hazardous materials business plan riverside county

• RiversideCA.gov
• Engage Riverside
• Shop Riverside
• Public Utilities

• Incident Info
• About & Contact
• Special Programs
• Forms & Resources

Hazardous Materials Business Plans

Other programs the division implements include the Hazardous Materials Business Plan (HMBP) and investigating environmental crimes in conjunction with the Riverside County District Attorney's Environmental Crimes Task Force and the APSA (Aboveground Petroleum Storage Act) program.

Business Plans

Federal, State and local laws require that a Hazardous Material Business Plan be submitted by any business that uses, stores, and/or handles a hazardous material or a mixture containing a hazardous material in reportable quantities. The Fire Department shall be responsible for implementing and enforcing two of the six Unified Programs set forth in Chapter 9.48 of the Riverside Municipal Code. The elements of the Unified Programs consist of:

• Hazardous Materials Release Response Plans and Inventories (Hazardous Materials Business Plan)
• Aboveground Petroleum Storage Act (APSA)
• California Fire Code

As a result of Assembly Bill 2286, effective January 1, 2013, the California Environmental Reporting System (CERS) is the only approved method for filing Hazardous Materials Business Plans. The City of Riverside Fire Prevention Division implements the Hazardous Materials Business Plan program within the city limits. Businesses are required to submit their plan electronically annually. Maintaining accurate inventories, site maps and prevention plans will allow emergency responders the ability to pre-plan responses based on hazards specific to the business. The City of Riverside is a Participating Agency (PA) to the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA).

Business plans must be reviewed and submitted annually. The annual due date for these reviews is based on the expiration date of the annual permit issued by the County of Riverside Department of Environmental Health.

Chemical Inventory Thresholds

A Hazardous Materials Handler is identified as any facility storing hazardous materials and/or wastes in quantities greater than or equal to:

• 55 gallons of a liquid substance            
• 500 pounds of a solid substance
• 200 cubic feet of compressed gas

Please note that for acutely or extremely hazards materials, these amounts are less.

Reporting a Hazardous Materials Release

Any threatened release of significant release of a hazardous material must be reported. A threatened release is a condition creating a substantial probability of harm to the extent where it is reasonably necessary to take immediate action to prevent, reduce, or mitigate damages to persons, property, or the environment. A significant release is subjective and may depend on a variety of factors such as the amount, the hazardousness of the material or waste, and the proximity of sensitive receptors such as schools, drains, and waterways, among other factors.

A release of a reportable quantity (RQ) of a hazardous material must also be reported. RQs are listed in the CERCLA lists . Another way to determine if a RQ has been exceeded is to use the Department of Energy’s online RQ calculator .

WHO TO CONTACT :

In accordance with State and Federal laws immediate reporting should be made to the following:

• 911 for emergency assistance
• Cal OES State Warning Center – (800) 852-7550
• City of Riverside Fire Prevention Division – (951) 826-5737
• National Response Center (NRC) at (800) 424-8802, if a release exceeds federal reportable quantity (RQ)

Release Reporting Guidelines (documents to be linked on the left side of page)

• Release Reporting Guidelines
• Cal OES Governor’s Office of Emergency Services California Hazardous Materials Spill/Release Notification Guidance

Closure Reports

Any person or business which has previously been required to submit a HMBP shall submit a closure work plan to the City of Riverside Fire Department at least 30 days prior to the closure, relocation, sale or exchange of the business and/or the real property on which the business is located. This report will describe the work to be performed to properly clean, inspect, sample and close the facility. The closure report shall be approved by the City of Riverside before the removal of hazardous or potentially hazardous materials or hazardous wastes from property prior to implementation.

If underground storage tanks are also being closed, a separate tank closure permit must be obtained from the County of Riverside Department of Environmental Health and the City of Riverside Fire Department and must be referenced in the overall closure plan.

