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Chapter 6.91. Hazardous Materials Data of California Health And Safety Code >> Division 20. >> Chapter 6.91.
The Legislature finds and declares the following:
(a) Hazardous materials, including hazardous substances and hazardous wastes, are present in the state and pose acute and chronic health risks to individuals who live and work in this state, and who are exposed to these substances as a result of fires, spills, industrial accidents, or other types of releases or emissions.
(b) The people who live and work in this state have a right and a need to know of the use and dangers of hazardous materials in their communities in order to plan for, and respond to, potential exposure to these materials.
(c) Basic information on the location, type, characteristics, and health risks of hazardous materials used, stored, or disposed of in the state is not currently available to firefighters, health officials, planners, elected officials, and residents. There are gaps in the information collected and the data is stored in various formats, thereby limiting its effective use to protect the public health and safety.
(d) Existing state data base computer systems are not capable of effectively exchanging hazardous material information nor are they accessible to state and local agencies which have a need for the information.
(a) Hazardous materials, including hazardous substances and hazardous wastes, are present in the state and pose acute and chronic health risks to individuals who live and work in this state, and who are exposed to these substances as a result of fires, spills, industrial accidents, or other types of releases or emissions.
(b) The people who live and work in this state have a right and a need to know of the use and dangers of hazardous materials in their communities in order to plan for, and respond to, potential exposure to these materials.
(c) Basic information on the location, type, characteristics, and health risks of hazardous materials used, stored, or disposed of in the state is not currently available to firefighters, health officials, planners, elected officials, and residents. There are gaps in the information collected and the data is stored in various formats, thereby limiting its effective use to protect the public health and safety.
(d) Existing state data base computer systems are not capable of effectively exchanging hazardous material information nor are they accessible to state and local agencies which have a need for the information.
As used in this chapter:
(a) "Agency" means the Environmental Affairs Agency.
(b) "Handle" means to use, generate, process, produce, package, treat, store, or dispose of a hazardous material in any fashion.
(c) "Hazardous material" means any of the following materials:
(1) A material listed in subdivision (b) of Section 6382 of the Labor Code.
(2) A material defined in Section 25115, 25117, or 25316.
(3) Any other material which the director determines, because of its quantity, concentration, or physical or chemical characteristics, poses a significant present or potential hazard to human health and safety or to the environment if released into the community.
(d) "Release" means any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, or disposing into the environment.
(e) "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Environmental Affairs Agency.
(a) "Agency" means the Environmental Affairs Agency.
(b) "Handle" means to use, generate, process, produce, package, treat, store, or dispose of a hazardous material in any fashion.
(c) "Hazardous material" means any of the following materials:
(1) A material listed in subdivision (b) of Section 6382 of the Labor Code.
(2) A material defined in Section 25115, 25117, or 25316.
(3) Any other material which the director determines, because of its quantity, concentration, or physical or chemical characteristics, poses a significant present or potential hazard to human health and safety or to the environment if released into the community.
(d) "Release" means any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, or disposing into the environment.
(e) "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Environmental Affairs Agency.
(a) All studies and community information programs conducted
pursuant to this section shall be done only if either subdivision
(b) applies or if funds are available without restructuring the
department's funding priorities. The department shall conduct these
studies and information programs in the following manner:
(1) The department shall, except as provided in subdivision (b), and in conjunction with the local health officer, the State Department of Health Services, and the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, conduct or contract for epidemiological studies to identify and monitor health effects related to exposure to hazardous materials, as defined in Section 66084 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations. A study may be conducted in any area of the state identified by the department or the local health officer as a site of potential exposure to hazardous materials, including, but not limited to, any of the following areas:
(A) All communities located near hazardous waste disposal facilities.
(B) In all communities containing hazardous substance release sites listed pursuant to Section 25356 or listed pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 9601 et seq.).
(C) In all areas around the location of major generators of hazardous waste.
(D) In all other areas identified by local health officers or the State Department of Health Services as possible locations of public exposure to hazardous materials.
(2) The department, in consultation with the State Department of Health Services and the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, shall determine which epidemiological studies are to be conducted pursuant to this section based on the potential for public exposure to hazardous materials. Studies in areas near Class I hazardous waste disposal facilities, as defined in Section 2531 of Title 23 of the California Code of Regulations, shall be given the highest priority for funding. If a hearing is conducted pursuant to Section 25149 and the hearing officer determines that there is a significant potential for endangerment to the public as a result of the suspected or actual release of a hazardous material, the department shall give priority to conducting an epidemiological study for that facility.
(3) If a local health officer determines that a study should be conducted pursuant to this section because of a potential public exposure to hazardous materials, the local health officer may request that the department initiate or contract for a study pursuant to this section by demonstrating to the department that there is sufficient evidence that justifies the need for a study. The department shall respond to the local health officer's request within 90 days.
(4) A local health officer may contract with qualified persons or firms to produce the epidemiological studies specified in paragraph (1).
(5) The design and methodology of any study conducted pursuant to this section shall be reviewed and approved by the department, the State Department of Health Services, and the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment prior to the initiation of the study.
(6) In any county in which hazardous waste disposal facilities are located and in all other counties in which the State Department of Health Services identifies significant actual or potential public exposure to hazardous materials, the department shall, in conjunction with the local health officer, conduct or contract for a community information program with respect to sites of potential exposure to hazardous materials identified under paragraph (1) to do all of the following:
(A) Organize and conduct educational programs for local physicians and other health professionals on the effects of exposure to hazardous materials and reporting requirements.
