Hazardous Materials Management
NOTICES
Release Reporting Guidelines
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The Hazardous Materials Management Division (HMMD) is one of the three divisions of the Department of Environmental Health (DEH). HMMD is the Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA) for Riverside County responsible for regulating hazardous materials business plans and chemical inventory, hazardous waste and tiered permitting, underground storage tanks, and risk management plans.
The goal of the HMMD is to protect human health and the environment by ensuring that hazardous materials, hazardous waste and underground storage tanks are properly managed. To accomplish this goal, the HMMD has several programs working with the regulated community and the public.
DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES
As of July 1st 2006, this program was transfered to the Riverside County Waste Managment Department .
Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA)
The CUPA Program conducts inspections of businesses that handle hazardous materials, generate hazardous waste, treat hazardous waste and/or maintain underground storage tanks. For CUPA forms go to our Forms and Guidelines page.
Regulates all non-exempt UST's which contain hazardous substances located within
Riverside County. Go to our
Forms and Guidelines
page for a complete listing of guidelines, applications and other materials
available for downloading.The Underground Storage Tank (UST) Plan Check Group provides plan check
services county-wide to all UST facilities being installed, upgraded, modified or repaired.
Visit the following link for State Water Resources Control Board, Water
Quality, Underground Storage Tanks regarding information on State laws, regulations, forms,
guidelines, and financial responsibility guide book.
State Water Resources
Control Board
Reporting A Leak or Spill from an Underground Storage Tank
When a leak, spill, overfill, or other release from an underground storage tank
(UST) is discovered, the owners and operators of the USTs, as well as the property owners, are
required under state and federal laws to:
- Take necessary corrective actions immediately to stop the release and prevent further impact to the environment.
- Notify the Department of Environmental Health of the release within 24 hours of discovery.
- Report the release to the Department of Environmental Health within 5 days of discovery. The reporting shall include submittal of an Unauthorized Release Report and a written report documenting the release and corrective actions taken to stop the release and prevent further impact to the environment.
Contamination resulting from an unauthorized release is required to be assessed and mitigated. The investigation and cleanup of soil and groundwater contamination is overseen by the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health, Local Oversight Program (LOP) . This program now reports to the Environmental Resources Management Division.
Regulates facilities in the community which generate a hazardous waste. Regulatory requirements are fulfilled through a program of annual permits, supported by routine inspections. This program also regulates facilities that treat hazardous waste under the Tiered Permitting Program. For Hazardous Waste Generator forms go to our Forms and Guidelines page.
Business Emergency Plan/Handler Program
Regulates facilities which handle and store on-site specified types and quantities of hazardous and acutely/extremely hazardous materials through permitting, routine facility inspections and development of detailed site plans indicating where hazardous materials are stored. Go to our Forms and Guidelines page to download our "Business Emergency Plan Application" guidelines.
Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Team
The Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Team (HMERT) responds to over 1,100 chemically-related emergencies or complaints each year. The program is a joint agency team staffed by the Hazardous Materials Management Division and Riverside County Fire/California Department of Forestry.
Environmental Crimes Task Force
The Environmental Crimes Task Force investigates several hundred complaints each year related to hazardous materials, hazardous waste, underground storage tanks, medical waste and other environmental crimes. To report an environmental crime, call (800)304-6100.
California Accidental Release Prevention
The California Accidental Release Prevention (CalARP) program works with local businesses to reduce the likelihood and severity of consequences of releases from hazardous materials. Click here for the CALARP Registration Form .
Other Related Hazardous Materials Services Provided