No person shall operate or maintain a business where hazardous materials are handled without a valid permit issued by the County of Riverside Department of Environmental Health. Permits are issued to facilities who have paid all assessed fees and are in full compliance with no outstanding violations, including the annual HMBP update. If payment of fees is not received, a late penalty of 20% will be assessed after 60 days and an additional 80% after 90 days in accordance with our fee resolution.

HMBP Guidance

• Training document Template
• List of Business Plan Consultants
• List of Hazmat Consultants
• List of NFPA 704 Sign Vendors
• NFPA 704 Posting Guidelines
• HazMat Secondary Containment Guidelines
• HMBP Pre-Inspection Checklist

CERS Guidance

• CERS Central
• Site Map Requirements
• Sample Site Map
• Consolidated Emergency Response Contingency Plan Template
• Yearly Training Documentation Template
• HMBP Closure Plan
• CERCLA Lists
• Cal OES Governor’s Office of Emergency Services California Hazardous Materials Spill/Release Notification Guidance

Riverside County Department of Environmental Health

Hazardous materials, the california environmental protection agency designated the branch as the certified unified program agency (cupa) for riverside county. the role of the cupa is to assure consolidation, consistency and coordination of the hazardous materials programs within the county. the cupa also oversees the two participating agencies ( corona fire  and  riverside fire ) that implement hazardous materials programs within the county..

The Riverside County Department of Environmental Health Hazardous Materials Branch is responsible for overseeing the six hazardous materials programs in the County.

The Branch is responsible for inspecting facilities that handle hazardous materials, generate hazardous waste, treat hazardous waste, own/operate underground storage tanks, own/operate aboveground petroleum storage tanks, or handle other materials subject to the California Accidental Release Program. In addition, the Branch maintains an emergency response team that responds to hazardous materials and other environmental health emergencies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please use the links on the left side of your screen for more information about the CUPA programs. Questions about the CUPA / Hazardous Materials Branch may be directed to the  appropriate branch office . Please contact our answering service at (951) 782-2968 if you require assistance after normal business hours. All specific questions regarding facilities should be directed to the district inspector.

Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) is managed by the Riverside County Department of Waste Resources.  For information on proper HHW disposal click on this link:  https://www.rcwaste.org/hhw 

Hazardous Materials Business Plan

Underground storage tank, hazardous waste, aboveground petroleum storage tanks, hazardous waste treatment, california accidental release prevention program, emergency response team.

Riverside County Waste Resources

Classifying Your Waste

• California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) directly to speak to a Regulatory Assistance Officer by calling (800) 728-6942, or (800) 72TOXIC or e-mail the Regulatory Assistance Office at [email protected] . If you are calling from out-of-state, you will need to call (916) 255-3617. You can also find more information regarding classifying waste at:   https://dtsc.ca.gov/defining-hazardous-waste/ .
• Riverside County Department of Environmental Health’s Hazardous Materials Management Division at (951) 358-5055 or https://rivcoeh.org/hazardous-materials .  

If you are unsure if your waste is hazardous waste or not, do not send it to the landfill. Some waste streams that the Department landfills conditionally accept include, but are not limited to: demolition & renovation waste, food wastes, manure, grit and screenings from waste water treatment facilities, tires, treated medical waste, low level hydrocarbon contaminated soil, dead animal carcasses, ash, gypsum board, and treated wood waste. Acceptance policies and handling procedures for these and many other types of conditionally acceptable wastes are found in the Department’s Waste Guide .

All customers using Riverside County landfills can expect their loads to be randomly inspected to ensure hazardous materials are not disposed in Riverside County landfills.

The photos above show emergency response due to illegal disposal of hazardous waste at the landfill. These types of incidents are turned over to District Attorney’s Office of Environmental Crimes.

