v>EPA
                       United States
                       Environmental Protection
                       Agency
                       Office of Water
                       Washington, D.C.
EPA 832-F-99-021
September 1999
Storm  Water
Management  Fact Sheet
Materials  Inventory
DESCRIPTION

A  materials  inventory   system  involves  the
identification of all  sources and quantities  of
"significant" materials that may be exposed to direct
precipitation or storm water runoff at a particular
site.  "Significant" materials are substances related
to  industrial activities such as process chemicals,
raw  materials, fuels, pesticides,  and  fertilizers.
When these substances  are exposed  to  direct
precipitation or storm water runoff, they may be
carried to  a receiving water body.   Therefore,
identification of these materials helps to determine
sources of potential contamination and is the first
step in pollution control.

APPLICABILITY

A materials inventory system is appropriate at most
industrial facilities. Inventory of exposed materials
should be part of a baseline administrative program
and is directly related to both record keeping and
visual inspection Best Management Practices.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

Since the program is intended to prevent pollution
before it occurs, it is not possible to quantify water
quality benefits to receiving waters of a materials
inventory program. However, it is anticipated that
an effective materials  inventory program will
improve the quality of storm water discharges.

Limitations of a materials inventory system include:

      It is an on-going  process  that continually
      needs updating.
                      •      Qualified personnel are required to perform
                            the materials inventory from a storm water
                            perspective.

                      KEY PROGRAM COMPONENTS

                      Most facilities already have  in place a materials
                      inventory system, but this system is not generally
                      followed from a  storm water contamination
                      viewpoint. Adding storm water considerations into
                      an existing inventory should require only minimal
                      effort. When discussing a material inventory it is
                      very important to be aware of Material Safety Data
                      Sheets  (MSDS).  Currently  the United  States
                      Government has created a Hazard Communication
                      standard, which requires  all  firms manufacturing
                      and/or distributing chemicals within the United
                      States to prepare MSDSs for those chemicals and
                      distribute them to their customers.

                      Keeping an up-to-date inventory of all materials
                      (hazardous and non-hazardous) on the site will help
                      to track how materials are stored and handled on
                      site, and identify which materials and activities pose
                      the greatest risk to the environment. The following
                      instructions explain the basic steps in completing a
                      materials inventory:

                      •      Identify all chemical substances present in
                            the work place. Walk through the facility
                            and  review the purchase orders for the
                            previous year. List all chemical substances
                            used in the work place and then obtain the
                            material safety data sheet (MSDS) for each.

                            Label all containers to show the name and
                            type of substance, stock number, expiration
                            date,  health  hazards,   suggestions  for

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       handling, and first aid information.  This
       information  is    found  on  the  MSDS.
       Unlabeled chemicals  and chemicals with
       deteriorated labels are often disposed of
       improperly or unnecessarily.

•      Clearly  mark  on  the  inventory  those
       hazardous materials  that require  specific
       handling,  storage,   use,  and   disposal
       considerations.

An example Materials Inventory Worksheet is
provided in Figure 1.   Based on your materials
inventory, describe the significant materials  that
were exposed to storm  water during the past three
years or are currently exposed.

Other  BMPs   should   then be  evaluated  and
implemented to prevent exposure of these materials
to storm water or them  before discharge. Figure 2
illustrates a sample   worksheet for  evaluating
exposed materials.
IMPLEMENTATION

The key to a proper materials inventory system is
continual  updating  of records.   Maintaining  an
up-to-date materials inventory is an efficient way to
identify what  materials are handled on-site  and
whether   they   contribute   to   storm   water
contamination  problems.

COSTS

Typically,  the major  cost of  implementing  a
materials inventory system is the time required to
adapt an existing program to emphasize storm water
quality. The incremental cost is usually  small.

Costs  of  the  program are  often offset by cost
savings in other areas. Improved material tracking
and inventory  practices, such as instituting a shelf
life program, can reduce the waste resulting from
the overstocking and disposal of outdated materials.
Careful tracking of all materials ordered may also
result in more efficient materials use.
MATERIAL INVENTORY
Worksheet Completed
Title:
by:

Date:
Instructions: List all materials used, stored, or produced on site. Assess and evaluate these materials for their
potential to contribute pollutants to storm water runoff. Also complete Worksheet 3A if the
material has been exposed during the last three years.

Material




Purpose /
Location



Quantity (units)
Used



Produced



Stored




Quantity
exposed
during
lasts
years




Likelihood
of contact
with storm
water. If
yes,
describe
reason



Past Significant Spill or
Leak
Yes



No



   Source: U. S. EPA, 1992.
                           FIGURE 1  SAMPLE MATERIAL INVENTORY

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DESCRIPTION OF EXPOSED SIGNIFICANT MATERIAL
Worksheet Compk
Title:
;ted by:

Date:
Instructions: Based on your material inventory, describe the significant materials that were exposed to storm
water during the past three years or are currently exposed. For the definition of "significant
materials" see Appendix B of the manual.
Description of
Exposed
Significant
Material




Period of
Exposure




Quantity
Exposed (units)




Location (as
indicated on
the site map)




Method of
Storage or
Disposal (e.g.,
pile, drum, tank)




Description of
Material
Management
Practice (e.g.,
pile covered,
drum sealed)




  Source: U. S. EPA, 1992.
                      FIGURE 2  EXPOSED MATERIAL WORKSHEET
REFERENCES

1.     U.S.   EPA,   1992.     NPDES   Best
      Management  Practices  Guidance
      Document.

2.     U.S. EPA, 1992. StormwaterManagement
      for  Industrial Activities:    Developing
      Pollution  Prevention  Plans  and  Best
      Management Practices.  EPA 832-R-92-
      006.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Center for Watershed Protection
Tom Schueler
8391 Main Street
Ellicott City, MD21043

Northern Virginia Planning District Commission
David Bulova
7535 Little River Turnpike, Suite 100
Annandale, VA 22003
Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality
Don Mooney
Water Quality Division, Storm Water Unit
P.O. Box 1677
Oklahoma City, OK 73101-1677

Southeastern Wis. Regional Planning Commission
Bob Biebel
916 N. East Avenue, P.O. Box 1607
Waukesha, WI53187

United States Postal Service
Charles Vidich
6 Griffin Road North
Windsor, CT 06006-7030

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The mention of trade names or commercial products
does not constitute endorsement or recommendation
for the use by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency.
                                                               For more information contact:

                                                               Municipal Technology Branch
                                                               U.S. EPA
                                                               Mail Code 4204
                                                               401 M St., S.W.
                                                               Washington, D.C., 20460
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