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SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY HAZARDOUS MATERIALS PROGRAM
<br /> This survey form is intended to identify businesses, which need to comply with the hazardous materials emergency planning
<br /> and reporting requirements of Chapter 6.95 of the California Health and Safety Code. This statute requires businesses,
<br /> which handle hazardous materials to prepare emergency plans for their employees' use in an emergency. Businesses must
<br /> submit a copy of this plan, along with annual inventory of their hazardous materials, to public agencies for use in protecting
<br /> emergency responders and the public. In San Joaquin County, the Office of Emergency Services (OES) has been
<br /> designated to administer this program. Should you have any questions on this program or this form, please call that office at
<br /> (209)468-3969.
<br /> Please consider the following guidelines when completing the questions on the front of this form.
<br /> Question 1:
<br /> The law defines"hazardous material" for purposes of this program as any material that, because of its quantity,
<br /> concentration, or physical or chemical characteristics, poses a significant present or potential hazard to human health and
<br /> safety or to the environment if released into the work place or the environment. This includes, but is limited to, fuels,
<br /> petroleum products, paints, propane, oxygen, ammonia, chlorine, pesticides, fertilizers, and hazardous wastes. Answer
<br /> "Yes"if you use a material that meets that definition in any quantity at least once in the year. If you are unsure, contact our
<br /> office at (209)468-3969 for assistance. If you answer"No" and at a later date your business, or a tenant on your property,
<br /> begins handling hazardous materials, you must inform the Office of Emergency Services within 30 days.
<br /> Question 2:
<br /> If you answer"Yes,"you must meet the requirements of Chapter 6.95 of the California Health and Safety Code. Our office
<br /> will be contacting you to provide assistance. These requirements must be met prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy.
<br /> If you answer"No," our office may conduct an inspection after you begin operations to verify your exemption.
<br /> The statutes establish some modified requirements or program exemptions for certain uses of hazardous materials. If you
<br /> answered "Yes"to questions 1 and 2, determine whether your business meets one of the following conditions. Then mark
<br /> the appropriate boxes on the front of this form. Our office will contact you to make a final determination of these exemptions.
<br /> A. Retail Exemption: Products packaged for direct distribution to the general public are exempt from the program. This
<br /> exemption may not apply if 1) the quantity handled creates an unacceptable public hazard; 2) the material is being
<br /> used directly by the business as part of its operations in addition to being sold to the general public; or 3)the general
<br /> public does not have ready access to the product as it is stored by the business, e.g., in a warehouse.
<br /> B. Medical Exemption: Medical offices which use only oxygen and/or nitrous oxide in quantities less than 1,000 cubic
<br /> feet are required to meet modified requirements.
<br /> C. Farm Exemption: Farms, as defined in the question, must meet modified program requirements. The definition of
<br /> farm in the law does not include businesses providing commercial pest control services, fertilizer application services,
<br /> product processing services, or packing shed services for farmers. Farms qualifying for exemption are still required
<br /> to submit an annual chemical inventory and fee to the County Agricultural Commissioner's Department along with
<br /> other requirements. Please contact the County Agricultural Commissioner's Department for further information.
<br /> Businesses operating a commercial business in addition to a farm as defined must comply with the HMMP program
<br /> for those materials associated with the commercial business.
<br /> Question 3:
<br /> The Federal and State governments have defined approximately 366 chemicals as "Acutely Hazardous Materials" (AHM).
<br /> The most common "AHMs" used in the County include chlorine, ammonia, sulfuric acid, methyl bromide, acrolein, sulfur
<br /> dioxide, formaldehyde, nitric acid, vinyl acetate monomer, hydrogen peroxide, and many types of pesticides. Answer"Yes" if
<br /> you use any of these specific chemicals in any quantity at any one time of the year. Call our office for assistance if you are
<br /> unsure.
<br /> Question 4:
<br /> Answer "Yes" if the boundary of your property or facility will be within 1,000 feet of the boundary of a school (K thru 12).
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