Notification, emergency response

Elements to Be Included in the Plan Emergency response notification... 

Activate emergency response notification system based on emergency response level Communications Center... 

Fuel oils that are accidentally released to inland waters are reported to the Emergency Response Notification System (ERNS). Total spill volumes of fuel oils released in 1991 were as follows (ERNS 1992) ... 

ERNS. 1992. Emergency Response Notification System. Washington, DC U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. 

Stoddard solvent may be released to the atmosphere in the exhaust emissions of dry cleaning plants. Emissions from one plant were determined to be 2,100 ppm (measured as propane) (EPA 1980). Fugitive emissions from other industrial or domestic uses (such as incompletely sealed or punctured barrels) may contribute to levels of Stoddard solvent in the environment, including contributions to general levels of volatile organic carbon. In addition, surface water contamination may occur as a result of direct spills of Stoddard solvent onto surface waters, runoff from spills to soil with subsequent transmission to nearby water sources, or from improper disposal, such as pouring Stoddard solvent down drains. Accidental spills of Stoddard solvent to various media are reported to the Emergency Response Notification System (ERNS) maintained by EPA. Total spill data for Stoddard solvent are ... 

Releases are first reported by facilities to the NRC—described in the previous section. The EPA then enters this information into its Emergency Response Notification System (ERNS) database. EPA reviews these release reports and decides which reports should be included in the ARIP database using the criteria shown below. 

When a person calls to report a release, the NRC asks a series of questions. The information is loaded into the Emergency Response Notification System (ERNS). ERNS is a database and retrieval system used to track information relating to notifications of oil and hazardous substances. The database provides a direct source of data that can be used to analyze notifications and spills, support emergency planning efforts, and assist decisionmakers in developing spill prevention programs. 

Reportable releases under CERCLA must be reported to the National Response Center, at (800) 424-8802. Reporting under EPCRA requires notifying the facihty s LEPC (or relevant local emergency response personnel if there is no LEPC) and the SERC of any state likely to be affected. If a faciUty is near the border of another state, that state may have to be notified as well. Notification is required to be immediate, which is usually defined as within 30 minutes of the release. State or local authorities may have additional or different reporting requirements. Eailure to report release in a timely manner can result in severe penalties from the regulatory authorities. 

Handbook of Emergency Response to Toxic Chemical Releases SAMPLE NOTIFICATION LETTER... 

ICPs should ensure that hospitals have current telephone numbers for notification of both internal (ICPs, epidemiologists, infectious diseases specialists, administrators, and public affairs officials) and external (state and local health departments, Federal Bureau of Investigation field office, and CDC Emergency Response office) contacts and that they are distributed to the appropriate personnel.9 ICPs should work with clinical microbiology laboratories, on- or off-site, that receive specimens for testing from their facility to ensure that cultures from suspicious cases are evaluated appropriately. 

During most emergencies, it will be necessary to quickly notify a variety of parties both internal and external to the chemical plant. Using the Chain-of-Command Chart and all appropriate personnel from the lists below, indicate who activates the plan, the order in which notification occurs, and the members of the emergency response team. All contact information should be available for routine updating and readily available. The following lists are not intended to be all inclusive—they should be adapted to your specific needs. 

These are detailed procedures used in the event of an operational emergency or malevolent act. EAPs may be applicable across many different emergencies and are typically common core elements of the overall municipality ERP (e.g., responsibilities, notifications lists, security procedures, etc.) and can be referenced. 

Extremely Hazardous Substances (EHSs) Emergency Planning EHS Release Notihcation (Notification to State Emergency Response Commission, Local Emergency Response Commission) and Follow-up Community Right-to-Know... 

While most emergency situations require notification of other site personnel, each emergency situation will typically not require notification to all personnel. An important part of emergency response planning should be the definition of types of situations that require notification and the extent of notification. In addition, the responsibility for that notification should be established in the emergency response plan and through training. 

Initial notifications, which should be part of the company s emergency response plan, may include the following. 

Making initial notification in a timely manner can present serious challenges immediately following an incident. The incident investigation management system should address how to handle these communications and how to coordinate with facility emergency response plans. A checklist with prearranged names, titles, and phone numbers should be developed and kept up to date for this use. 

Second, a facility may have to reach out to a community to share publicly available information on its operations and the associated storage and use of hazardous materials and their risks. The importance of this information is related to land use patterns and the potential for off-site risk. If a facility is remotely situated and the off-site hazards are minimal, then there is less need to inform the public. However, if a facility s property lines border directly on densely populated residential areas and there is significant off-site risk, then the need to share information is great. The facility must educate the public about the risks and associated emergency response procedures, including equipment and techniques for notification, as well as actions they should take to protect themselves. 

At the very least, a facility is required to develop a plan describing how it will respond to an incident that threatens human health and/or the environment. Generally, the plan includes notification, evacuation, protection of employees, and control of the incident. This emergency response plan usually must be in writing. For example, the OSHA requires a minimum of three plans emergency response, emergency action, and fire prevention. The CAA requires that the state implementation plan have an emergency air pollution episode plan. 

Witnesses or discovers a release of a hazardous material is trained to notify the proper authorities. Training includes the recognition and identification of hazardous materials, proper notification procedures, and the employee s role in the Emergency Response Plan. 

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