Interfaces de comunicación

This section discusses human made hazards in the City, including hazardous material storage and transportation. Hazardous materials are defined by the FCHMP as being ―substances that are flammable or combustible, explosive, toxic, noxious, corrosive, reactive, an oxidizer, an irritant, carcinogenic, or radioactive‖ (2008, p. 181). Release of hazardous materials can result in loss of health or life as well as pose concern for air and water quality. Hazardous materials can be a concern when they are created, stored or transported. This section also discusses planning for hazardous materials.

Regulation

Monitoring and regulation of hazardous materials is conducted by a number of organizations at various levels.

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

At the federal level, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 address environmental contamination and management of hazardous waste on EPA Superfund sites, which are abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous waste sites. Additionally, the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts regulate hazardous materials. The Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA) built upon this legislation.

State laws and regulations also impact hazardous waste creation, storage and transport. The DTSC, State Water Resources Control Board, Regional Water Quality Control Boards,

California Air Resources Board and California Integrated Waste Management Board all provide regulatory oversight of hazardous materials. Additionally, the California Occupational Health and Safety Administration is responsible for enforcing laws and regulations related to workplace contamination and safety (California Department of Transportation, 2010).

Federal law regulates storage tanks in 40 Code of Federal Regulations Part 280 and 40 Code of Federal Regulations Part 281. Titles 8, 17, 22, 23, 26 and 27 of the California State Regulations also relate to hazardous materials (California Department of Transportation, 2009). Other laws related to storage tanks include Chapter 6.7 of the California Health and Safety Code

―Underground Storage of Hazardous Substances‖ and Title 23, Division 3, Chapter 16 of the

California Code of Regulations ―Underground Tank Regulations‖. These regulations address design, use and monitoring of underground storage tanks.

Hazardous Materials Transport Regulations

The transportation of hazardous materials is also an important aspect to consider when evaluating risks within communities. In order to transport hazardous waste, a transporter must be registered with the State of California and meet the specific requirements as outlined in the California Health and Safety Code Division 20, Chapter 6.5. Rail transport of hazardous waste is regulated by the United States Department of Transportation. These regulations are located in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 49. Past hazardous materials incidents reported in the County of Fresno were not near the City.

Hazardous Waste Management Plan

California Assembly Bill 2948, passed in 1986, requires that counties create Hazardous Waste Management Plans which serve as the primary documents for hazardous waste management through goals, policies and recommended programs. The California Department of Health Services must approve each plan before adoption. Fresno County developed a Hazardous Waste Management Plan in 1988. This plan establishes goals, policies and programs which attempt to encourage the safe handling, storage and transportation of hazardous materials in the County. This plan is administered by the County Environmental Health Department (FCHMP, 2008).

Current Setting

This section discusses the current state of hazard mitigation planning and hazardous sites and transportation of hazardous materials in and around the City.

Hazard Mitigation Planning

The Federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA2K) requires every municipality that wishes to be eligible for pre-disaster mitigation grants or post-disaster recovery assistance from the federal government to develop a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) or participate in a multi-jurisdictional LHMP. These plans must be approved by FEMA every five years in order for the jurisdiction to remain eligible. Additionally, with the passage of Assembly Bill 2140 by the California State Legislature in 2006, local governments can integrate the LHMP into the safety element of the general plan. If LHMPs are not integrated into the general plan, the State will only fund 75 percent of hazard mitigation and recovery projects, and the rest would be funded by the local government.

The City is currently not part of the Fresno County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan. It will need to address this in the future if it wishes to receive hazard fiscal support from the federal government.

Hazardous Materials Sites

Table 10-1 shows the sites in the City that handle or store hazardous materials as identified by the State Water Quality Control Board.

Background Report Chapter 10

June 2011 Safety

City of San Joaquin

197 Table 10-1. Hazardous Materials/Hazardous Waste Facilities in San Joaquin.

Site Name Type Cleanup Status Address

Agri Pro Leaking Underground

Tank Cleanup Site Closed 22300 Railroad Ave

D‘s Mini Mart Leaking Underground

Tank Cleanup Site Open 22023 Colorado S

Union 76 Leaking Underground

Tank Cleanup Site Open Colorado and Main

West Hills Oil Company

Other Cleanup Site

Open 22050 W. Colorado Ave.

West Side Pump Company

Leaking Underground

Tank Cleanup Site Open 21500 Manning

Agrico Leaking Underground

Tank Cleanup Site Closed 8105 Lassen St.

Grouleff Aviation Cleanup Program Site

Open 23600 W. Manning

Ave.

Circle K #3608 Permitted

Underground Storage Tank

NA

21998 Colorado Rd.

ABS Connection Inc. Cleanup Program Site

Open 22050 W. Colorado Ave.

Suburban Propane Leaking Underground

Tank Cleanup Site Open 22125 Colorado Ave.

Source: United States Water Resource Control Board Geotracker

Seven sites in and around the City are classified by the EPA as ―open‖, meaning that they have not yet been deemed clean enough to close. Leaking underground storage tanks have the potential to negatively impact the community through soil and water contamination. The sites are identified in Figure 10-9.

Figure 10-9. San Joaquin Hazard Areas.

Hazardous Materials Transportation

Also of interest when considering the existing conditions in the City is identifying thoroughfares along which hazardous materials are transported. The FCHMP identifies Manning and Colorado Avenues as major transportation corridors through the City. Major transportation corridors are the main paths along which hazardous materials are transported through the County.

Additionally, rail lines are also used to transport hazardous materials.

10.3. Emerging Directions

After review of existing conditions, standards and community input, future directions for the City are evident. These future directions guide the general plan as it sets the groundwork for

improving safety in the City. Overall, public education and outreach could be expanded in the City to ensure that every resident is aware of hazards, and prepared to deal with them

accordingly. Ensuring that the public is well informed will help the City recover economically and socially when a disaster strikes.