Who Should Respond to Haz-Mat Incidents?

[Remember585 815]

Who, legally/ethically, should be responding to potential/actual hazardous materials incidents?

For example, within your jurisdiction, which agency(s) should be notified of a chemical release, fluid spill, gas leak, etc.?

What regulations / laws are in place that would outline who needs to be notified of specific incidents?

Thanks.

[SageVigiles 1,194]

By statute, in Connecticut the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Emergency Response Unit must be notified of any spill. If we have an MVA and some antifreeze leaks onto the road we have to make a notification to DEEP ERU with an estimated quantity spilled. If its a more sizeable issue, DEEP ERU will dispatch an Emergency Response Coordinator to the scene that will provide technical advice to the FD units on scene and they may also make entry with the Regional HAZMAT Team. They have equipment caches that include different suits, meters, etc and have radiation control capabilities that I don't believe any of the Regional Teams (except maybe the Southeast one due to the subbase) have. DEEP is also the only organization authorized by the State of CT to hire cleanup contractors and go after the Responsible Party for reimbursement. Overall they're a great resource.

Within our region if the local department cannot handle the spill, the IC can request the New Haven Area Special Hazards Team (NHASH) to respond to the scene with Technicians and specialized equipment to assist. We have 5 Divisions with participants from the following towns, though we will respond to any town within the region or outside if requested by DEMHS. Each division trains independently on a regular basis, and we occasionally hold inter-division drills or teamwide drills.

-South (New Haven FD)

-Also includes the WMD/EOD Task Force including New Haven PD/Yale PD's Hazardous Devices Unit

-North (Wallingford FD, Cytek FD, Meriden FD, North Haven FD, North Branford FD)

-East (Guilford, Branford, East Haven)

-West (Milford, West Haven)

-Valley (Derby)

Obviously if the spill is into any navigable waterway the US Coast Guard must be notified.

If the spill presents a public health hazard the Local Health Director must also be notified, but unless a Public Health Emergency is declared, they don't have any type of "command" per se.

Edited October 12, 2012 by SageVigiles