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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" citation="COMAR 26.13.05.03" title_num="26" subtitle_num="13" chapter_num="05" heading="Preparedness and Prevention.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Applicability. This regulation applies to owners and operators of all hazardous waste facilities, except as Regulation .01A, of this chapter, otherwise provides.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Design and Operation of Facility. Facilities shall be designed, constructed, maintained, and operated to minimize the possibility of a fire, explosion, or any unplanned sudden or non-sudden release of hazardous waste or hazardous waste constituents to air, soil, or surface water which could threaten human health or the environment.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Required Equipment. All facilities shall be equipped with the following, unless it can be demonstrated to the Secretary that none of the hazards posed by waste handled at the facility could require a particular kind of equipment specified below:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>An internal communications or alarm system capable of providing immediate emergency instruction (voice or signal) to facility personnel;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A device, such as a telephone (immediately available at the scene of operations) or a hand-held two-way radio, capable of summoning emergency assistance from local police departments, fire departments, or State or local emergency response teams;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Portable fire extinguishers, fire control equipment (including special extinguishing equipment, such as that using foam, inert gas, or dry chemicals), spill control equipment, and decontamination equipment; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Water at adequate volume and pressure to supply water hose streams, or foam producing equipment, or automatic sprinklers, or water spray systems.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Testing and Maintenance of Equipment. All facility communications or alarm systems, fire protection equipment, spill control equipment, and decontamination equipment, where required, shall be tested and maintained as necessary to assure its proper operation in time of emergency.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Access to Communications or Alarm System.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>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 communications device, either directly or through visual or voice contact with another employee, unless the Secretary has ruled that such a device is not required under §C of this regulation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>If there is ever just one employee on the premises while the facility is operating, the employee shall have immediate access to a device, such as a telephone or a hand-held two-way radio, capable of summoning external emergency assistance, unless the Secretary has ruled that such a device is not required under §C of this regulation.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>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 Secretary that aisle space is not needed for any of these purposes.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>Special Handling for Ignitable or Reactive Waste. The owner or operator shall take precautions to prevent accidental ignition or reaction of ignitable or reactive waste by:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Separating and protecting the waste from sources of ignition or reaction including but not limited to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Open flames;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Smoking;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Cutting and welding;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Hot surfaces;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Frictional heat;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>Sparks, including electrical sparks, sparks caused by static electricity, and mechanically-caused sparks;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>Spontaneous ignition, such as ignition caused by heat-producing chemical reactions; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(h)">
        <text>Radiant heat;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Confining smoking and open flame, while ignitable or reactive waste is being handled, to specially designated locations where smoking or open flame will not create a risk of causing the waste to ignite or react; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Conspicuously placing “No Smoking” signs wherever there is a hazard from ignitable or reactive waste.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="H.">
    <text>Arrangements With Local Authorities.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The owner or operator shall attempt to make the following arrangements, as appropriate for the type of waste handled at his facility and the potential need for the services of these organizations:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Arrangements to familiarize police, fire departments, and emergency response teams with the layout of the facility, properties of hazardous waste handled at the facility and associated hazards, places where facility personnel would normally be working, entrances to and roads inside the facility and possible evacuation routes;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>When more than one police and fire department might respond to an emergency, agreements designating primary emergency authority to a specific police and a specific fire department, and agreements with any others to provide support to the primary emergency authority. Agreements with State emergency response teams, emergency response contractors, and equipment suppliers; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Arrangements to familiarize local hospitals with the properties of hazardous waste handled at the facility and the types of injuries or illnesses which could result from fires, explosions, or releases at the facility.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>When State or local authorities decline to enter into these arrangements, the owner or operator shall document the refusal in the operating record.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>