Minnesota Administrative Rules

7045.0462 PREPAREDNESS AND PREVENTION.

Subpart 1.

Scope.

The provisions of subparts 2 to 6 apply to owners and operators of all hazardous waste facilities except as otherwise provided in part 7045.0450.

Subp. 2.

Design and operation of facility.

Facilities must be designed, constructed, maintained, and operated to minimize the possibility of a fire, explosion, or any unplanned sudden or nonsudden release to air, land, or water of hazardous waste or hazardous waste constituents which could threaten human health or the environment.

Subp. 3.

Required equipment.

All facilities must be equipped with the following, unless it can be demonstrated to the commissioner that none of the hazards posed by waste handled at the facility could require the particular equipment specified below:

A.

an internal communications or alarm system capable of providing immediate emergency instruction by voice or signal to facility personnel;

B.

a device, such as a telephone or a hand-held two-way radio, which is immediately available at the scene of operations and which is capable of summoning emergency assistance from local police departments, fire departments, or state or local emergency response teams;

C.

portable fire extinguishers, spill control equipment, decontamination equipment, and fire control equipment, including special extinguishing devices such as those using foam, inert gas, or dry chemicals; and

D.

water at adequate volume and pressure to supply water hose streams, foam producing equipment, automatic sprinklers, or water spray systems.

Subp. 4.

Testing and maintenance of equipment.

All facility communications or alarm systems, fire protection equipment, spill control equipment, and decontamination equipment, where required, must be tested and maintained as necessary to ensure proper operation in time of emergency.

Subp. 5.

Access to communications or alarm system.

Whenever hazardous waste is being poured, mixed, spread, or otherwise handled, all personnel involved in the operation shall have immediate access to an internal alarm or emergency communication device, either directly or through visual or voice contact with another employee, unless the commissioner has ruled that such a device is not required under subpart 3.

If at any time only one employee is on the premises while the facility is operating, that employee shall have immediate access to a device, such as a telephone or a hand-held, two-way radio, which is immediately available at the scene of operation and which is capable of summoning external emergency assistance unless the commissioner has ruled that such a device is not required under subpart 3.

Subp. 6.

Required aisle space.

The owner or operator shall maintain aisle space to allow the unobstructed movement of personnel, fire protection equipment, spill control equipment, and decontamination equipment to any area of facility operation in an emergency unless it can be demonstrated to the commissioner that aisle space is not needed for any of these purposes.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 116.07

History:

9 SR 115; L 1987 c 186 s 15

Published Electronically:

October 10, 2013