(B) Disseminate information to high risk populations on the health effects of exposure to hazardous materials.
(C) Conduct public forums on the health effects of exposure to hazardous substances and methods of limiting exposure.
(7) Paragraph (6) does not apply to hazardous substance release sites listed on the National Priorities List for which the Environmental Protection Agency has assumed lead responsibility for community relations.
(b) If a county is authorized to impose a license tax pursuant to Section 25149.5 for revenue purposes, the department may require the county to provide funding for carrying out epidemiological studies or the community information program concerning the hazardous waste facility subject to the license tax. The department shall provide the county with technical assistance to conduct an epidemiological study pursuant to this subdivision. The department may exempt a county from the requirements of this subdivision if the county demonstrates to the department that the revenue potential from the facility would not be adequate to conduct an epidemiological study or community information program. When considering a county request for an exemption, the department shall consider the regulatory costs and responsibilities of the county related to that facility.
(c) The department shall expend funds from the Toxic Substances Control Account, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to conduct studies and community information programs in counties containing a hazardous substance release site listed pursuant to Section 25356. The department shall expend funds from the Hazardous Waste Control Account, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to conduct all other studies and community information programs conducted pursuant to this section, except as provided in subdivision (b).
(1) The department shall, except as provided in subdivision (b), and in conjunction with the local health officer, the State Department of Health Services, and the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, conduct or contract for epidemiological studies to identify and monitor health effects related to exposure to hazardous materials, as defined in Section 66084 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations. A study may be conducted in any area of the state identified by the department or the local health officer as a site of potential exposure to hazardous materials, including, but not limited to, any of the following areas:
(A) All communities located near hazardous waste disposal facilities.
(B) In all communities containing hazardous substance release sites listed pursuant to Section 25356 or listed pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 9601 et seq.).
(C) In all areas around the location of major generators of hazardous waste.
(D) In all other areas identified by local health officers or the State Department of Health Services as possible locations of public exposure to hazardous materials.
(2) The department, in consultation with the State Department of Health Services and the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, shall determine which epidemiological studies are to be conducted pursuant to this section based on the potential for public exposure to hazardous materials. Studies in areas near Class I hazardous waste disposal facilities, as defined in Section 2531 of Title 23 of the California Code of Regulations, shall be given the highest priority for funding. If a hearing is conducted pursuant to Section 25149 and the hearing officer determines that there is a significant potential for endangerment to the public as a result of the suspected or actual release of a hazardous material, the department shall give priority to conducting an epidemiological study for that facility.
(3) If a local health officer determines that a study should be conducted pursuant to this section because of a potential public exposure to hazardous materials, the local health officer may request that the department initiate or contract for a study pursuant to this section by demonstrating to the department that there is sufficient evidence that justifies the need for a study. The department shall respond to the local health officer's request within 90 days.
(4) A local health officer may contract with qualified persons or firms to produce the epidemiological studies specified in paragraph (1).
(5) The design and methodology of any study conducted pursuant to this section shall be reviewed and approved by the department, the State Department of Health Services, and the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment prior to the initiation of the study.
(6) In any county in which hazardous waste disposal facilities are located and in all other counties in which the State Department of Health Services identifies significant actual or potential public exposure to hazardous materials, the department shall, in conjunction with the local health officer, conduct or contract for a community information program with respect to sites of potential exposure to hazardous materials identified under paragraph (1) to do all of the following:
(A) Organize and conduct educational programs for local physicians and other health professionals on the effects of exposure to hazardous materials and reporting requirements.
(B) Disseminate information to high risk populations on the health effects of exposure to hazardous materials.
(C) Conduct public forums on the health effects of exposure to hazardous substances and methods of limiting exposure.
(7) Paragraph (6) does not apply to hazardous substance release sites listed on the National Priorities List for which the Environmental Protection Agency has assumed lead responsibility for community relations.
(b) If a county is authorized to impose a license tax pursuant to Section 25149.5 for revenue purposes, the department may require the county to provide funding for carrying out epidemiological studies or the community information program concerning the hazardous waste facility subject to the license tax. The department shall provide the county with technical assistance to conduct an epidemiological study pursuant to this subdivision. The department may exempt a county from the requirements of this subdivision if the county demonstrates to the department that the revenue potential from the facility would not be adequate to conduct an epidemiological study or community information program. When considering a county request for an exemption, the department shall consider the regulatory costs and responsibilities of the county related to that facility.
(c) The department shall expend funds from the Toxic Substances Control Account, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to conduct studies and community information programs in counties containing a hazardous substance release site listed pursuant to Section 25356. The department shall expend funds from the Hazardous Waste Control Account, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to conduct all other studies and community information programs conducted pursuant to this section, except as provided in subdivision (b).
The department shall publish the consumer information
booklet described in Section 10084.1 of the Business and Professions
Code and distribute the booklet to the public, upon request. The
department may charge a fee for the booklet to defray the
publication, mailing, distribution, and administrative costs
necessary to implement this section and its ongoing administrative
costs resulting from inquiries by the public about the contents of
the booklet.
The department shall publish a new edition of the consumer
information booklet described in Section 10084.1 of the Business and
Professions Code. The booklet shall, among other things, be in
substantial compliance with the federal disclosure requirements
regarding the safe management of lead and radon gas in housing, and
shall be made available to the public on or before the date on which
the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development submits to Congress
the report required pursuant to subpart (B) of subdivision (d) of
Section 4822 of Title 42 of the United States Code.
