Hazardous Materials The Hazardous Materials Program under the direction of the City of Healdsburg Fire Marshal is responsible for the enforcement of the regulatory-based Hazardous Materials Business Plan Program, Hazardous Waste Program, Underground Storage Tank Program, Accidental Release Program, Aboveground Petroleum Storage Program and the the Uniform Fire Code that address hazardous materials. Inspections of businesses are conducted on a routine basis, and the Program often works in conjunction with the City's Public Works Department, the City's Building Department and the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board.
Certified Unified Program Agencies (CUPA)
The Healdsburg/Sebastopol CUPA Program under the direction of the City of Healdsburg's Fire Marshal has the responsibility for the City of Healdsburg and the City of Sebastopol CUPA program through a Joint Powers Agreements. These programs include the Hazardous Materials Business Plan (HMBP), the Hazardous Waste Generator, the Underground Storage Tanks, the Accidental Release Prevention, Aboveground Storage Petroleum Tanks and the Uniform Fire Code as related to hazardous materials. Inspections of businesses regulated by the Healdsburg/Sebastopol CUPA are conducted on a routine basis. Funding for this Program is provided through fees charged to the businesses through City adopted fee schedules. There are approximately 156 businesses covered by one or more of the Healdsburg/Sebastopol CUPA programs. Information regarding hazardous materials in your community can be obtained from this Program. You may obtain an Underground Tank Permit Application Form to be used for installing new tanks, pulling old tanks, and repairing or testing tank systems.
California Environmental Reporting System (CERS)
October 2009, the electronic reporting system UNIDOCS was integrated into the State Cal/EPA system called CERS. To ensure that every business meets this requirement by the 2013 deadline, paper HMBP forms will no longer be accepted. To create a login account, go to California Environmental Reporting System (CERS).
Please go to CERS Login to create an account and to complete or edit your business plan electronically. A Facility Site Plan, Employee Training Plan, and Emergency Response/Contingency Plan are required to be submitted to be up;loaded to CERS. The facility site map can be printed, drawn by hand, scanned into an electronic document and uploaded electronically into CERS. Please follow this CERS Tutorial for help filling out and submitting the forms. Remember, we will not be able to see that you have submitted your information until you finalize the process by completing the electronic submission.
Aboveground Petroleum Storage Act (APSA)
In October 2007, the California Assembly passed Assembly Bill 1130 (Laird), the Aboveground Petroleum Storage Act (APSA). The bill transferred responsibility for the implementation, enforcement, and administration of APSA from the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to local CUPAs.
Your local CUPA will soon be conducting inspections of your tanks (if your aggregate storage capacity is ≥ 1,320 gallons). In addition to the inspection, your CUPA will be asking you to submit for review a Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plan. If APSA applies to your business, you’ll either have to update an existing SPCC document or create one. Businesses with aggregate capacities of 10,000 gallons or less will be able to take advantage of simplified SPCC requirements.
If you do not have an SPCC or would like further information regarding the main elements of the plan, contact your local CUPA or check the following website: APSA
This SPCC Tier I fill in the blank format can be used by qualified APSA facilities that store between 1,320 gallons to 5,000 gallons of a petroleum product. Tier I, SPCC Plan This SPCC Plan does not require a signature of an engineer.
After an SPCC Plan is submitted to the CUPA, what does the tank owner need to do?
Conduct periodic inspections to assure compliance with the SPCC (inspections, tests, and records); if you ever have a spill or leak, implement the notification and containment elements of your SPCC.
Under this regulation, oil includes petroleum-based products such as gasoline, diesel, lubricating oil, solvents, and waste oil. 100% biodiesel is exempt from APSA requirements, but blends of biodiesel (i.e., less than B100) are not exempt.
More Information:
Fee Updates
Like the other CUPA programs, the aboveground tank program will be fee-supported. If you operate aboveground tanks, annual program fees will apply. The revised fees for the 2011-2012 year will be presented for Public Hearing at the September 20th City Council meeting.
As mentioned above, the State is going to require electronic reporting of CUPA-regulated sites by 2013. To pay for the costs of implementing electronic reporting statewide, the State is increasing the minimum CUPA surcharge by $25 for the next three years. The funds will be used for system development, outreach & training, and technical support for CUPAs. This means that the amount of the minimum state surcharge will increase from $24/yr to $49/yr. Your local CUPA will add this electronic reporting surcharge to your next three annual billing statements. You will continue to pay the state surcharge to your CUPA, in addition to your local CUPA fees.
CUPA Site Closure
If you are going to close your business, a closure inspection is required to ensure proper disposal or recycling of hazardous waste and hazardous materials previously stored at the facility. Complete the Hazardous Materials Aboveground Site Closure Application and submit the closure fee to the Fire Department. Request an inspection, and have all of the hazardous waste manifest disposal records available for review.
Community Right-to-Know
One responsibility the CUPA has is sharing information with the public on facilities within their community that handle hazardous materials. The CRTK form can be used to submit a request for such information. You will need to identify a site address or address range to obtain this information.
There are three other CUPA agencies in Sonoma County which regulate facilities in their communities: Santa Rosa Fire Department, Petaluma Fire Department and Sonoma County Department of Emergency Services. If you have questions regarding facilities within any of those cities, please call the appropriate Agency.
Underground Storage Tanks
If you own or operate underground fuel storage tanks in California, you are responsible for ensuring that the following forms are filed with your CUPA.
The forms below are required by the City of Healdsburg/Sebastopol CUPA if you plan to remove, install, or modify a UST system.
UST Operating Forms
All UST Forms shall be completed in CERS. See the link above to complete those documents electronically.
UST Closure Forms
The following forms must be completed for underground storage tank removals.