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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 11051991 - 2.2 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS �� (��; a•.5...;:.. ° <- .. Contra FROM: Mark Finucane, Health Services Director Costa October 30, 1991 �U DATE: County I �°�c__.r• � ESTABLISH POLICY REGARDING NOTIFICATION TO THE HEALTH SUBJECT: DEPARTMENT OF A HAZARDOUS MATERIALS RELEASE SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)8 BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION: 1. Approve Policy developed by the Health Services Department establishing criteria for the immediate notification of the Health Services Department by industry of a release or threatened release of hazardous materials when injury or damage to the community or the environment may occur. 2. Authorize Health Services Director to implement the Policy with all businesses that handle hazardous materials. ! BACKGROUNDS HSD administers Article 1 of Chapter 6.95 of the California Health and Safety Code, often referred to as the AB 2185 program (Business Plans), which requires immediate notification in the event of a hazardous materials release. In addition, the Board of Supervisors adopted Chapter 450-2 of the Contra Costa County Ordinance Code in order to supplement and facilitate the implementation of Chapter 6.95. In particular, Section 450-2.016 requires that "a handler shall, immediately upon discovery, report to the administering agency, any release of a hazardous material reportable under any law to any federal, state or other local ire gulatory agency" However, some incidents of concern have not been immediately reported to HSD, in part, because the criteria for reportability were not clear. In addition, incidents, both in Contra Costa County and elsewhere, have demonstrated that preliminary assessments of hazardous materials releases often underestimate the extent and potential danger of suchreleases. In order for HSD to implement measures to mitigate a release, it is imperative that the Department be informed immediately when a hazardous materials rele or threatened release occurs. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: ✓ YES SIGNATURE: ! X RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER I SIGNATURES: I ACTION OF BOARD ON November 5, 1991 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER I I VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS 18 A TRUE X UNANIMOUS(ABSENT + AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES; AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. CC: Health Services DirectorATTE8TED November 5, 1991 County Counsel PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF County Administrator SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR Ch '0 M382 (10/88) BY DEPUTY 2 HSD also administers Article 2 of Chapter 6.95 of the California Health and Safety Code, often referred to as the AB 3777 program (Risk Management and Prevention Plans),which requires industries to determine the potential off-site consequences of a release of an acutely hazardous material. This information will be utilized for developing emergency response plans to those'potential releases identified. In conjunction with administration of Chapter 6.95 (Articles 1 and 2), HSD has recently developed --with the Contra Costa County Office of Emergency Services and CAER -- the Community Notification)Network. The Community Notification Network was developed to provide local residents with immediate notification when a hazardous materials accident occurs. Information is provided through KKIS radio announcements,future local Travelerg Information Systems and the Computerized Alert Network, a computerized telephone system which calls households and businesses and transmits short messages about the incident and recommended actions. The success of the Community Notification Network is dependent on prompt communication between industry and HSD. The public must be assured that the Network will be activated in time to implement preventive measures, such as sheltering-in-place or evacuation. The Network may also be activated to allay community concerns when a visible incident occurs, such as an explosion, which does not pose a health hazard. The intent of the policy is to enhance HSIY s administration of the requirements of the Health & Safety Code, as well as to improve HSD`s ability to pass on vital information to the public by facilitating" cooperation and communication between industry and HSD in the event of a chemical emergency when the public may be affected. HSD is committed to ongoing discussions regarding the implementation and improvement of this policy as industry, HSD and the public gain experience with it. This policy is the result of over two months of discussions between HSD I staff and representatives of Community Awareness and Emergency Response (CAER). CAER endorsed the policy on October 23, 1991. The Hazardous Materials Commission unanimously approved the policy, also on October 23, and recommended that the Board of Supervisors adopt it. The Hazardous Materials Council also supports this policy. REFERENCES: This Policy provides guidance for the implementation of Chapter 6.95, Section 25507 of the California Health and Safety Code and Section 2703 of Title 19 of the California Code of Regulations, regarding the Business Plan Program and Chapter 450-2 of the Contra Costa County Ordinance Code. Public Utilities Commission of California Decision 91-08- 019/R.88-07-039 requires similar notification for rail accidents. cc: County Counsel County Health Officer Deputy Director; Hazardous Materials Hazardous Materials Commission a' 3 POLICY: S A. Immediate Notification of a Hazardous Materials Release or Threatened Hazardous Materials Release by; the Responsible Business. 1. Immediate notification is required for any release or threatened release of a hazardous;material that poses a present or potential hazard to human health and safetyproperty or the environment. Such notification is required if any one of the following occurs: a. The release or threatened release of a volatile hazardous material that results in a substantial probability of harm to nearby workers or the general public, due to the toxic characteristics of the material. At a minimum, this includes all such situations in which: L Ambulance response is requested; or ii. Medical attention, other than first aid, is sought on-site or off- site (Do not delay reporting if the level of treatment is uncertain); j b. Any release or threatened release of a volatile Acutely (Hazardous Material (other than a small drip or instantaneous vapor release, often called a.puff) such as a release or threatened release that is'the result of equipment failure, operator error, or external events; t C. The release or threatened release may affect the surrounding population resulting in, at a minimum, odor, eye or respiratory irritation; l I d. The event may cause general public concern, such as a fire,!explosion, sm1oke, or excessive flaring; fl i e. The release or threatened release has a substantial probability to contaminate surface or groundwater; f. The release or threatened release has a substantial probability of causing off-site environmental damage, such as soil contamination; g. The release or threatened release occurs during transport or storage of],!such material, via vehicle, rail, onsite pipeline, marine, vessel, or aircraft; or h. Tlie Safety Supervisor is placed on alert due to a release or threatened release resulting from an emergency situation. 4 2. Immediate verbal notification shall be made to Health Services Department emergency response teams who are on-call 24 hours a day. The Health Services Department emergency response teams can be reached at (510) 646- 1112 during working hours and at (510) 646-2441 (Sheriff s Dispatch) during off-hours. ' 3. Initial verbal 1notification of release or threatened release should include: II a. Name of person reporting; it b. Name and phone number of emergency contact person; C. Incident location; 'I d. Description of incident; e. List of hazardous materials involved; L Physical state of hazardous materials; g. Estimated release quantity. The best estimates should be reported (Do not delay reporting to determine exact quantity released); .i h. Potential hazards of the hazardous material involved, if known; and L If readily available, meteorological conditions, such as wind speed, direction and stability class. 4. This policy does not relieve the responsible party from compliance with any legal request to notify other local, state or federal agencies. B. Follow-up Reporting of a Hazardous Materials Release. i 1. Upon request of the Health Services Department, a written follow-up notification of the incident should be made to Department within 72 hours by{;the entity responsible for the release either confirming, modifying or updating the information provided in the initial notification under (A)(3). 2. A written final report of the incident shall be made to the Health Services !, epartment as soon as practicable following a release, but no later than 30 days from the date of the release if the Health Services Department requests such a report. 5 3.. If the release requires a written emergency release follow-up report, pursuant to section 2705(b) of Title 19 of the California Code of Regulations to the Chemical Emergency Planning and Response Commission, a copy of such report shall be sent to the Health Services Department. Reports should be sent to the following address: it ATTENTION: DEPUTY DIRECTOR Contra Costa County Health Services Department Hazardous Materials Division 4333 Pacheco Boulevard Martinez, CA 94553 10-30.91 I i