Press Release

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June 9, 2004

Public comment periods begin today (June 9) for important documents related to the potential hazards and safety measures used by several facilities in Contra Costa County.

Contra Costa Health Services Hazardous Materials Programs announces the June 9 - July 23 public comment period for a Risk Management Plan (RMP) for Dreisbach Enterprises' Richmond Facility and Preliminary Audit Findings for the City of Brentwood Water Treatment Plant, Concord Community Pool and Dreisbach Enterprises' Richmond. The RMPs and Preliminary Audit Findings may be reviewed at the Hazardous Materials Programs office at 4333 Pacheco Boulevard. in Martinez. (Call 925-646-2286 to schedule for an appointment.) The RMPs and Preliminary Audit Findings may also be reviewed at the Brentwood, Concord and Richmond libraries.

"This is a good opportunity for community members to see what facilities in their neighborhoods are doing to prevent accidents and improve safety," says Randall Sawyer, Hazardous Materials' Accidental Release Prevention Supervisor.

He says his agency will respond to all written comments submitted during the 45-day comment period and will incorporate all written comments into the RMP reviews or Final Audit Findings as appropriate. Health Services will hold public hearings if there is sufficient public interest.

According to Sawyer, the State's Accidental Release Prevention (CalARP) Program requires facilities with regulated chemicals to submit an RMP, which gives an assessment of the potential hazards a facility may present, the facility' prevention and emergency response programs, and the management systems in place to implement the overall program. Prevention programs would include such things as training operators, maintenance, operating procedures, contractor safety, incident investigation and process hazard analyses.

Sawyer says the CalARP Program requires Contra Costa Health Services to perform an audit of the regulated facilities to ensure that they are in compliance with the CalARP Program regulations and are consistent with their RMP. Written comments, postmarked no later than July 23 should be sent via email to arpteam@hsd.cccounty.us or Sawyer at Contra Costa Health Services, Hazardous Materials Programs, 4333 Pacheco Boulevard., Martinez, CA 94553.

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