4.3 National and Local Emergency Resources

4.3 National and Local Emergency Resources

At the scene of a hazardous materials incident, an Awareness-level responder's primary responsibility is to detect the presence of hazmat, protect themselves, isolate the area, and notify appropriate authorities. Because of the complex chemical behaviors, toxic hazards, and explosive risks associated with dangerous goods, local responders must quickly engage external technical and emergency planning resources to manage the incident safely.

CHEMTREC: Chemical Transportation Emergency Center

CHEMTREC (Chemical Transportation Emergency Center) is a round-the-clock emergency call center that provides immediate, authoritative technical assistance to emergency responders during hazardous materials incidents.

• Emergency Phone Number: 1-800-424-9300 (toll-free in the United States and Canada).
• Establishment: CHEMTREC was established in 1971 by the American Chemistry Council (ACC) (formerly the Chemical Manufacturers Association) as a public service to assist emergency responders.

Services Provided by CHEMTREC

When first responders contact CHEMTREC, they gain access to a wide range of support:

1. Immediate Technical Consultation: Specialists can explain the physical and chemical properties of a material, its hazards, and recommended mitigation strategies.
2. Direct Contact with Manufacturers: CHEMTREC can connect responders directly to the chemical manufacturer, shipper, or product specialists who can provide expert advice.
3. Safety Data Sheets (SDS): CHEMTREC maintains a massive database containing millions of SDS, which can be emailed, faxed, or read aloud to responders on the scene.
4. Mutual Aid Networks: CHEMTREC coordinates specialized industry mutual aid networks, such as CHLOREP (Chlorine Emergency Plan) and the Pesticide Safety Team Network (PSTN), which can dispatch technicians and equipment to the scene of an incident.

Information to Provide to CHEMTREC

When contacting CHEMTREC, the responder should be prepared to provide the following information from a safe location:

• Your name, title, organization, and a callback phone number.
• The exact location of the incident (roadways, rail milepost, landmarks).
• The name of the chemical, product trade name, or 4-digit UN ID number.
• The name of the shipper, carrier, or manufacturer (found on shipping papers).
• The type and size of the container involved (e.g., drum, cargo tank, cylinder).
• The status of the container (leaking, on fire, breached, intact).
• The status of the release and quantity involved.
• Injuries, fatalities, or immediate exposures.
• Weather conditions (wind direction, precipitation) and local terrain.
• Demographics of the surrounding area (e.g., proximity to schools, hospitals, or residential zones).

International Equivalents

• CANUTEC (Canadian Transport Emergency Centre): Operated by Transport Canada, reachable at 613-996-6666 (or *666 on a mobile device in Canada).
• SETIQ (Sistema de Emergencia para el Transporte de la Industry Química): Operated in Mexico by the National Association of the Chemical Industry, reachable at 800-00-214-00.

National Response Center (NRC)

The National Response Center (NRC) is the primary federal point of contact for reporting all oil, chemical, radiological, biological, and etiological discharges into the environment within the United States.

• Emergency Phone Number: 1-800-424-8802 (toll-free, operational 24/7).
• Role and Function: The NRC is operated by the United States Coast Guard and is located in Washington, D.C. It does not dispatch responders or manage cleanups directly. Instead, it serves as the communications hub for the federal government's environmental response network.
• Federal Reporting Mandates: Under federal environmental laws (such as CERCLA, the Clean Water Act, and the Oil Pollution Act), the owner or operator of a facility or vessel must immediately report any spill or release of a hazardous substance that exceeds a designated Reportable Quantity (RQ). While Awareness-level responders are not typically responsible for filing this report, they must understand that the NRC is the mechanism that triggers federal assistance.
• Response Activation: Upon receiving a report, the NRC immediately alerts the designated federal On-Scene Coordinator (OSC). For inland releases, the OSC is typically an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) official; for coastal or navigable waterway releases, it is a Coast Guard officer. The NRC also notifies state emergency offices and can activate the National Response Team (NRT) for major disasters.

State and Local Planning Infrastructure (SERC and LEPC)

Federal planning requirements under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) (also known as the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act, or SARA Title III) established local and state planning bodies to prepare communities for hazmat incidents.

1. State Emergency Response Commissions (SERCs)

The governor of each state appoints the members of the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC). The SERC's primary responsibilities include:

• Designating local emergency planning districts within the state.
• Appointing members to the Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs).
• Supervising and coordinating the activities of all LEPCs within the state.
• Reviewing local emergency plans to ensure compliance and coordination across districts.
• Serving as the state-level repository for Tier II chemical inventory reports submitted by local facilities.

2. Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs)

The Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) is a community-level body composed of local government officials, police, fire, emergency management, public health, hospital, environmental, media, and facility representatives. The LEPC's mandates include:

• Developing, maintaining, and annually testing a comprehensive emergency response plan for the local district.
• Identifying local facilities that store extremely hazardous substances (EHS) and mapping transportation routes used to move hazmat through the community.
• Receiving and processing Tier II reports, which list the types, quantities, and locations of chemicals stored at local facilities.
• Fostering public awareness and community safety through "Right-to-Know" provisions, making chemical inventory data available to the public.

Association of American Railroads (AAR) Bureau of Explosives (BOE)

The Bureau of Explosives (BOE) is a unique industry resource established in 1907 by the railroad industry to promote the safe transportation of hazardous materials by rail. The BOE provides:

• Specialized field inspectors and technical experts who assist railroads and emergency responders during rail incidents.
• Technical publications detailing rail tank car specifications, valve configurations, and product transfer procedures.
• Guidelines for container damage assessment, helping responders determine if a derailed tank car is stable or at risk of imminent failure.