7170

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7170
• Author: Meyer, F. P. and L. A. Barclay
• Title: Editor
• USFW Year: Series
• USFW - Doc Type: 1990
• Copyright Material: NO

I
PLANNING 7
The safety of participant investigators should
always be a high priority when fish kill sites are
investigated. This is especially true for kills that
involve spills of unknown or hazardous materials.
Individual and public safety must be a primary con-
cern. If no guidance is available, consult the U.S.
Coast Guard, EPA, or the designated lead State
agency for advice (Hill 1983). The EPA uses four
levels of hazards to human health and lists the
following protective (safety) equipment required for
dealing with the potential dangers associated with
a particular site:
Level
D
Environmental
conditions
Low probability of
hazards-no known
or suspected air-
borne pollution
Protective
equipment required
Body and foot
protection against
possible noncorrosive
hazards
C Possible airborne
hazards that can be
specifically identified
B Possibility of a range
of unknown airborne
hazards
A High probability of
range of unknown
airborne hazards
plus likelihood of
contact with hazard-
ous or corrosive
materials

Body and foot pro-
tection, plus gas
mask with appro-
priate canisters
Level D body and
foot protection plus
scuba (self-contained
underwater breath-
ing apparatus)
Special "moon
suit" (nonpenetrable
body and foot
protection)
When safety is a concern, do not enter a hazard-
ous spill site unless you have received clearance from
the agency in charge of the response to the spill. The

Data related to a fish kill should be accurately collected and logged in a permanent file.