacres are irrigated once or twice perweek. We fertilize these areas twice perseason. A pre-emergence herbicide isapplied to the entire acreage each fall(for winter weeds), and two post-emer-gence applications are made during thespring and summer. We presently aremowing the irrigated acreage twice perweek and the non-irrigated area onceper week. Also, the turf areas surround-ing all of our lakes are being mowed atfairway height.

OptionsCommon sense dictates that any

reduction in input (in terms of waterand chemical usage) will prove a posi-tive step from an environmental stand-point.

Since we apply about 12 inches ofwater per year to this acreage, elimi-nating irrigation over eight acres wouldresult in a savings of two to threemillion gallons of water per year.Eliminating the pesticide and fertilizerapplications would save approximately$4,000. By reducing the mowing of theroughs around the lakes, we couldchannel 800 to 1,000 labor hours peryear into other course maintenanceactivities. Allowing the turf around thelakes to grow to a height of four inchesor more would provide a buffer strip

4 USGA GREEN SECfION RECORD

JAMES FRANCIS MOORE is the Directorof the Mid-Continent Region of the USGAGreen Section.

tat, we can expect to enhance both thevariety and numbers of birds and otherwildlife on our course.

RecommendationMy recommendation is to begin

establishing our naturalized areas assoon as possible. We can allow theseareas to return to a native or naturalstate by essentially reducing all main-tenance. Since we have promoted turf-grass in these areas for years, it will takea season or two for native grasses toonce again flourish. We can speed thisprocess up by sowing native grasses,wildflower seeds, and other nativeplants. However, it should be pointedout that the areas definitely will lookunkempt for a while. There are likelyto be some players who will feel theappearance of the course has sufferedby reducing the maintenance of theseareas. A good educational effort will berequired to illustrate the advantages ofthis and other changes in our mainte-nance programs. Our first step shouldbe to enroll in the Cooperative Sanctu-ary Program developed through a jointeffort of the USGA and the AudubonSociety of New York State. I contactedthe USGA and received informationabout this program, which I haveattached to the end of this report.

SummaryWe should consider hiring a pro-

fessional environmental consultant toperform a more thorough review ofour maintenance facility. The companywould provide us with a comprehen-sive report, including suggestions forimprovement and options to obtaindetailed drawings for the constructionof storage facilities, wash pads, etc. Wecan obtain such a review for approxi-mately $1,500.

There are many other environmentalaspects of the care of our course thathave not be covered in this brief report.Please review the information I haveincluded with this report, summariz-ing recent research sponsored by theUSGA and conducted at major univer-sities across the country. Although Ihave made every effort to ensure ourcourse is professionally managed, wedo have opportunities to improve ourmaintenance operations for the benefitof the environment and the game ofgolf.

SIDE WALL

.-DRAIN PIPE

BACK WALL

players have already noticed the blue-birds in the boxes we mounted on num-ber 14 and purple martins that con-stantly patrol our lakes for mosquitoesand other insects. By promoting an-other eight to 10 acres of nesting habi-

8'4" LIP

..-SCREEN.-BACKWALL

FRONT VIEW OF SUMP PIT

%" EXPANDED METAL SCREEN

%" - %" GRAVEL18" DEEP

DEBRIS ACCUMULATESIN THIS AREA

(wide enough forfront-end loader)

TOP VIEW OF ENTIRE PAD AREA

SIDE VIEW OF SUMP PIT

COARSE SAND2" DEEP

(SLOPES)

of higher cut. turf to further reducethe possibility of fertilizer or chemicalrunoff into the lakes.

Perhaps the most important gainwould be the encouragement of wildlifeon our course. I'm sure many of our

An illustration of a simplified wash rack.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1996 5