Ala. Admin. Code r. 335-14-3-.14

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 1, October 31, 2024

Section 335-14-3-.14 - Preparedness, Prevention, Emergency Procedures For Large Quantity Generators

(1)Applicability. The regulations of 335-14-3-.14 apply to those areas of a large quantity generator where hazardous waste is generated or accumulated on site.

(2)Maintenance and operation of facility. A large quantity generator must maintain and operate its facility to minimize the possibility of a fire, explosion, or any unplanned sudden or nonsudden release of hazardous waste or hazardous waste constituents to air, soil, or surface water which could threaten human health or the environment.

(3)Required equipment. All areas deemed applicable by 335-14-3-.14(1) must be equipped with the items in 335-14-3-.14(3)(a) through (d) (unless none of the hazards posed by waste handled at the facility could require a particular kind of equipment specified below or the actual hazardous waste generation or accumulation area does not lend itself for safety reasons to have a particular kind of equipment specified below). A large quantity generator may determine the most appropriate locations within its facility to locate equipment necessary to prepare for and respond to emergencies:

(a) An internal communications or alarm system capable of providing immediate emergency instruction (voice or signal) to facility personnel;

(b) A device, such as a telephone (immediately available at the scene of operations) or a hand-held two-way radio, capable of summoning emergency assistance from local law enforcement agencies, fire departments, or state or local emergency response teams;

(c) Portable fire extinguishers, fire control equipment (including special extinguishing equipment, such as that using foam, inert gas, or dry chemicals), spill control equipment, and decontamination equipment; and

(d) Water at adequate volume and pressure to supply water hose streams, or foam producing equipment, or automatic sprinklers, or water spray systems.

(4)Testing and maintenance of equipment. All communications or alarm systems, fire protection equipment, spill control equipment, and decontamination equipment, where required, must be tested and maintained as necessary to assure its proper operation in time of emergency.

(5)Access to communications or alarm system.

(a) Whenever hazardous waste is being poured, mixed, spread, or otherwise handled, all personnel involved in the operation must have immediate access (e.g., direct or unimpeded access) to an internal alarm or emergency communication device, either directly or through visual or voice contact with another employee, unless such a device is not required under 335-14-3-.14(3).

(b) In the event there is just one employee on the premises while the facility is operating, the employee must have immediate access (e.g., direct or unimpeded access) to a device, such as a telephone (immediately available at the scene of operation) or a hand-held two-way radio, capable of summoning external emergency assistance, unless such a device is not required under 335-14-3-.14(3).

(6)Required aisle space. The large quantity generator must maintain aisle space to allow the unobstructed movement of personnel, fire protection equipment, spill control equipment, and decontamination equipment to any area of facility operation in an emergency, unless aisle space is not needed for any of these purposes.

(7)Arrangements with local authorities.

(a) The large quantity generator must attempt to make arrangements with the local law enforcement agency, fire department, other emergency response teams, emergency response contractors, equipment suppliers, and local hospitals, taking into account the types and quantities of hazardous wastes handled at the facility. Arrangements may be made with the Local Emergency Planning Committee, if it is determined to be the appropriate organization with which to make arrangements.

1. A large quantity generator attempting to make arrangements with its local fire department must determine the potential need for the services of the local law enforcement agency, other emergency response teams, emergency response contractors, equipment suppliers and local hospitals.

2. As part of this coordination, the large quantity generator shall attempt to make arrangements, as necessary, to familiarize the above organizations with the layout of the facility, the properties of the hazardous waste handled at the facility and associated hazards, places where personnel would normally be working, entrances to roads inside the facility, and possible evacuation routes as well as the types of injuries or illnesses which could result from fires, explosions, or releases at the facility.

3. Where more than one law enforcement agency or fire department might respond to an emergency, the large quantity generator shall attempt to make arrangements designating primary emergency authority to a specific fire or law enforcement agency, and arrangements with any others to provide support to the primary emergency authority.

(b) The large quantity generator shall maintain records documenting the arrangements with the local fire department as well as any other organization necessary to respond to an emergency. This documentation must include documentation in the operating record that either confirms such arrangements actively exist or, in cases where no arrangements exist, confirms that attempts to make such arrangements were made.

(c) A facility possessing 24-hour response capabilities may seek a waiver from the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) over the fire code within the facility's state or locality as far as needing to make arrangements with the local fire department as well as any other organization necessary to respond to an emergency, provided that the waiver is documented in the operating record.

(8)Purpose and implementation of contingency plan.

(a) A large quantity generator must have a contingency plan for the facility. The contingency plan must be designed to minimize hazards to human health or the environment from fires, explosions, or any unplanned sudden or non-sudden release of hazardous waste or hazardous waste constituents to air, soil, or surface water.

