WAC 173-303-350   Contingency plan and emergency procedures.  (1) Purpose. The purpose of this section and WAC 173-303-360 is to lessen the potential impact on the public health and the environment in the event of an emergency circumstance, including a fire, explosion, or unplanned sudden or nonsudden release of dangerous waste or dangerous waste constituents to air, soil, surface water, or groundwater by a facility. A contingency plan must be developed to lessen the potential impacts of such emergency circumstances, and the plan must be implemented immediately in such emergency circumstances.

     (2) Contingency plan. Each owner or operator must have a contingency plan at his facility for use in emergencies or sudden or nonsudden releases which threaten human health and the environment. If the owner or operator has already prepared a spill prevention control and countermeasures (SPCC) plan in accordance with Part 112 of Title 40 CFR or Part 1510 of chapter V, or some other emergency or contingency plan, they need only amend that plan to incorporate dangerous waste management provisions that are sufficient to comply with the requirements of this section and WAC 173-303-360. The owner or operator may develop one contingency plan that meets all regulatory requirements. Ecology recommends that the plan be based on the National Response Team's Integrated Contingency Plan Guidance ("One Plan") as found at www.nrt.org. When modifications are made to nondangerous waste (non-Hazardous Waste Management Act or nondangerous waste regulation) provisions in an integrated contingency plan, the changes do not trigger the need for a dangerous waste permit modification.

     (3) The contingency plan must contain the following:

     (a) A description of the actions which facility personnel must take to comply with this section and WAC 173-303-360;

     (b) A description of the actions which will be taken in the event that a dangerous waste shipment, which is damaged or otherwise presents a hazard to the public health and the environment, arrives at the facility, and is not acceptable to the owner or operator, but cannot be transported, pursuant to the requirements of WAC 173-303-370 (6), Manifest system, reasons for not accepting dangerous waste shipments;

     (c) A description of the arrangements agreed to by local police departments, fire departments, hospitals, contractors, and state and local emergency response teams to coordinate emergency services as required in WAC 173-303-340(4);

     (d) A current list of names, addresses, and phone numbers (office and home) of all persons qualified to act as the emergency coordinator required under WAC 173-303-360(1). Where more than one person is listed, one must be named as primary emergency coordinator, and others must be listed in the order in which they will assume responsibility as alternates. For new facilities only, this list may be provided to the department at the time of facility certification (as required by WAC 173-303-810 (14)(a)(i)), rather than as part of the permit application;

     (e) A list of all emergency equipment at the facility (such as fire extinguishing systems, spill control equipment, communications and alarm systems, and decontamination equipment), where this equipment is required. This list must be kept up to date. In addition, the plan must include the location and a physical description of each item on the list, and a brief outline of its capabilities; and

     (f) An evacuation plan for facility personnel where there is a possibility that evacuation could be necessary. This plan must describe the signal(s) to be used to begin evacuation, evacuation routes, and alternate evacuation routes.

     (4) Copies of contingency plan. A copy of the contingency plan and all revisions to the plan must be:

     (a) Maintained at the facility; and

     (b) Submitted to all local police departments, fire departments, hospitals, and state and local emergency response teams that may be called upon to provide emergency services.

     (5) Amendments. The owner or operator must review and immediately amend the contingency plan, if necessary, whenever:

     (a) Applicable regulations or the facility permit are revised;

     (b) The plan fails in an emergency;

     (c) The facility changes (in its design, construction, operation, maintenance, or other circumstances) in a way that materially increases the potential for fires, explosions, or releases of dangerous waste or dangerous waste constituents, or in a way that changes the response necessary in an emergency;

     (d) The list of emergency coordinators changes; or

     (e) The list of emergency equipment changes.



[Statutory Authority: Chapters 70.105 and 70.105D RCW. 09-14-105 (Order 07-12), § 173-303-350, filed 6/30/09, effective 7/31/09; 98-03-018 (Order 97-03), § 173-303-350, filed 1/12/98, effective 2/12/98; 95-22-008 (Order 94-30), § 173-303-350, filed 10/19/95, effective 11/19/95; 94-01-060 (Order 92-33), § 173-303-350, filed 12/8/93, effective 1/8/94. Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.105 RCW. 84-09-088 (Order DE 83-36), § 173-303-350, filed 4/18/84. Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.105 RCW and RCW 70.95.260. 82-05-023 (Order DE 81-33), § 173-303-350, filed 2/10/82. Formerly chapter 173-302 WAC.]