Pat, I'm going to elaborate a bit here if I can.
The DNR in Michigan has designated a fair bit of money, (over $40,000 for two courses) to design a rock course. This doesn't include the installation or materials. The terrain in Michigan is primaraily sandy loamy soil with a sometime high water table, less than three feet. The DNR is very concerned about anyone puncturing an oil pan and leaking oil on to the gound. It is that reason tha the DNR is looking for someone who has designed a rock course and has addressed oil spill mitigation. For example, Do you put down a 40 mil rubber liner and design what amounts to a silt trap for oil? As reference I asked this question almost two years ago and came up empty handed. It seems as though there are people who can design a rock course but no one who understands the environmental aspect of the design.
GLFWDA however has made headway with an environmental responsible design but the DNR does not view us as credible, environmentally certified course designers. At the suggestion of Sandee McCullum I contacted a company called Midwest Environmental Products. They manufacture a procuct called Peat-Sorb. It's an environmentally safe product that was designed for hydraulic oil spills at golf courses. It's basically an environmentally friendly hydrocarbon absorbant that is non-toxic, non-leaching, and it's a naturally formed material....Canadian sphagum peat moss. In fact almost 12% of Canada is covered with peat moss.
The other ironic thing is, Michigan State University, no less than a few miles from our state capital in Lansing, performed extensive studies on oil spill cleanup. But yet we can't get the DNR to talk to the researchers @ MSU. The DNR has also been at presentations where the Peat-Sorb company did a demonstration for them. Peat-Sorb is also certified by numerous testing agencies in Canada and they have certifications for the material being safe for disposal in landfills due to it's non-leaching characteristic.
You can actually have a spill, toss a bunch of this material right on the spill and leave it without having to clean it up. The peat moss absorbs and holds the hydrocarbons and suspends it while the natual occuring microorganisms and the humic acid in the peat break down the oil product. All hydrocarbons are organic carbon compounds containing only carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen. Almost all petroleum hydrocarbons will degrade to carbon dioxide and water within a very short anount of time. The time depneds on many things like oxygen level, moisture, tempature, acidicy, etc.
So we sit, waiting for 'Rock Couse Design and Development, Inc' to contact the DNR so we can proceed with the design and installation of our first and hopefully not last rock course.
So, anyone know of such a company?
If not, I see a great opportunity!
jim-kb8ymf
Author
