Management Strategies
Managing existing and potential sources of contamination is the most critical component of a local WHP program. As part of its initial WHP planning effort, MSU implemented a number of management strategies that continue today. Those activities and upcoming management priorities are described in this section.
Agricultural Best Management Practices
Right to Farm and GAAMPs
The large majority of the MSU WHPAs lies within the agricultural land south of Mt. Hope Road and bounded by Hagadorn and Collins Roads. The agricultural research facilities located within these areas are operated in conformance with the Michigan Right to Farm Act Generally Accepted Agricultural and Management Practices (GAAMPs), and in compliance with EGLE NPDES, SPCC, and HAZMAT requirements.
Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program
MSU South Campus Farms have been verified under the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP). These programs will continue to require regular facility and operational inspections, along with maintaining higher standards for overall operations, training, and knowledge by research facility managers and personnel.
Pesticide Management
Storage, handling and application of pesticides are conducted in conformance with the GAAMPs for Pesticide Utilization and Pest Control, which is updated and published annually. The storage, handling and application of pesticides (which includes pesticides, fungicides, insecticides, rodenticides, and herbicides), is also conducted in compliance with the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, Federal Worker Protection Standard, and Public Act 451, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, Part 83, Pesticide Control. This pertains to all pesticide material storage, handling and application on MSU property, and is not exclusive to the agricultural land.
Manure Management
Storage, handling and application of manure is conducted in conformance with the GAAMPs for Manure Management and Utilization, updated and published annually.
Fertilizer and Nutrient Management
Storage, handling, and application of fertilizer and nutrients is conducted in conformance with the GAAMPs for Nutrient Utilization, which is updated and published annually.
Irrigation Management
Irrigation management is conducted in conformance with the GAAMPs for Irrigation Water Use Management, which is updated and published annually. MSU continues to follow and meet Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) water use reporting guidelines, and has implemented water conservation practices, backflow prevention measures, and permanent isolation setbacks for all wells.
Management of Identified Known and Potential Sources of Contamination
Storage of Hazardous Materials
Fuels, solvents, pesticides, and other hazardous waste materials stored in amounts greater than thirty gallons have secondary containment of sufficient volume to contain 1.1 times the volume of the largest vessel sitting inside the containment. Active floor drains have been eliminated in all storage areas. Regular inspections of all fuel storage locations are completed by EHS personnel with deficiency notifications provided to research facility managers for mitigation.
Removal and Disposal of Hazardous Wastes
MSU EHS has an ongoing hazardous waste collection and training program available to all MSU facilities. Arrangements for pick-up and disposal of these materials can be made by calling 355-0153.
Survey of Campus Buildings
EHS will continue to monitor the buildings within the WHPAs for hazardous material use and storage. EHS conducts an annual survey to determine the types and amounts of hazardous materials being used and/ or stored in all campus buildings, including those within the Wellhead Protection Areas.
Incorporation of Wellhead Protection into the MSU Construction Standards
Revisions to MSU’s Division One Standards were made to incorporate activities to prevent hazardous substances used during construction work from being discharged into the environment. MSU’s Division One Construction Standards (general requirements) include the addition of Construction Standards for Wellhead Protection.
Properly Decommissioning Abandoned Wells
Water wells have been used to extract drinking water on the MSU campus since 1855. Additionally, other types of wells, such as monitoring wells, test wells, and lysimeters, have also been installed on the campus property for various purposes.
Previously, given the development history of the campus and the large number of known and/or potential abandoned wells, MSU implemented an abandoned well program. The program outlined the procedures that MSU followed to identify and address abandoned wells. The program consists of four main components:
- Well identification
- Prioritization of wells for abandonment
- Well plugging
- Documentation of plugging procedures
The campus has plugged all identified abandoned wells located within its boundaries.
A completed Abandoned Well Plugging Record has been prepared for each well that was plugged. Copies of these records were provided to the State of Michigan, Ingham County Health Department, and to the MSU Department of Power and Water.
Other Management Strategies
Other strategies discussed include providing technical assistance and additional monitoring of production well quality. These strategies are discussed below.
Provide Technical Assistance
Members of the MSU Wellhead Protection Team provide ongoing technical assistance to managers and staff to promote work practices that protect groundwater. This may include reporting potential problems and recommending solutions that result from regular and periodic contaminant source inventories and providing training at annual farm managers' and academic departments, and researchers' meetings.
Groundwater Monitoring - Production Wells
MSU collects water quality samples necessary to comply with state and federal drinking water requirements for Type I water suppliers. In addition to this monitoring, MSU collects water samples for coliform bacteria analysis from all production wells on a monthly frequency.