The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 09161997 - C52 c.s TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ,,e........ f ` =•; CONTRA COSTA COUNTY FROM: Leslie Stewart, Chair ` asrq_Fu K`i'i.J Hazardous Materials Commission DATE: September 16, 1997 SUBJECT: Goals of the Hazardous Materials Commission for Fiscal Year 1997-98 SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION Recommendation: REVIEW and ACKNOWLEDGE receipt of the Goals of the Hazardous Materials Commission for Fiscal Year 1997-98. Background: The Commission has developed goals for the current year and is bringing them before the Board for review and comment. The goals are attached. Fiscal Impact: None. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: No. SIGNATURE IeAZC / vZ✓ RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S): ACTION OF BOARD ON September 16, 1997 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER X APPROVED the recommendations as set forth above and REFERRED the goals back to the Hazardous materials Commission for VOTE OF SUPERVISORS possible inclusion of safety p ibly trans ortP I.HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD AYES: NOES: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. ABSENT: ABSTAIN: Contact Person:Elinor Blake 370-5022 ATTESTED SeatembPr 16, 1997 CC: Health Services Director PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD Lew Pascalli,Hazardous Materials Division SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR Hazardous Materials Commission (vis HSD) CONTRA COSTA COUNTY. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS COMMISSION ST'9 COl1NTY Hazardous Materials Commission of Contra Costa County Goals for Fiscal Year 1997-98 Inherent in the Commission's mandate and mission are several underlying goals that the Commission addresses on a continuing basis: o Monitor trends in the nature and causes of hazardous materials incidents in the County, report on them to the Board of Supervisors, and prepare recommendations to the Board on ways to continue to improve safety. o Review on a regular basis with County regulatory agencies any concerns they may have regarding hazardous materials or hazardous waste issues in their programs, including related public information issues. o Inform and educate Commissioners and the Board of Supervisors concerning new hazardous materials issues that may arise. o Provide comment, analysis, and recommendations on items referred by the Board of Supervisors. Specific goals for the 1997-98 Fiscal Year are below. The lead committee for each is in brackets. o Community Warning System Background: After several years of development, key components of the Community Warning System are expected to be completed and implementation of the System transferred from CAER to the County. CAER will continue primary responsibility for implementing the community education component. Goal: In this transition year, keep current on the Community Warning System's implementation and progress, including both overall implementation and the community education component, in order to provide both a public forum for comments on the System and make recommendations as may be necessary for improved operation. [Full Commission] o Environmental justice Background: Environmental justice demands a healthful, safe environment for everyone. Its primary goals are to reduce any disproportionate burden of environmental harm, ensure Members: Leslie Stewart, Chair Pam Aguilar Maria Alegria Scott Anderson Henry Clark Marj Leeds Thomas Lindemuth Jim Payne Jimmy Rodgers Mike Shimansky Stuart Shoults Gayle B. Uilkema Executive Assistant: Elinor Blake 20 Allen Street, Martinez, CA 94553 (510) 370-5022 Fax (510) 370-5098 C 5Z Hazardous Materials Commission Goals FY 1997-98 Page 2 Presented to the Board of Supervisors September 16, 1997 equal enforcement of the law in all communities, and encourage public participation in policy making. The Commission decided to address environmental justice because the County includes a number of lower income neighborhoods and communities with a high proportion of people of color that are near to large industrial operations. Commissioners wished to address the issue proactively, so as to preclude its becoming a topic of contention here as it has in other parts of the state and nation. Last year the Commission embarked on an education process for its members, reviewing a number of current and historical materials about the topic. The Operations Committee discussed general policy options that might be available, and reviewed excerpts from the General Plans of other jurisdictions that address the issue in their land use planning. Industry organizations represented on the Commission submitted model language for the Commission's consideration. Goal: Develop and submit to the Board policy options to address environmental justice concerns. In the process, work with the Public and Environmental Health Advisory Board, the Human Relations Commission, and others who might contribute to the discussion. [Operations Committee] o Safety issues regarding significant reductions in operations at industrial facilities: Background: In recent years, several facilities have closed specific operations, though not the entire facility. Though hazardous materials aspects of full closures are regulated by state and federal law, there may be gaps regarding reduction of operations short of