Hazardous Materials Spill/Emergency Release Reporting

The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) Section 304 requires facilities to report hazardous materials spills overcertainthreshold quantities to their LEPC, State Emergency Response Commission (SERC), and the National Response Center (NRC). Facilities are required to do the following:

  1. IMMEDIATELY DIAL 9-1-1 to inform emergency responders of the situation and enact your facility emergency plan.
  2. NOTIFY the Los Alamos County LEPC by calling 505-662-8283 followed by notification to the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) at DHSEM at 505-476-9635 (EOC 24/7) or 505-476-0617 (HMER Administrator Mon-Fri 8am-5pm) and provide the following information:
    • The chemical name,
    • An indication of whether the substance is extremely hazardous,
    • An estimate of the quantity released into the environment,
    • The time and duration of the release,
    • Whether the release occurred into air, water and/or land,
    • Any known or anticipated acute or chronic health risks associated with the emergency and where necessary, advice regarding medical attention for exposed individuals,
    • Proper precautions, such as evacuation or sheltering in place, and
    • Name and telephone number of the contact person.
  3. As soon as practicable after a release that requires notification, the facility owner or operator must provide one or more written follow-up emergency notice(s) to theLEPCand the SERC.

The written follow-up emergency notice must include:

  • Information setting forth and updating the information required for the initial emergency notification;
  • Actions taken to respond to and contain the release
  • Any known or anticipated acute or chronic health risks associated with the release; and
  • Advice regarding medical attention necessary for exposed individuals.

If the released hazardous material is a CERCLA chemical and meets release thresholds, contact the National Response Center (NRC) at (800) 424-8802.

 

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