Ala. Admin. Code r. 335-14-5-.03 - Preparedness And Prevention

(1) Applicability. The requirements of 335-14-5-.03 apply to owners and operators of all hazardous waste facilities except as 335-14-5-.01(1) provides otherwise.

(2) Design and operation of facility. Facilities must be designed, constructed, maintained, and operated to minimize the possibility of a fire, explosion, or any unplanned sudden or non-sudden release of hazardous waste or hazardous waste constituents to air, soil, groundwater, or surface water which could threaten human health or the environment.

(3) Required equipment. All facilities must be equipped with the following, unless it can be demonstrated to the Department's satisfaction that none of the hazards posed by waste handled at the facility could require a particular kind of equipment specified below:

(a) An internal communications or alarm system capable of providing immediate emergency instruction (voice or signal) to facility personnel;

(b) A device, such as a telephone (immediately available at the scene of operations) or a hand-held two-way radio, capable of summoning emergency assistance from local police departments, fire departments, ADEM Field Operations Division or local emergency response teams;

(c) Portable fire extinguishers, fire control equipment (including special extinguishing equipment, such as that using foam, inert gas, or dry chemicals), spill control equipment, and decontamination equipment; and

(d) Water at adequate volume and pressure to supply water hose streams, or foam producing equipment, or automatic sprinklers, or water spray systems.

(4) Testing and maintenance of equipment. All facility communications or alarm systems, fire protection equipment, spill control equipment, and decontamination equipment, where required, must be tested and maintained as necessary to assure its proper operation in time of emergency. Documentation of testing and maintenance must be recorded in the facility operating record as described in Rule 335-14-5-.05(4).

(5) Access to communications or alarm system.

(a) Whenever hazardous waste is being poured, mixed, spread, or otherwise handled, all personnel involved in the operation must have immediate access to an internal alarm or emergency communication device, either directly or through visual or voice contact with another employee, unless the Department has ruled that such a device is not required under 335-14-5-.03(3).

(b) If there is ever just one employee on the premises while the facility is operating, he must have immediate access to a device, such as a telephone (immediately available at the scene of operation) or a hand-held two-way radio, capable of summoning external emergency assistance, unless the Department has ruled that such a device is not required under 335-14-5-.03(3).

(6) Required aisle space. The owner or operator must maintain aisle space to allow the unobstructed movement of personnel, fire protection equipment, spill control equipment, and decontamination equipment to any area of facility operation in an emergency, unless it can be demonstrated to the Department's satisfaction that aisle space is not needed for any of these purposes.

(7) [Reserved]

(8) Arrangements with local authorities.

(a) The owner or operator must attempt to make the following arrangements, as appropriate for the type of waste handled at his facility and the potential need for the services of these organizations:

1. Arrangements to familiarize police, fire departments, and emergency response teams with the layout of the facility, properties of hazardous waste handled at the facility and associated hazards, places where facility personnel would normally be working, entrances to and roads inside the facility, and possible evacuation routes;

2. Where more than one police and fire department might respond to an emergency, agreements designating primary emergency authority to a specific police and a specific fire department, and agreements with any others to provide support to the primary emergency authority;

3. Agreements with ADEM Field Operations Division emergency response teams, emergency response contractors, and equipment suppliers; and

4. Arrangements to familiarize local hospitals with the properties of hazardous waste handled at the facility and the types of injuries or illnesses which could result from fires, explosions, or releases at the facility.

(b) Where State of Alabama or local authorities decline to enter into such arrangements, the owner or operator must document the refusal in the operating record.

Notes

Ala. Admin. Code r. 335-14-5-.03

July 19, 1982. Amended: April 9, 1986; August 24, 1989; January 25, 1992. Amended: Filed November 30, 1994; effective January 5, 1995. Amended: Filed February 20, 1998; effective March 27, 1998. Amended: Filed March 9, 2001; effective April 13, 2001. Amended: Filed February 8, 2002; effective March 15, 2002. Amended: Filed February 27, 2007; effective April 3, 2007. Amended: Filed April 22, 2008; effective May 27, 2008. Amended: Filed February 24, 2009; effective March 31, 2009. Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXVI, Issue No. 05, February 28, 2018, eff. 4/7/2018.

Authors: Stephen C. Maurer, Amy P. Zachry, C. Edwin Johnston

Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 22-30-11, 22-30-16.