closure, even though some of the same safety issues may arise. The Commission began to address this issue last year but had to postpone further review due to other pressing issues. Goal: Review requirements for oversight when facilities close or significantly reduce operations and, if gaps are found, make recommendations for closing them. [Planning Committee] o Awards program: Background: To support innovation and creativity, the Commission would like to give prominence to local projects and programs that have particularly improved health and safety, provided public education, or otherwise promoted safety or awareness concerning hazardous materials. Goal: Establish an awards program recognizing hazardous materials health, safety and education efforts in the County. [Operations Committee] o The new Risk Management Program ("CallARP"): Background: This year state regulations will be issued and local implementation programs developed for carrying out the new Risk Management Program. The County will revise its oversight program, and local businesses and public entities will develop new policies. One important example is the effort initiated by CAER to develop a unified approach to the "worst-case scenario" required by the new law, including to public information and Members: Leslie Stewart, Chair Pam Aguilar Maria Alegria Scott Anderson Henry Clark Marj Leeds Thomas Lindemuth Jim Payne Jimmy Rodgers Mike Shimansky Stuart Shoults Gayle B. Uilkema Executive Assistant: Elinor Blake 20 Allen Street, Martinez, CA 94553 (510) 370-5022 Fax (510) 370-5098 Hazardous Materials Commission Goals FY 1997-98 Page 3 Presented to the Board of Supervisors September 16, 1997 education about this right-to-know issue. This goal is in furtherance of the third "ongoing" goal, above. Goal: Inform and educate Commissioners and the Board of Supervisors about particularly sensitive and innovative aspects of the new Risk Management Program, and assist in informing the public about the program. [Planning Committee on technical issues; Operations Committee on information and education issues] hmcgoals2.97 Members: Leslie Stewart, Chair Pam Aguilar Maria Alegria Scott Anderson Henry Clark Marj Leeds Thomas Lindemuth Jim Payne Jimmy Rodgers Mike Shimansky Stuart Shoults Gayle B. Uilkema Executive Assistant: Elinor Blake 20 Allen Street, Martinez, CA 94553 (510) 370-5022 Fax (510) 370-5098 The Board of Supervisors Contra k fthelor Board Costa a� County Administration Building County Administrator 651 Pine Street, Room 106 (5101 335-1900 Martinez,Califomia 94553-1293 County Jim Rogers,1st District Bayle B.Ullkema,2nd District Donne Gerber,3rd District Mark DsSaulnier,4th District Joe Gnciamllia,5th District z osrA_coUU c Dear Plant Manager: You are likely aware that recent industrial accidents involving hazardous materials are a matter of great concern to County residents, the Board of Supervisors, and the industrial community. One newer, voluntary approach to plant safety is being implemented by several firms here in the county. This approach applies "Inherently Safer Principles" to plant operations. The enclosed brochure -prepared by the County's Hazardous Materials Division and the Hazardous Materials Commission- describes inherently safer principles and identifies resources for further information. Please read it and consider whether these principles can be applied to your operations. If you already employ inherently safer principles,please let us know, as we are seeking examples of their successful use. Write to the Accidental Release Prevention Team, Health Services Department, 4333 Pacheco Avenue, Martinez, 94553, or call 646-2286. Thank you for taking the time to consider this important issue, and for your ongoing efforts to promote a safe workplace for your employees and the community. Sincerely, Mark DeSaulnier, Chair Board of Supervisors William B. Walker, M.D. Director of Health Services Enclosure Inherently � r r i; 1" Anew approach:,,".', to accident. prevention- - r ti r , 4 V � ,•L".: �•: � . S. �` ro :O N „C ' �L �ro yam, C?A:.V `y . ot U 00 C3 L U p `n p v .ro ro ro 0 i � V •01 .�;). �.. :.tt. U Z - .Q.,' � 4�.•' �j . ..�'� .G' ^;.pro,' _,. �' ro , .-.O WjW; 17,, W p Ll. W O U O C 0 `•A 1. p Wa .c' v �. . O:. on 2 Z Wa0i x s� +; b run 7a G a o wi 0 Ci ;> QJ ro yU p Z, W Q '' �� E •� °.;o �'- `�' 0 ro ro , v, + o:.N o � -°� °:.�. w. cn � N �:: ro 0., o ro N 0' p :'N °' 0 0 W p a o ro a ' N .o a lZ Q Z a M. d N N . -` o .v _. > ro .0. 4- 0 ro .U o -�s ro T O p p ,,p Y I— uj W_ N cj: o " .ro J rj o o CY ro -� vi W p ci ;, d d 3 '• vf` ' FOR FURTHER,,;INFORMATION Engineers:with the Health Services 1 Department's Accidental Release Prevention Team encourageyou to'call thein for.more information about in ti principles:- - They cavi be reached Monday:through Friday 8;00 am to 5 OO.p rn.'at(510) 636 2286. In,addition,The Center for.Chemical Process 1 Safety has published several excellent books. r on.inherently safer principles' Some are listed below: ,You,can contact,the Center to,S 'place an order at`1 800=242-4363,>-or,--- r : through th-eirweb page.at wwwaiche:org " ' Inherently Safer,Chemical Processes;A Life. i Cycle Appr'oach.: 1996,ISBN 0-.8169-0703A . Guidelines for Engineering Design for Process Safety 1993, ISBN 0 81-69-0565-7", i Gaidelines for'Safe-Storage aiid Handling of High Toxic Hazard'Matenals;^.1988;,ISBN,Of 81619--0466-B.", .i MUM i1. 1 . Lt y _ S , .9=97