The Contingency Plan

Each hazardous waste facility must have a contingency plan for emergency response. The owner or operator of the facility is responsible for this plan. The plan must be designed to minimize any hazard to human health or the environment that may result from fires, explosions, or any unplanned release of hazardous wastes into the air, soil, or surface water; and must be put into action immediately in the event of any of these emergency situations. The contingency plan must include all of the following details:

• Information about the arrangements that have been agreed to by local emergency response organizations, hospitals, and contractors, and state-level organizations
• An updated list of around-the-clock contact information for all people who are qualified to act in the role of emergency coordinator
• An updated list of all emergency equipment present at the facility, including a description of the equipment, its location, and information about the performance capabilities of each item
• An evacuation plan for personnel for any facility in which emergency evacuation could become necessary

If the permit for a facility is revised, or if the contingency plan fails in an emergency, the owner or operator of the facility is required to immediately review and amend the contingency plan. In addition, the owner or operator must also update the contingency plan immediately if there is a change in the facility design, construction, operation, or maintenance; or if there are any changes to either the emergency personnel or the emergency equipment present on the site.

To learn more about RCRA visit our RCRA Hazardous Waste Safety Online Training web page.