(b) The provisions of the plan must be carried out immediately whenever there is a fire, explosion, or release of hazardous waste or hazardous waste constituents which could threaten human health or the environment.

(9)Content of contingency plan.

(a) The contingency plan must describe the actions facility personnel must take to comply with 335-14-3-.14(8) and (13) in response to fires, explosions, or any unplanned sudden or non-sudden release of hazardous waste or hazardous waste constituents to air, soil, or surface water at the facility.

(b) If the generator has already prepared a Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasures (SPCC) Plan in accordance with 40 CFR Part 112, or some other emergency or contingency plan, it need only amend that plan to incorporate hazardous waste management provisions that are sufficient to comply with the standards of 335-14-3. The generator may develop one contingency plan that meets all regulatory standards. [NOTE: The Department recommends that the plan be based on the National Response Team's Integrated Contingency Plan Guidance ("One Plan")].

(c) The plan must describe arrangements agreed to with the local law enforcement agency, fire department, other emergency response teams, emergency response contractors, equipment suppliers, local hospitals or, if applicable, the Local Emergency Planning Committee, pursuant to 335-14-3-.14(7).

(d) The plan must list names and emergency telephone numbers of all persons qualified to act as emergency coordinator (see 335-14-3-.14(12)), and this list must be kept up to date. Where more than one person is listed, one must be named as primary emergency coordinator and others must be listed in the order in which they will assume responsibility as alternates. In situations where the generator facility has an emergency coordinator continuously on duty because it operates 24 hours per day, every day of the year, the plan may list the staffed position (e.g., operations manager, shift coordinator, shift operations supervisor) as well as an emergency telephone number that can be guaranteed to be answered at all times.

(e) The plan must include a list of all emergency equipment at the facility (such as fire extinguishing systems, spill control equipment, communications and alarm systems (internal and external), and decontamination equipment), where this equipment is required. This list must be kept up to date. In addition, the plan must include the location and a physical description of each item on the list, and a brief outline of its capabilities.

(f) The plan must include an evacuation plan for generator personnel where there is a possibility that evacuation could be necessary. This plan must describe signal(s) to be used to begin evacuation, evacuation routes, and alternate evacuation routes (in cases where the primary routes could be blocked by releases of hazardous waste or fires).

(10)Copies of contingency plan. A copy of the contingency plan and all revisions to the plan must be maintained at the large quantity generator, and:

(a) The large quantity generator must submit a copy of the contingency plan and all revisions to all local emergency responders (i.e., law enforcement agencies, fire departments, hospitals and State and local emergency response teams that may be called upon to provide emergency services). This document may also be submitted to the Local Emergency Planning Committee, as appropriate.

(b) A large quantity generator that first becomes subject to these provisions after May 30, 2017 or a large quantity generator that is otherwise amending its contingency plan must submit a quick reference guide of the contingency plan to the local emergency responders identified at 335-14-3-.14(10)(a) or, as appropriate, the Local Emergency Planning Committee. The quick reference guide must include the following elements:

1. The types/names of hazardous wastes in layman's terms and the associated hazard associated with each hazardous waste present at any one time (e.g., toxic paint wastes, spent ignitable solvent, corrosive acid);

2. The estimated maximum amount of each hazardous waste that may be present at any one time;

3. The identification of any hazardous wastes where exposure would require unique or special treatment by medical or hospital staff;

4. A map of the facility showing where hazardous wastes are generated and accumulated, and routes for accessing these wastes;

5. A street map of the facility in relation to surrounding businesses, schools and residential areas to understand how best to get to the facility and also evacuate citizens and workers;

6. The locations of water supply (e.g., fire hydrant and its flow rate);

7. The identification of on-site notification systems (e.g., a fire alarm that rings off site, smoke alarms); and

8. The name of the emergency coordinator(s) and 7/24-hour emergency telephone number(s) or, in the case of a facility where an emergency coordinator is continuously on duty, the emergency telephone number for the emergency coordinator.

(c) Generators must update, if necessary, their quick reference guides, whenever the contingency plan is amended and submit these documents to the local emergency responders identified at 335-14-3-.14(10)(a) or, as appropriate, the Local Emergency Planning Committee.

(11)Amendment of contingency plan. The contingency plan must be reviewed, and immediately amended, if necessary, whenever:

(a) Applicable regulations are revised;

(b) The plan fails in an emergency;

(c) The generator facility changes-in its design, construction, operation, maintenance, or other circumstances -in a way that materially increases the potential for fires, explosions, or releases of hazardous waste or hazardous waste constituents, or changes the response necessary in an emergency;

(d) The list of emergency coordinators changes; or

(e) The list of emergency equipment changes.

