How To Report A Release / Spill

STEP 1 – DUE IMMEDIATELY STEP 2 – Due As Soon As Possible Within 30 Days
Verbal Notification
 Written Follow-up Notification
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Reportable Quantities

The owner or operator of a facility or vessel must immediately notify the Hawaiʻi State Emergency Response Commission (HSERC) (through the HEER Office) and the appropriate Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) if there is a release into the environment of a hazardous substance that is equal to or exceeds the minimum reportable quantity in any 24-hour period as set forth in the regulations.

Covered Types of Chemicals and Quantities
    • Extremely Hazardous Substances (EHS) are those substances and quantities listed at 40 CFR part 355, Appendices A and B
    • Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) hazardous substances contained in 40 CFR part 302, Table 302.4
      • Facilities must also report a release of a CERCLA hazardous substance to the National Response Center (NRC) at 1 (800) 424 8802
    • Trichloropropane (TCP)
      • Reportable quantity is 10 pounds as per HAR 11-451-6(b)
    • Oil [under the following circumstances]:
      • Any amount of oil which when released into the environment causes a sheen to appear on surface water, or any navigable water of the state;
      • Any free product that appears on ground water;
      • Any amount of oil released to the environment greater than 25 gallons;
      • Any amount of oil released to the environment which is less than 25 gallons, but which is not contained and remediated within 72 hours.
    • An unlisted substance designated under section Hawaiʻi Administrative Rules (HAR) section 11-451-5(c), in quantities equal to or exceeding the reportable quantity criteria in section 11-451-6(c)
    • Reportable Quantities List
    • For releases of unknown quantities, report if lab results exceed the most restrictive Environmental Action Levels (EALs) for residential use.

Step 1: Verbal notification via telephone / in person

Immediately after a reportable release, the owner or operator of a facility or vessel must notify the HEER Office (for the HSERC), the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) of the appropriate jurisdiction, and the National Response Center (NRC).

 

NUMBERS TO CALL
    • NOTE: Please call 9-1-1 if there is an immediate threat to human welfare or fatalities.
    • HEER Office as the administrative contact for the HSERC (808) 586-4249 (7:45am – 4:30pm Monday to Friday) or (808) 236-8200 (after hours which includes weekends, holidays and after 4:30 weekdays)
    • the LEPC for your jurisdiction according to the list below
    • the National Response Center (NRC) at (800) 424-8802
Hazardous Substance Release Notification Contacts List
County LEPC Fire Department HSERC
Hawaiʻi Gerald Kosaki
Hawaiʻi County LEPC
277 Kapualani Street
Hilo, Hawaiʻi 96720
Gerald Kosaki, LEPC Chair
Cell: 808 936-8181
[email protected]		 Darren Rosario, Fire Chief
Hawaiʻi County Fire Department
25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2501
Hilo, Hawaiʻi 96720
Phone: 808 932-2903
Fax: 808 932-2928		 State of Hawaiʻi
Hazard Evaluation and Emergency Response Office
2385 Waimano Home Rd #100
Pearl City, Hawaiʻi 96782
Attn: EPCRA Data Manager
Phone: 808 586-4249
Fax 808 586-7537
After Hours (808) 236-8200
City and County of Honolulu Robert Harter
Honolulu LEPC
Department of Emergency Management
650 South King Street
Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96813
Phone: 808 723-8960
Fax: 808 768-1492		 Manuel Neves, Fire Chief
Honolulu Fire Department
636 South Street
Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96813-5007
Phone: 808 723-7101
Fax: 808 723-7111		 See above
Kauaʻi Albert Kaui
Kauaʻi Emergency Management Agency
3990 Kaʻana Street #100
Līhuʻe, Hawaiʻi 96766
Phone: 808 241-1800		 Chief
Kauaʻi County Fire Department
4444 Rice Street, Suite 315
Līhuʻe, Hawaiʻi 96766
Phone: 808 241-4975
Fax: 808 241-6508		 See above
Maui Jeffrey M. Kihune, Sr.
Maui County LEPC
200 Dairy Road
Kahului, Hawaiʻi 96732
Phone: 808 870-7404
[email protected]		 David Thyne, Chief
Maui County Fire Department
200 Dairy Road
Kahului, Hawaiʻi 96732
Phone: 808 270-7561
Fax: 808 270-7919		 See above

You may also download ATTACH 3-C Submitting TIER II to LEPC Dec 2019 which includes the list of contacts.

 

INFORMATION TO PROVIDE

Specific information is required when reporting the release of a hazardous substance. To the best of your ability, be ready with the following information:

    • Your name and telephone number
    • Name of the hazardous substance spilled
    • Approximate quantity spilled
    • Location of the spill
    • Date and time of the spill
    • Description of how it happened
    • Immediate danger or threat posed by the release
    • Contact information for the responsible party
    • Measures taken or proposed to be taken to cleanup the spill
    • Any known injuries resulting from exposure
    • Other county, state or federal officials that were also notified

You may download the Hazardous Substance Emergency Release Notification and Inventory Guideline 2020 for a hazardous substance release to learn more about the required information.

 

Step 2: Submit a written follow-up notice no later than 30 days after initial discovery of the release.

A Hawaii Hazardous Substance Written Follow-Up Notification Form regarding the release is also required to be sent to the HSERC/HEER and LEPC contacts noted above, postmarked no later than 30 days after initial discovery of the release.

 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCE ON EMERGENCY PLANS

The State of Hawaiʻi Oil and Hazardous Substance Emergency Response Plan is a supplement to the State of Hawaiʻi Plan for Emergency Preparedness, Volume III, Disaster Response Assistance. This plan also serves as Annex 1530-1 to the Hawaii Area Contingency Plan.

 

EPA LIST OF LISTS

EPA List of Lists:
EHS RQ, CERCLA RQ, 10 pound RQ for TCP, and Oil under the listed circumstances

 

LEGAL AUTHORITY

Owners or operators of facilities or vessels that release a hazardous substance or toxic chemical into the environment above the reportable quantity are subject to state notification requirements under the HEER Office’s legal authorities including:

  • Hawaiʻi Environmental Response Law (HRS 128D) and Hawaiʻi State Contingency Plan (HAR 11-451)
  • Hawaiʻi Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (HEPCRA) (HRS 128E and HAR 11-453)
  • CERCLA §103