Retail Stores Accept Waste Paint

Recycle your leftover paint with PaintCare, an industry sponsored paint stewardship non-profit program established to manage the reuse, recycling and proper disposal of unused architectural paint. PaintCare will establish hundreds of drop-off sites at paint retail stores, government-run household hazardous waste facilities, and other locations across California. When these sites are part of PaintCare, they will accept program products (primarily latex and oil based paint) from all residents and certain businesses. For more information:  https://www.paintcare.org/states/california/

Hazardous Waste Transporters

For a list of registered hazardous waste transporters, please see the list provided by the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health, located  HERE . This information is offered as a public service in an effort to eliminate illegal and improper waste disposal. As the information may not be comprehensive, the Department encourages the public to research additional companies that are available for the services sought. The companies are not affiliated, endorsed or regulated by the Department. Accordingly, as with any professional service, please confirm the accuracy of the company’s information and request copies or verification of the company's license and/or permits to provide the service, prior to utilizing its services. Under no circumstances, directly or indirectly, shall the Department be held responsible or liable for reliance on this information. If you would like to include your company on the list, please contact  [email protected]  or call (951) 486-3200.

Universal Waste Transporters & Facilities

Universal wastes are hazardous wastes that are widely produced by households and many different types of businesses. Universal wastes include televisions, computers and other electronic devices as well as batteries, fluorescent lamps, mercury thermostats, and other mercury containing equipment, among others. For a list of universal waste transporters and facilities that accept universal waste, please see the list provided by the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health, located  HERE .

Small Business Hazardous Waste Information

Business waste is not accepted at the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program. Businesses can get information on disposal by calling 1-888-722-4234 or (951) 358-5055 or from Riverside County Department of Environmental Health’s Hazardous Materials Management Division’s website  (https://rivcoeh.org/hazardous-waste ).

Businesses and government agencies in Riverside County that generates less than 220 pounds of hazardous waste a month can participate in Riverside County Department of Waste Resources'  Very Small Quantity Generator  (VSQG) Program to properly dispose of its hazardous waste

We're sorry. Internet Explorer 9 and below are no longer supported. Please use a different browser.

• Google Chrome
• Mozilla Firefox
• Microsoft Internet Explorer

Hazardous Materials Business Plan

CalEPA oversees the statewide implementation of the Hazardous Materials Business Plan (HMBP) program, which aims to prevent or minimize harm to public health and safety and the environment from a release or threatened release of a hazardous material.

Hazardous Materials Business Plan Program Overview

The Hazardous Materials Business Plan (HMBP) aims to prevent or minimize harm to public health and safety and the environment from a release or threatened release of a hazardous material. This is accomplished by providing emergency responders with the necessary information to effectively protect the public.

The California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) oversees the implementation of the HMBP program at the state level. Certified Unified Program Agencies (CUPAs), and Participating Agencies (PAs), implement the program at the local level and are responsible for enforcement and administration in their respective jurisdictions.

What is a Hazardous Materials Business Plan?

A HMBP contains detailed information that includes the following:

• An inventory of hazardous materials at a facility.
• Emergency response plans and procedures to be followed in the event of a reportable release or threatened release of a hazardous material.
• Requirements to train employees in safety procedures in the event of a release or threatened release of a hazardous material, including onboarding for new employees and annual refresher courses for existing employees.
• A site map that depicts north orientation, loading areas, internal roads, adjacent streets, storm and sewer drains, access and exit points, emergency shutoffs, evacuation staging areas, hazardous material handling and storage areas, and emergency response equipment.

For more information, see the HMBP Resources page .

HMBP Annual Certification

As of September 18, 2020, business owners/operators may easily certify HMBP information in the California Environmental Reporting System (CERS) as complete, accurate and, if applicable, meeting EPCRA reporting requirements.

For further information and guidance, please reference:

• CalEPA’s CERS Portal Help document ( pdf ).
• Hazardous Materials Business Plan Annual Certification Training Presentation (AB1429) ( pdf )
• Hazardous Materials Business Plan Annual Certification (AB1429) Training, January 2021 ( pdf )

Legal Authority

California State Law: California Health and Safety Code, Division 20, Chapter 6.95, Article 1, Sections 25500 to 25519

California State Regulations: California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 2, Chapter 4, Article 4, Sections 2620 to 2671

If you have any questions regarding the HMBP program, please contact the program at [email protected] .