(12)Emergency coordinator. At all times, there must be at least one employee either on the generator's premises or on call (i.e., available to respond to an emergency by reaching the facility within a short period of time) with the responsibility for coordinating all emergency response measures and implementing the necessary emergency procedures outlined in 335-14-3-.14(13). Although responsibilities may vary depending on factors such as type and variety of hazardous waste(s) handled by the facility, as well as type and complexity of the facility, this emergency coordinator must be thoroughly familiar with all aspects of the generator's contingency plan, all operations and activities at the facility, the location and characteristics of hazardous waste handled, the location of all records within the facility, and the facility's layout. In addition, this person must have the authority to commit the resources needed to carry out the contingency plan.

(13)Emergency procedures.

(a) Whenever there is an imminent or actual emergency situation, the emergency coordinator (or his designee when the emergency coordinator is on call) must immediately:

1. Activate internal facility alarms or communication systems, where applicable, to notify all facility personnel; and

2. Notify appropriate state or local agencies with designated response roles if their help is needed.

(b) Whenever there is a release, fire, or explosion, the emergency coordinator must immediately identify the character, exact source, amount, and areal extent of any released materials. The emergency coordinator may do this by observation or review of the facility records or manifests and, if necessary, by chemical analysis.

(c) Concurrently, the emergency coordinator must assess possible hazards to human health or the environment that may result from the release, fire, or explosion. This assessment must consider both direct and indirect effects of the release, fire, or explosion (e.g., the effects of any toxic, irritating, or asphyxiating gases that are generated, or the effects of any hazardous surface water run-offs from water or chemical agents used to control fire and heat-induced explosions).

(d) If the emergency coordinator determines that the facility has had a release, fire, or explosion which could threaten human health, or the environment, outside the facility, the emergency coordinator must report the findings as follows:

1. If the assessment indicates that evacuation of local areas may be advisable, the emergency coordinator must immediately notify appropriate local authorities. The emergency coordinator must be available to help appropriate officials decide whether local areas should be evacuated; and

2. The emergency coordinator must immediately notify either the government official designated as the on-scene coordinator for that geographical area, or the National Response Center (using their 24-hour toll free number 800/424-8802). The report must include:

(i) Name and telephone number of reporter;

(ii) Name and address of the generator;

(iii) Time and type of incident (e.g., release, fire);

(iv) Name and quantity of material(s) involved, to the extent known;

(v) The extent of injuries, if any; and

(vi) The possible hazards to human health, or the environment, outside the facility.

(e) During an emergency, the emergency coordinator must take all reasonable measures necessary to ensure that fires, explosions, and releases do not occur, recur, or spread to other hazardous waste at the generator's facility. These measures must include, where applicable, stopping processes and operations, collecting and containing released hazardous waste, and removing or isolating containers.

(f) If the generator stops operations in response to a fire, explosion or release, the emergency coordinator must monitor for leaks, pressure buildup, gas generation, or ruptures in valves, pipes, or other equipment, wherever this is appropriate.

(g) Immediately after an emergency, the emergency coordinator must provide for treating, storing, or disposing of recovered waste, contaminated soil or surface water, or any other material that results from a release, fire, or explosion at the facility. Unless the generator can demonstrate, in accordance with 335-14-2-.01(3)(c) and (d), that the recovered material is not a hazardous waste, then it is a newly generated hazardous waste that must be managed in accordance with all the applicable requirements and conditions for exemption in 335-14-3, -4, and -6.

(h) The emergency coordinator must ensure that, in the affected area(s) of the facility:

1. No hazardous waste that may be incompatible with the released material is treated, stored, or disposed of until cleanup procedures are completed; and

2. All emergency equipment listed in the contingency plan is cleaned and fit for its intended use before operations are resumed.

(i) The generator must note in the operating record the time, date, and details of any incident that requires implementing the contingency plan. Within 15 days after the incident, the generator must submit a written report on the incident to the Department. The report must include:

1. Name, address, and telephone number of the generator;

2. Date, time, and type of incident (e.g., fire, explosion);

3. Name and quantity of material(s) involved;

4. The extent of injuries, if any;

5. An assessment of actual or potential hazards to human health or the environment, where this is applicable; and

6. Estimated quantity and disposition of recovered material that resulted from the incident.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 335-14-3-.14

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXVI, Issue No. 05, February 28, 2018, eff. 4/6/2018.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XLI, Issue No. 07, April 28, 2023, eff. 6/12/2023.

Author: Vernon H. Crockett; Jonah L. Harris.

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 22-30-11, 22-30-14.