Minnesota Administrative Rules

7514.0500 TEAM RESPONSE AREAS.

Subpart 1.

Establishing response areas.

The commissioner shall establish up to five response areas for hazardous materials emergency response based on the factors identified in subpart 2.

Subp. 2.

Factors for establishing response areas.

The commissioner shall consider the following factors in establishing response areas:

A.

the number and geographic location of fixed facilities that manufacture, use, or store hazardous materials, the accidental release of which may pose a threat to public safety or the environment;

B.

the number of miles of primary transportation routes including highways, rail lines, commercially navigable waterways, pipelines, and airports;

C.

the population of each county as reported by the most recently available United States Census Bureau information;

D.

any special conditions that may be present in a given area of the state, and the need for specialized equipment unique to those conditions that might impact emergency response capability; and

E.

other factors the commissioner considers appropriate, to the extent they may contribute to the potential for a hazardous materials release that could threaten the public safety or the environment and thus merit an emergency response.

Subp. 3.

Maximum acceptable response time.

After considering the factors listed in subpart 2, items A to E, the commissioner shall establish a maximum acceptable response time for 90 percent of each primary response area when a team is responding in the primary response area under favorable weather conditions.

Subp. 4.

Assigning primary response areas.

Following completion of the team selection process identified in part 7514.1500, the commissioner shall select a primary emergency response team for each primary response area.

Subp. 5.

Serving as chemical assessment team.

Each emergency response team shall also serve as a chemical assessment team for all or a portion of its primary response area, as assigned by the commissioner.

Subp. 6.

Designating additional chemical assessment teams.

The commissioner may select additional chemical assessment teams for a response area, as necessary to provide appropriate emergency response capability, in keeping with maximum acceptable response time considerations.

Subp. 7.

Assigning secondary response areas.

The commissioner shall assign a secondary response area to each emergency response team and each chemical assessment team. A team may have more than one secondary response area.

Subp. 8.

Reviewing response area designations.

At least once every two years from August 29, 1994, the commissioner shall review response area boundaries and primary and secondary response area designations. Following the review, the commissioner shall adjust response area boundaries and primary and secondary response area designations as necessary to ensure that the most appropriate response is provided statewide.

Subp. 9.

Statewide response.

An emergency response team or chemical assessment team shall respond to any response area in the state when directed to do so by the commissioner.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 299A.50

History:

19 SR 450

Published Electronically:

October 2, 2007