Hazardous Materials Emergency Response

The Foundation of the Columbia County Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Program

The following federal regulation, state law and PEMA guidance's provide the foundation and establish the ground rules for the Columbia County Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Program. The full text of each document is available for review by clicking the appropriate link in the left hand margin.

* CFR 1910.20 is a federal regulation which establishes the national standard for hazardous materials training and emergency response throughout the United States.

* Act 165 is a state law that assigns PEMA the responsibility and authority to establish hazardous materials notification, reporting, training, certification and response standards in Pennsylvania. Act 165 outlines the responsibilities of state, county and local agencies and departments. Act 165 also protects emergency responders from civil liability except in certain cases of misconduct and negligence.

* PEMA Directive 2004-1 establishes Hazardous Materials Response Team (HMRT) training standards, equipment requirements, safety & PPE requirements, medical surveillance, exercise program and emergency response criteria.

* PEMA Circular 1993-1 outlines the types of spills and leaks properly trained, equipped and certified fire fighters can handle on their own. These incidents include gasoline, diesel, oil, propane, natural gas spills and leaks from motor vehicle fuel tanks and home heating systems. Columbia County EMA must be notified on all spills that enter or are suspected of entering a waterway. Also if a fuel spill is of such a magnitude that it exceeds the fire company's ability to handle they can request the assistance of the county contracted HMRT.

* The Columbia County Incident Command System (ICS) models itself after the national standard. ICS is a management tool based on best practices for meeting the demands of large or small emergency incidents. ICS should be used on all planned events, natural disasters, hazardous materials incidents, technological emergencies and acts of terrorism.

* The National Incident Management System (NIMS) is a set of doctrines, principles, concepts, terms and processes that are applicable to all hazards. The objective of NIMS is to ensure all levels of government, volunteer organizations and the private sector can work together in an efficient and effective manner.

* The Columbia County Hazardous Materials Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) takes the spirit of the items listed above and incorporates it into one document for easy referral.

Program Highlights

* Columbia County has a contract in place with a PEMA certified Hazardous Materials Response Team (HMRT). The HMRT maintains liability insurance and workman's comp on employees as required by law.

* According to Act 165 an Incident Commander from local emergency services can request a certified HMRT response, however it must be approved and authorized by the County Emergency Management Coordinator (or designee) to qualify as an official response under the law.

* The Incident Commander from local emergency services is fully responsible for the consequences of those decisions made at a hazardous materials emergency which blatantly contradict federal, state and county regulations, guidelines or policies.

Reference Tools to Assist Incident Commanders During Hazardous Materials Emergencies

The reference tools linked in the left hand margin are designed to help the Incident Commander maintain focus on the many tasks that must be considered during a hazardous materials emergency.

Objectives of the 911 Dispatcher After Receiving a Report of a Hazardous Materials Emergency

* Dispatch local emergency services according to established protocol.

* Relay available information to responding emergency personnel over public safety radio frequencies

* Notify the County Emergency Management Coordinator (or designee) with available information on all confirmed hazardous materials emergencies.

Initial Objectives of Local Emergency Services

* Arriving emergency personnel will approach the scene cautiously assuming at this point that a hazardous materials emergency does exist.

* Incident Command will be initiated and the location of a command post and staging area identified. The scene will be secured and a safe perimeter established which may require a local evacuation.

* Whenever an official transfer of command takes place the new IC will immediately inform the 911 dispatcher.

* The Incident Commander (IC) will perform a size up while attempting to identify the responsible party and secure MSDS and/or shipping papers. The IC will ascertain the nature of the incident, the product involved, the quantity of material released as well as any immediate threats to life, property or the environment.

* As soon as the IC confirms the existence of a hazardous materials emergency, a request for a certified HMRT will be made via 911.

* After careful analysis of all available information, the IC will determine if emergency personnel on the scene can safely perform defensive actions (such as diking, damming and diverting) with PPE on hand.

* When the certified HMRT Chief arrives at the Command Post the incident will transition to Unified Command.

* The IC from local emergency services will maintain overall incident command; however In the spirit of cooperation the certified HMRT Chief will assume control over hot and warm zone activities with Incident Commander support.

Initial Objectives of Columbia County EMA

* Evaluate the information received from the 911 dispatcher; determine the appropriate certified HMRT response; approve the dispatch of the county contracted HMRT.

* Submit the initial incident report to PEMA.

* Correspond with the IC, HMRT, DEP and PEMA as required.

* Determine if a limited activation of the County EOC is required to support the hazardous materials emergency response.