4.   HAZARDOUS MATERIALS (HAZMAT)

BACKGROUND

Hazardous materials are substances or combinations of substances, which have the capability to harm people's health or the environment, including plants and other animals. Many of the materials needed to support a modern industrial society are hazardous; hence, hazardous materials are manufactured, stored, used, and transported throughout the United States. 

Within the general category of hazardous materials, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) identifies nine classes of hazardous materials.  These include explosives; flammable, toxic, or corrosive gases; flammable liquids; flammable solids; oxidizers; toxic materials and infectious substances; radioactive materials; corrosive materials; and miscellaneous dangerous goods.   

Certain groups of hazardous materials are further defined by federal and state law for purposes of emergency planning. These include: Extremely hazardous substances (EHS). Substances designated as extremely hazardous by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The list of these: 

1.      Substances, which currently includes some 356 materials, is published in 40 CFR Part 355. Inventories of EHSs in excess of threshold planning quantities and releases of these substances into the environment in amounts in excess of a reportable quantity (RQ) established for each substance must be reported to the State, local authorities, and federal agencies These EHSs are sometimes referred to as SARA Title Ill substances. 

2.      Hazardous substances (HS). Certain hazardous substances designated as such by the EPA pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Conservation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). The EPA has designated some 720 substances as hazardous; the list of EHSs is published in 40 CFR Part 302. Releases of these substances in excess of the RQ established for each substance must be reported to the state, local authorities, and federal agencies. 

3.      Hazardous chemicals (HC). Materials which pose a physical or health hazard as defined by the federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration Hazard Communication Standard. No specific federal or state list of hazardous chemicals has been developed, as there are an extremely large number of products, which may be hazardous to health or create a physical risk. Hazardous chemicals may include pure chemicals, chemical mixtures, fuels, solvents, compressed gases, and cleaning products.  Inventories of such materials in excess of 10,000 pounds must be reported to the state. 

4.      Toxic substances (TS). Toxic substances pose a long-term human health risk. A list of more than 500 toxic substances as defined by the EPA is published in 40 CFR Part 372 some releases of toxic substances into the environment (air, water, and ground) are authorized by State permits. Releases of toxic substances into the environment must be reported to the State and to the EPA.

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INCIDENTS 

Hazardous materials may pose a threat where they are manufactured, stored, transported or used. Hazardous materials are used in almost every manufacturing operation, many substances used by retailers, service industries, and homeowners are hazardous.  Texas is one of the largest producers of petroleum products and petrochemicals, many of which are hazardous.  Texas has a large highway system, substantial ocean and intracoastal shipping traffic, extensive air transport routes, a vast pipeline system, and the largest rail system in any state; hazardous materials are moved by all these means of transportation.  No area of the State is immune to hazardous materials incidents or accidents.  

Hazardous material incidents are one of the most common technological threats to public health and the environment and are commonly used, transported and produced in Polk County; hence hazardous materials incidents may occur as the result of natural disasters, human error and/or accident.   

 Polk County has major transportation routes that has a constant flow of petroleum and chemical products from the Gulf Coast refineries that are piped by pipeline through the County and transported via U.S. 59 to the north and south, U.S. 190 to the east and west, Texas 146 southeast, U.S. 287 to the east and west through Corrigan. Petroleum and Chemical materials are transported by Rail service that is provided by Union Southern Pacific that runs north and south, through the hearts of Goodrich, Livingston, and Corrigan. Numerous truck freight lines service the County.     

The existence of fixed hazardous materials facilities in Polk County provide the potential for an episodic toxic air release hazard to the citizens located in the vulnerable zone of each fixed hazardous materials facility. 

 Polk County does have the capability to make protective responses in case of an incident involving the transport, storage, usage, or manufacture of hazardous materials. The Livingston Fire Department has a team of twelve-(12) technician level firefighters that are equipped with a minimum of 25  level A ( encapsulated suits) Level B CPF protective equipment.  A dedicated hazardous materials truck with communications, computer with CAMEO system on board (Computer Aided Management of Emergency Operations).

INCIDENT RESPONSE 

The Livingston Fire Department Hazardous Materials Group is in charge of the Polk County operation, maintenance and deployment of the integrated on-scene Incident command involving hazardous materials.

Upon the occurrence of an incident involving the release of hazardous materials, the control of the situation will become the responsibility of the initial responding fire department officer.

The on-scene senior fire officer will establish an integrated on-scene command post.  It will be established at a location consistent with the hazard, accessibility and space requirements, and response personnel safety. 

The local on-scene senior fire officer is in total charge of the integrated on-scene command post and, as such, will perform as the incident commander.  All support units will report to the incident commander and operate under his direction from this fixed position. 

Polk County’s response to a hazardous materials incident will include the following actions: 

1.      Protective action recommendations in the vulnerable zone include in place sheltering, evacuation, and notification of contaminated water, milk, and food supplies. 

2.      The amount of time available to determine the scope and magnitude of the incident i.e. lead-time will impact the protective action recommended. 

3.      In case of a serious fixed hazardous material facilities incident, many of the residents in the vulnerable zone will choose to evacuate spontaneously without official recommendation. Many will leave by way of routes not designated hazard evacuation routes. 

4.      In case of an evacuation, as least 75% of the Population at risk will relocate to private homes or hotel/motel facilities.  For planning purposes, mass care resources will be identified for 25% of the risk population. 

5.      A transportation hazardous materials incident may require the evacuation of residents at any location within Polk County. 

6.      Hazardous materials entering the sewage system may necessitate the shutdown of sewage plants, which may result in the release of untreated sewage. 

7.      Wind shifts may occur that result in redesigning protective action measures.   

8.      The resources of industry, local, state or federal government, separately or in combination, may be required to cope with the situation. 

IDENTIFCATION

The Polk County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) have complied all facilities located in Polk County that store, manufacture, or ship hazardous materials.  The facility location, chemicals on site, the amount of chemicals, site maps, and MSDS are all stored on computer using the Computer Aided Management of Emergency Operations (CAMEO) program.  The information includes information on fixed facilities, high-pressure pipelines, transportation and oil wells, gas wells located throughout the county.  Computers are located at: 

·        Office of Emergency Management

·        Livingston Fire Department (Station #1)

·        Hazardous Materials Truck

·        Emergency Management vehicle (laptop)

·        Sheriff Department Dispatch

·CAMEO database includes information concerning the site, emergency numbers and emergency contacts, all Tier II information concerning chemicals being stored or transported.  Facilities are mapped on the Marplot mapping system that is integrated with CAMEO.  Facilities are also mapped on the county GIS system using MapInfo mapping system.  

The CAMEO database identifies 247 facilities, 32 pipelines and 80 transportation companies that use highways that pass through Polk County.  The Union Pacific Railroad is the only track that passes through our county. 

This Homepage was prepared by Kenneth F. Hambrick, Polk County Coordinator. Contact at E-Mail address: webmaster@pcoem.org  for additional information about our program. The information contained in this Homepage is considered public domain and the Office of Emergency Management encourages interested persons to utilize any portions of it that might be of educational benefit or enhance their local programs.

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