Assigned to NRAE                                                                                                                      FOR COMMITTEE

 

 

 

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Phoenix, Arizona

 

FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2622

 

fire departments; electronic reporting

(NOW:  hazardous material; planning; filing)

 

Purpose

 

Allows facilities that are located in a city or town with a population of 75,000 persons or more to electronically submit hazardous materials management plans and inventory statements to the local fire department or the local fire district.

 

Background

 

Last interim, the Speaker of the House of Representative created an ad hoc committee on chemical fires and toxic smoke to determine the effects of toxic smoke from chemical fires on surrounding neighborhoods and businesses and to research the appropriate agencies to initially respond to the emergencies.  H.B. 2622 is a result of these committee meeting.

 

            Current statute requires persons who own or operate facilities that store hazardous chemicals to submit Tier II inventory forms to the Arizona Emergency Response Commission.  This form must be submitted annually for each hazardous chemical stored at the facility in quantities equal to or greater than federally established reporting thresholds (A.R.S. 26-350).

 

The Uniform Fire Code is a national code that may be adopted by cities with a population greater than 100,000 people to prevent, control and mitigate dangerous conditions related to the storage, use and handling of hazardous materials and information needed by emergency response personnel.

 

Article 80 of the Uniform Fire Code states that a fire chief may require hazardous materials inventory statements (HMIS) and hazardous materials management plans (HMMP) to be submitted by all facilities that store, dispense, use or handle any quantity  of hazardous materials.  A HMIS must list all hazardous materials stored in the facility and must include information relating to the type, quantity, and storage conditions of each hazardous material.  A HMMP must include a facility site plan, including storage and use areas.  Additionally, a HMMP must contain information pertaining to the handling of hazardous materials, chemical compatibility and separation, inspection, record keeping and employee training information.

 

H.B. 2622 allows fire departments or fire districts to require electronic filing of hazardous management plans and hazardous inventory statements by facilities that are located in a city or town with a population of 75,000 persons or more.

 

There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state general fund relating to the provision of this bill.

 

 

Provisions

 

1.      Allows facilities that are located in a city or town with a population of 75,000 persons or more, to electronically submit hazardous materials management plans and hazardous materials inventory statements to local fire departments or fire districts,.

 

2.      Clarifies that local fire departments and fire districts may require the electronic filing of hazardous management plans and hazardous materials inventory statements.

 

3.      Provides for a general effective date.

 

House Action

 

EUT          3/20/02     DPA/SE     9-0-0-1-0                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            3/20/02                                                                                                                                                                       DPA/SE                                                                                                                                                                    9-0-0-1-0

ENV          3/26/02     DPA/SE     7-0-0-3-0                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       3/26/02                                                                                                                                                                       DPA/SE                                                                                                                                                                    7-0-0-3-0

3rd Read     4/8/02                          45-5-10-0

 

 

Prepared by Senate Staff

April 16, 2002