San Luis, Arizona. In the United States, under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), most facilities that use large and/or toxic quantities of hazardous materials are required to file reports that detail their hazardous materials use. These facilities are known as “Tier II facilities.” EPCRA requires those facilities which have on-site, at any one time, 10,000 pounds or more of a “Hazardous Chemical” (as defined by OSHA Hazard Communication Regulations), or any amount over a “threshold” level of an “Extremely Hazardous Substance” (EHS) to file a Tier II report. OSHA defines a “Hazardous Chemical” as any chemical which is either a health hazard or a physical hazard. Material Safety Data Sheets must be prepared for such chemicals. Hazardous Chemicals or EHSs present in quantities that do not exceed the reporting threshold may be required to be reported when it is felt that the information may be of use in emergency response situations. Each of the following agencies need to receive copies of Tier II reports: • The State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) • The Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) • The local fire department A total of four facilities have submitted Tier II reports to the San Xxxx Fire Department. Of those facilities, only the San Xxxx Wastewater Treatment Plant is known to handle an EHS, chlorine. Chlorine is used during the disinfection process of wastewater treatment to kill bacteria and other enteric viruses. The chemicals handled by the other reported facilities include: gasoline fuel, diesel fuel, carbon dioxide, and insulating oil. To ensure that all San Xxxx facilities that should be submitting Tier II reports are doing so, a compliance assurance program is necessary.
