HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 05072013 - C.21RECOMMENDATION(S):
SUPPORT Senate Bill 483 (Jackson), which is a technical bill that updates, rearranges, and clarifies Health and
Safety Code Chapter 6.95, Article 1, Section 25500 et seq. The purpose of the bill is to modernize the provisions of
this section, which addresses the unified hazardous and hazardous materials management regulatory program. These
changes will ensure that the program functions more efficiently and effectively by reducing redundancies and
inconsistencies in the law.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.
BACKGROUND:
The purpose of the bill is to modernize the provisions of this section, which addresses the unified hazardous and
hazardous materials management regulatory program. These changes will ensure that the program functions more
efficiently and effectively by reducing redundancies and inconsistencies in the law.
APPROVE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
Action of Board On: 05/07/2013 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
Clerks Notes:
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
AYE:John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II
Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III
Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV
Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V
Supervisor
Contact: Randy Sawyer,
646-2286
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board
of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: May 7, 2013
David Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
By: June McHuen, Deputy
cc: Randy Sawyer, D Gary, T Scott
C. 21
To:Board of Supervisors
From:William Walker, M.D.
Date:May 7, 2013
Contra
Costa
County
Subject:Support Position on SB 483 (Jackson) – Cleanup and Technical Changes to Hazardous Material Business Plan
Program
BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)
Contra Costa County is the Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA) for all of Contra Costa County and the
requirements of the CUPA are administered by the Health Services Hazardous Materials Program. The CUPA
programs include six hazardous material programs, including the Hazardous Materials Business Plan Program.
The hazardous materials management regulatory program requires businesses that handle hazardous materials to
report the quantity of hazardous materials that they handle, develop emergency response plans to address an
accidental release of these hazardous materials, and train their employees on the emergency response plan. This
information is made available to the different fire agencies in the County, so they are aware of the hazardous a
business maybe handling at the site when and if they respond to these businesses. This information is also a
Community Right to Know requirement. CUPAs are required to establish area plans for emergency response to a
release or threatened release of a hazardous material.
The California CUPA Forum is a statewide association of CUPAs and participating agencies that implement the
unified program. Its CUPA Forum Board has long identified areas of Health and Safety Code Chapter 6.95,
Article 1, Section 25500 et seq. that should be updated. The CUPA Forum Board established a workgroup that
recently identified a number of changes to Health and Safety Code Chapter 6.95 that would modernize and
improve the overall effectiveness and efficiency of that Chapter.
These changes include:
• Updating fire code section citations
• Changing the term “administering agency” to “unified program agency”
• Updating the California Environmental Reporting System
• Requiring CUPAs to provide access to data in a mutually agreeable format and timeframe
• Requiring training documentation
• Making site plans mandatory
• Removing outdated provisions
SB 483 would update, rearrange and clarify various provisions of Health and Safety Code Chapter 6.95, Article 1,
Section 25500 et seq., which codifies the unified hazardous and hazardous materials management regulatory
program.
The intent of the bill is to modernize the program and ensure that it operates as efficiently as possible, which in
turn facilitates compliance for regulated businesses without reducing the protection of public health, safety and the
environment.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
The County's position on the bill will not be on record.
CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:
Not applicable.
ATTACHMENTS
Support Letter
The Honorable Jerry Hill, Chair April 16, 2013
And Committee Members
Senate Environmental Quality Committee
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
SUBJECT: SB 483 (Jackson) Hazardous materials: business and area plans.
POSITION: SUPPORT
Dear Chair Hill and Committee Members:
Contra Costa County is the sole Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA) for the County. The County’s Board
of Supervisors has voted to support SB 483, which is co-sponsored by the California Association of
Environmental Health Administrators (CAEHA) and the California Fire Chiefs Association. SB 483 is a technical
measure that updates, rearranges, and clarifies Health and Safety Code Chapter 6.95, Article 1, Section 25500
et seq. The bill is intended to correct and revise redundant provisions of this chapter which deals with the
hazardous materials management regulatory program. Specifically, the legislation will:
• Update fire code section citations;
• Change the term “administering agency” to “unified program agency”;
• Update references to California Environmental Reporting System;
• Require CUPAs to provide access to data in a mutually agreeable format and timeframe;
• Require training documentation;
• Make site plans mandatory; and
• Remove various outdated provisions
These changes to current code have been proposed by a working group of CUPAs as part of an ongoing effort
to enhance program compliance but eliminating outdated provisions, and regulatory duplications, redundancies
and inconsistencies in the Unified Program laws and regulations. We look forward to working with you and
your staff on ways to make our environmental health programs more effective and efficient.
Please contact Randy Sawyer our Hazardous Materials Director at (925) 335-3210 or
randy.sawyer@hsd.cccounty.us if you or your staff have any questions regarding this letter.
Sincerely,
Federal Glover
Chair, Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors
cc: Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors
California Fire Chief Association
CAEHA