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
  • Listed Hazardous Substances
  • Trichloropropane (TCP) Reportable Quantity is 10 pounds
  • 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.
  • Unlisted Hazardous Substances
    • Unlisted hazardous substances have the reportable quantity of 100 pounds,
    • Unlisted hazardous wastes (as defined in Section 11-261-3, as of June 18, 1994), which exhibit toxicity characteristics when tested with the TCLP test method 1311 have the reportable quantities listed in 40 C.F.R. Part 302, Table 302.4, as of July 1, 1993, for the hazardous substance on which the toxicity characteristic is based.

Reportable Quantities List
A list of reportable hazardous substance release quantities (sorted by chemical name) is provided in Appendix 2-D of the online Technical Guidance Manual (TGM) November 12, 2008

Releases of Unknown Quantities
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

You may download the Facility Operators HEPCRA Information Package, January 2023 which includes the list of contacts in ATTACHMENT 3-C.

 

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

 

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 RESOURCES 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