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CONTINGENCY PLANS
All facilities storing hazardous materials, as
well as those facilities with tanks, need to have a Contingency Plan in place so
that employees and managers know what to do in the event that a hazardous
material spill or release occurs. Many facilities do not have Contingency Plans
and MSDS sheets immediately available, which can cause considerable liability
should a spill or release occur. Federal and state laws and regulations require
managers and owners to know their hazardous materials and know what to do when a
spill occurs. Contingency Plans can be prepared which allow a single notebook
document to be available, which helps minimize liability and provide a single
reference for employee and manager spill and contingency training.
WHY DO I NEED A CONTINGENCY PLAN?
State and federal regulations require Contingency Plans to be in effect
wherever potentially polluting materials could spill and be released in soil or
groundwater, or be released into a sewer. The Coast Guard, USEPA, and state
environmental agencies can all enforce Contingency Plan requirements.
Additionally, employee and Community Right to Know Laws all point to the need
for there to be a single focused document showing what hazardous materials are
stored at each facility, and what important information on MSDS sheets managers
and employees need to be aware of. If this information is not readily available
in the event of a spill, managers at facilities can easily find a spill response
situation out of control where local or county Hazmat teams, or the state or
federal government come in and take over the clean up, because proper procedures
where not in effect and information was not at hand on how to deal with a spill
situation. This can lead to fines and costly reimbursement of the government for
the response costs.
WHAT IS INVOLVED IN PREPARING A CONTINGENCY PLAN?
Contingency Plans are relatively easy to prepare. They start with a facility
inspection and an inventory of hazardous materials, tanks and discharge point.
Then, specific applicable regulations are reviewed and a draft Contingency Plan
prepared. Contents of Contingency Plans vary in each state, and, are more
detailed where there are many tanks or the facility has sewer discharge permits
or is near navigable waterways. We can prepare a Contingency Plan to meet your
specific needs.
HOW MUCH DO THEY COST?
Contingency Plans for small facilities typically cost between $500 and
$1,000. For larger facilities, costs are facility-specific proposal, depending
on the industrial process used, or, the hazardous materials, tanks or discharge
present.
HOW CAN I GET ONE PREPARED?
Please call Gary Brown at (610) 265-1510 for more information or questions regarding
contingency plans, or use the Request for Services
form to obtain a proposal within 24 Hours.
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