BUREAU OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are CERS HMBP Requirements?
- Electronically submit a Hazardous Materials Business Plan via the California Environmental Reporting System (CERS).
- Review, update and recertify the HMBP Plan annually.
- Any business subject to any of the CUPA permits in the City of Long Beach is required to file an HMBP via CERS. This submission is used as the basis for the permit application.
When should I report hazardous material releases?
Any releases or threatened releases of hazardous materials must be reported to the Long Beach CUPA at LBCUPA@longbeach.gov and to the State Office of Emergency Services (OES) Warning Center. Call 911 if it is an emergency.
If you are reporting abandoned waste, you may contact the Long Beach Comm Center Non-Emergency line at (562) 570-9400. During Business hours, you may make release notification the CUPA at (562) 570-4136.
What is Hazardous Material?
The California Health and Safety Code defines a Hazardous Material as, “any material that because of its quantity, concentration, or physical or chemical characteristics poses a significant present or potential hazard to human health and safety or the environment if released into the work-place or environment.”
What are the HMBP Employee Training Requirements?
Owner/operator must provide initial and annual employee training and maintain training documentation records for a minimum of three years.
Can the HMBP Satisfy EPCRA Reporting?
Submission of the Business Emergency/ Contingency Plan satisfies the EPCRA 311- 312 Tier II Reporting requirement of the U.S. EPA if done in accordance with EPCRA instructions.
