Policy Text
Field Services Page 1 of 17 06/07 (REV 1/04)
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SPILLS
The purpose of this order is to outline emergency procedures wh en responding to
incidents that may invol ve hazardous materials.
I. Definitions
A. Hazardous Material (HAZMAT)
1. The terms hazardous substance, hazardous material, and HAZMA T
are synonymous.
2. The California Health and Safe ty Code, Section 108125(a), de fines
a hazardous substance as any subs tance or mixture of substances
that is:
a. Toxic
b. Corrosive
c. An irritant
d. A strong sensitizer
e. Flammable or combustible
f. Generates pressure through dec omposition, heat or other
means.
3. In summary, a hazardous mat erial may be defined as any
substance capable of posing an unnecessary risk to health, safe ty,
property and the environment.
4. Violations of hazardous mater ials regulations may result in civil
actions and are primarily the responsibility of regulatory agen cies
such as Fire and Environmental Health.
Field Services Page 2 of 17 06/07 (REV 1/04) B. Hazardous Waste (HAZWASTE)
1. California Code o f Regulations, 66261.2 defines a waste as a ny
discarded material in any form.
2. A hazardous waste may be defined as a discarded hazardous
material.
3. Violation of HAZWASTE laws m ay result in both civil and/or
criminal actions.
C. Under California Law it is illegal to:
1. Store hazardous waste unless licensed to do so. (M)
2. Transport hazardous waste unless licensed to do so. (M)
3. Dispose of, or cause the dis posal of, hazardous waste at any point
that is not an authorized dispos al site (Responsible, if reason ably
should have known). (F)
4. Transport, or cause that transport of, hazardous waste to an y point
that is not an authorized dispos al site (Responsible, if reason ably
should have known). (F)
5. Store, transport or dispose o f hazardous waste in a manor li kely to
cause severe injur y or fire. (F)
6. Deposit or place where it may enter the waster s of the state any
substance deleterious to aquatic life. (M)
D. In the unincorporated area of t he county all potential HAZWA STE
violations are investigated by t he Sheriff’s Environmental Crim e Unit
(ECU). ECU Detectives may inves tigate separately, or in coordi nation
with state and federal regulatory, law enforcement agencies.
II. Hazardous Materials Incident (HAZMAT)
A. HAZMAT Incident may consist of:
1. The unplanned or un scheduled spill or rel ease of a hazardous
material.
AND/OR -
2. The illegal disposal o f a hazardous waste.
Field Services Page 3 of 17 06/07 (REV 1/04) B. There are three levels of HAZ MAT incident classification, de pending on:
1. The level of technical expert ise required to abate the incid ent.
2. The extent of the Municipal, C ounty and State Government
involvement.
3. The extent of evacuation of civilians.
4. The extent of inj uries and/or deaths.
C. The criteria for determining t he classification level of a H AZMAT incident
are contained in Appendix A.
III. Responsibilities
A. Under the Sacramento County Area Plan the responsibilities o f the
Sacramento County Sher iff’s Department are:
1. Off-Highway and within the uni ncorporated area of the county :
a. Incident Command
b. Site Security
c. Criminal Investigation
2. On highway (property line to p roperty line) or incorporated areas of
the county, the Sheriff’s Depar tment will assist the responsibl e
agency Incident Commander as requested.
B. The Sacramento County Sheri ff’s Department is not responsibl e for the
cleanup of the site. That respons ibility lies with the Sacrame nto County
Health Department’s Environment al Management Division (EMD). E MD
personnel shall make all arrangem ents for the remediation and r estoration
of the site.
IV. Response
All response to HAZMAT incid ents will be in accordance with the Standardized
Emergency Management System/Inciden t Command System (SEMS/ICS) and
the procedures contai ned in Appendix B.
Field Services Page 4 of 17 06/07 (REV 1/04) V. Responding to a HAZMAT Call
A. Utilize a caut ionary approach.
B. Obtain as much information as possible from C ommunications B ureau
before arrival.
C. Approach from upwind and upgrade.
D. DO NOT position vehicl e close to the incident.
E. Alert the Watch Comm ander of the situation.
VI. Upon Arrival
A. Advise Communications of t he nature and extent of the spill. Attempt to
determine the level of the incid ent. Levels are classified I t hrough III, with
level III as the most serious. See Appendix A .
B. Isolate the hazar d area and deny entry.
C. Request support of additional units, and/or the Highway Patr ol.
D. Determine who will have S cene Manager Jurisdiction.
1. Incidents on state highways , freeways, county roads or stree ts,
which include sidewalks and