1625-0096 Stat/Authority

40 CFR 264.56 (up to date as of 3/20/2025)
Emergency procedures.

40 CFR 264.56 (Mar. 20, 2025)

This content is from the eCFR and is authoritative but unofficial.

Title 40 —Protection of Environment
Chapter I —Environmental Protection Agency
Subchapter I —Solid Wastes
Part 264 —Standards for Owners and Operators of Hazardous Waste Treatment, Storage, and
Disposal Facilities
Subpart D —Contingency Plan and Emergency Procedures
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6905, 6912(a), 6924, 6925, and 6939g.
Source: 45 FR 33221, May 19, 1980, unless otherwise noted.

§ 264.56 Emergency procedures.
(a) Whenever there is an imminent or actual emergency situation, the emergency coordinator (or his designee
when the emergency coordinator is on call) must immediately:
(1) Activate internal facility alarms or communication systems, where applicable, to notify all facility
personnel; and
(2) Notify appropriate State or local agencies with designated response roles if their help is needed.
(b) Whenever there is a release, fire, or explosion, the emergency coordinator must immediately identify the
character, exact source, amount, and areal extent of any released materials. He may do this by
observation or review of facility records or manifests, and, if necessary, by chemical analysis.
(c) Concurrently, the emergency coordinator must assess possible hazards to human health or the
environment that may result from the release, fire, or explosion. This assessment must consider both
direct and indirect effects of the release, fire, or explosion (e.g., the effects of any toxic, irritating, or
asphyxiating gases that are generated, or the effects of any hazardous surface water run-off from water
or chemical agents used to control fire and heat-induced explosions).
(d) If the emergency coordinator determines that the facility has had a release, fire, or explosion which could
threaten human health, or the environment, outside the facility, he must report his findings as follows:
(1) If his assessment indicates that evacuation of local areas may be advisable, he must immediately
notify appropriate local authorities. He must be available to help appropriate officials decide whether
local areas should be evacuated; and
(2) He must immediately notify either the government official designated as the on-scene coordinator
for that geographical area, or the National Response Center (using their 24-hour toll free number
800/424-8802). The report must include:
(i)

Name and telephone number of reporter;

(ii) Name and address of facility;
(iii) Time and type of incident (e.g., release, fire);
(iv) Name and quantity of material(s) involved, to the extent known;
(v) The extent of injuries, if any; and
(vi) The possible hazards to human health, or the environment, outside the facility.
40 CFR 264.56(d)(2)(vi) (enhanced display)

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40 CFR 264.56 (up to date as of 3/20/2025)
Emergency procedures.

40 CFR 264.56(e)

(e) During an emergency, the emergency coordinator must take all reasonable measures necessary to ensure
that fires, explosions, and releases do not occur, recur, or spread to other hazardous waste at the facility.
These measures must include, where applicable, stopping processes and operations, collecting and
containing release waste, and removing or isolating containers.
(f) If the facility stops operations in response to a fire, explosion, or release, the emergency coordinator must
monitor for leaks, pressure buildup, gas generation, or ruptures in valves, pipes, or other equipment,
wherever this is appropriate.
(g) Immediately after an emergency, the emergency coordinator must provide for treating, storing, or
disposing of recovered waste, contaminated soil or surface water, or any other material that results from
a release, fire, or explosion at the facility.
[Comment: Unless the owner or operator can demonstrate, in accordance with § 261.3(c) or (d) of this chapter,
that the recovered material is not a hazardous waste, the owner or operator becomes a generator of hazardous
waste and must manage it in accordance with all applicable requirements of parts 262, 263, and 264 of this
chapter.]
(h) The emergency coordinator must ensure that, in the affected area(s) of the facility:
(1) No waste that may be incompatible with the released material is treated, stored, or disposed of until
cleanup procedures are completed; and
(2) All emergency equipment listed in the contingency plan is cleaned and fit for its intended use before
operations are resumed.
(i)

The owner or operator must note in the operating record the time, date, and details of any incident that
requires implementing the contingency plan. Within 15 days after the incident, he must submit a written
report on the incident to the Regional Administrator. The report must include:
(1) Name, address, and telephone number of the owner or operator;
(2) Name, address, and telephone number of the facility;
(3) Date, time, and type of incident (e.g., fire, explosion);
(4) Name and quantity of material(s) involved;
(5) The extent of injuries, if any;
(6) An assessment of actual or potential hazards to human health or the environment, where this is
applicable; and
(7) Estimated quantity and disposition of recovered material that resulted from the incident.

[45 FR 33221, May 19, 1980, as amended at 50 FR 4514, Jan. 31, 1985; 71 FR 16903, Apr. 4, 2006; 75 FR 13005, Mar. 18, 2010]

40 CFR 264.56(i)(7) (enhanced display)

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