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California Accidental Release Prevention (CalARP) Program

 

The CalARP Program was established to prevent accidental releases of substances that pose the greatest risk of immediate harm, to the public and the environment.

 

A CalARP facility is a facility that handles, manufactures, uses, or stores any of the listed regulated substances found in tables 1-3 of the California Code of Regulations, Title 19 Division 2, Chapter 4.5 above threshold quantities. Some examples of regulated substances include: Photo: Example of CalARP Facility

    • Ammonia
    • Chlorine gas
    • Hydrochloric acid
    • Nitric acid
    • Propane

Risk Management Plan (RMP)

 

An RMP is required when a facility uses a regulated substance in excess of the CalARP threshold quantity. An RMP must be completed and submitted to the Sacramento County Environmental Compliance Division, the Administering Agency for the CalARP Program, in accordance with the California Health and Safety Code, Division 20, Chapter 6.95, Article 2 and the California Code of Regulation (CCR) Title 19 Division 2, Chapter 4.5, Articles 1 through 11.

  • The RMP summarizes the facility’s accidental release prevention program implementation activities, including: Maintenance, Hazard Review, Operating Procedures, Training, Offsite Consequence Analysis, Incident Investigation, Emergency Response Program, and Compliance Audit.
  • Depending on the program level of the facility one of the following outlines will need to be followed to meet Sacramento County's RMP requirements.
  • For the Offsite Consequence Analysis (OCA) which is used to determine the distance to the toxic endpoint in the event of a worst case and alternative case release scenario of the regulated substance the following programs and website may be useful.

5-Year Update

 

The RMP needs to be updated at least once every five years from the date of its initial submission.  The owner or operator is required to:

  • Review all nine sections of the RMP.
  • Update the RMP as appropriate.
  • Certify that the entire updated RMP is true, accurate, and complete.
  • Submit the updated RMP to EMD by the facility’s 5-year update due date.

RMP Review Process

 

Guidance Documents

 

  • Guidance for CalARP Program Seismic Assessments Updated September, 2009
    “The objective of a California Accidental Release Prevention (CalARP) Program seismic assessment is to provide reasonable assurance that a release of Regulated Substances (RS) as listed in California Code of Regulations (CCR) Title 19 Division 2 Chapter 4.5 (reference # 1) having offsite consequences would not occur as a result of an earthquake. The purpose of this document is to provide guidance regarding acceptable criteria to be used in such assessments.  The guidance provided is applicable to structural systems and components whose failure would result in the release of sufficient quantities of RS to be of concern.”
  • General Guidance on Risk Management Programs for Chemical Accident Prevention (40 CFR Part 68)

    This document provides guidance to help owners and operators of facilities that manufacture, use, store, or otherwise handle certain extremely hazardous chemicals to determine if they are subject to EPA’s Chemical Accident Prevention regulations at 40 CFR part 68 and, if so, to comply with those regulations.”
  • California Code of Regulations Title  19, Division 2, Chapter 4.5 Updated 06/28/2004

    This is the regulatory document that contains:
    • The list of regulated substances and thresholds,
    • The requirements for owners and operators of stationary sources concerning the prevention of accidental releases,
    • The accidental release prevention programs approved under Section 112 (r) of the federal Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 and mandated under the CalARP program, and
    • How the CalARP Program relates to the state’s Unified Program.
  • RMP Consultants List Updated 07/08/2011
    This is a list of RMP consultants available in the area. This listing is provided as a service and is not an endorsement of services.

Checklists/Forms

  • De-Registration Instructions
    If a stationary source (CalARP site) is no longer subject to the CalARP Program, the owner or operator must submit a de-registration to EMD within 6 months indicating that the stationary source is no longer covered (Title 19 of the California Code of Regulations, Section 2745.10(d)).
  • Completeness Checklist
    Cal-ARP Completeness Check - Adobe Acrobat 
    Pursuant to Section 2745.2(a)(1) of California Code of Regulations, Title 19 (CCR Title 19), the Risk Management Plan (RMP) completeness review shall be determined in accordance to sections 2745.3 through 2745.9 (RMP Executive Summary, RMP Offsite Consequence Analysis, RMP Five-Year Accident History, RMP Program 2 Prevention Program, Program 3 Prevention Program, RMP Emergency Response Program and the RMP Certification).  If incomplete, Sacramento County Hazardous Materials Division (SCHMD) shall notify the owner/operator of any deficiencies in writing pursuant to Section 2745.2(a)(3).
  • Evaluation Review Checklist
    Cal-ARP 5-Year Evaluation Review Checklist
    Pursuant to Section 2745.2(a)(5) of CCR Title 19, the RMP evaluation review shall consider standard application of engineering and scientific principles, site specific characteristics, technical accuracy, severity of offsite consequences, and other information in the possession of or reviewed  by EMD.

For more CalARP program information, visit the California Emergency Management Agency (CalEMA) CalARP page or contact:

 

Sacramento County Environmental Management Department

Environmental Compliance Division

10590 Armstrong Avenue, Suite A

Mather, CA 95655-4153

916-875-8550

916-875-8513 (fax)

emdinfo@saccounty.net