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SAN `AQUIN COUNTY HAZARDOUS MATERI ' 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,which
<br /> handle hazardous materials to prepare emergency plans for their employees' use in an emergency. Businesses must submit a
<br /> copy of this plan, along with annual inventory of their hazardous materials,to public agencies for use in protecting emergency
<br /> responders and the public. In San Joaquin County,the Office of Emergency Services(OES)has been designated to
<br /> administer this program. Should you have any questions on this program or this form, please call that office at(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, petroleum
<br /> products, paints, propane, oxygen, ammonia, chlorine, pesticides,fertilizers, and hazardous wastes. Answer"Yes" if you use a
<br /> material that meets that definition in any quantity at least once in the year. If you are unsure,contact our office at(209)468-
<br /> 3969 for assistance. If you answer"No"and at a later date your business, or a tenant on your property, begins handling
<br /> 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 the
<br /> 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
<br /> program. This exemption may not apply if 1)the quantity handled creates an unacceptable public hazard; 2)
<br /> the material is being used directly by the business as part of its operations in addition to being sold to the
<br /> general public;or 3)the general public does not have ready access to the product as it is stored by the
<br /> 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
<br /> cubic feet are required to meet modified requirements.
<br /> C. Farm Exemption: Farms, as defined in the question, must meet modified program requirements. The
<br /> definition of farm in the law does not include businesses providing commercial pest control services,fertilizer
<br /> application services, product processing services, or packing shed services for farmers. Farms qualifying for
<br /> exemption are still required to submit an annual chemical inventory and fee to the County Agricultural
<br /> Commissioner's Department along with other requirements. Please contact the County Agricultural
<br /> Commissioner's Department for further information. Businesses operating a commercial business in
<br /> addition to a farm as defined must comply with the HMMP program for those materials associated with the
<br /> commercial business.
<br /> Question 3:
<br /> The Federal and State governments have defined approximately 366 chemicals as"Acutely Hazardous Materials"(AHM). The
<br /> most common"AHMs"used in the County include chlorine, ammonia, sulfuric acid, methyl bromide,acrolein, sulfur dioxide,
<br /> formaldehyde, nitric acid, vinyl acetate monomer, hydrogen peroxide,and many types of pesticides. Answer"Yes"if you use
<br /> any of these specific chemicals in any quantity at any one time of the year. Call our office for assistance if you are 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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