Planning Requirements
Each LEPC is required to produce a plan for response to chemical emergencies. The plan must be reviewed by the LEPC and the SERC, and updated on a yearly basis. Citizens have the right to review the plan themselves and it must be made available to them. In Harford County the Hazardous Materials Response Plan is available for review at the following location:
Harford County Division of Emergency Operations
2220 Ady Road
Forest Hill, MD 21050
Phone: 410-638-4900
Testing
To make sure that the plan works the LEPC is required to conduct exercises to test the plan each year. These exercises can be a full-scale exercise involving a realistic scenario or it can be a simple tabletop exercise. If the community is faced with a real chemical emergency where all elements of the plan are tested, they can use this to meet the testing requirements as well. The Harford County LEPC tests its plan yearly and has used each one of these exercise methods.
Proper Response Assurance
To ensure proper response resources, the chemicals that are stored in local facilities and transported through our communities must be known. Every facility that maintains over certain amounts of chemicals are required to report those chemicals for planning and community knowledge on a Tier II Form. Those reports are public information and are made available by the LEPC.
Farm Facilities
Farm facilities are not required to develop emergency response plans for their facilities under the current requirements of SARA Title III. They may, however, be required by your insurance company or other OSHA regulations. If you require any assistance in preparing a plan, please call 410-638-4900.
When a Chemical is a Hazardous Material
The Occupational, Health and Safety Administrationto Learn more about what federal, state, or county legislative district I am in and the name of my legislatorsto open the Tourism Award Process Powerpointto Learn more about what federal, state, or county legislative district I am in and the name of my legislatorsto open the Tourism Award Process Powerpointto Learn more about what federal, state, or county legislative district I am in and the name of my legislatorsto open the Tourism Award Process Powerpoint identifies how a chemical becomes classified as hazardous, which is any chemical that creates a health hazard of any kind to humans. Health hazards can be from immediate contact with the material or through long exposure to the substance. Chemicals that burn, explode, or can start burning by themselves are classified as hazardous. Also classified as hazardous are chemicals that react with air, water, or other chemicals to form heat or toxic gases.
Chemical Storage
The way chemicals are stored can also classify them as hazardous. Gases that are stored under high pressure, such as oxygen, are not an immediate threat to anyone. But if the container is ruptured, damaged or involved in a fire, the container can become a deadly missile or an explosion hazard. Some chemicals are stored at very high temperatures and others can be stored in cryogenic or very cold temperatures, which present the risk of burns, fires and even frostbite are present if there is an accident.
Extremely Hazardous Substances
Some chemicals are more dangerous to human health and the environment if there is a release. These chemicals are known as Extremely Hazardous Substances (EHS). A chemical is classified as an EHS, it has a higher toxic or damaging effect and is regulated in smaller quantities. Examples of EHS are chlorine and ammonia. When used properly and safely, these products can be used in industry and homes every day. During an accident or unplanned release, these chemicals can do extensive damage to human health and the environment. That is why these chemicals have special reporting requirements and facilities that maintain them have special responsibilities.