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Monday, October 3, 2011

California’s Unified Approach to Hazardous Material Programs


The task of regulating the use of hazardous materials in industry can be very complicated, and has become complex due to numerous and convoluted regulations and the multitude of agencies that are charged with the administration of these programs. This presentation will illustrate California’s innovative and unique approach to this issue. In 1993 California Senate Bill 1082 was enacted. SB 1082 consolidated six existing hazardous materials and hazardous waste regulatory programs to improve coordination and consistency. These programs are referred to collectively as the Unified Program.

Prior to the creation of the Unified Program, the six program elements were implemented by over 1,300 separate state and local agencies. Today there are 83 Unified Program Agencies that were certified to meet established standards by the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA).  These Certified Unified Program Agencies are known as CUPAs. Cal/EPA certifies and regularly evaluate the CUPAs to ensure compliance with established statutory and regulatory standards. The mission of the Unified Program is to protect public health and safety, and to restore and enhance environmental quality, and sustain economic vitality through effective and efficient implementation of the Unified Program. California is an extraordinarily diverse state.  Alpine County has 1000 residents and Los Angeles County has 10,000,000. Local agencies know how to best adopt, implement and enforce these requirements in their jurisdiction. The CUPA Forum Board works with US EPA and Cal EPA to ensure that their efforts are coordinated and implemented consistently with federal and state standards. At the heart of the implementation of SB 1082 was the requirement for every County in California to apply and become certified as a Unified Program Agency. Due to the type of programs being administered most CUPAs were placed in local Environmental Health Departments. Today 42 of the 83 CUPAs are within Environmental Health Departments. This lecture will address the history and structure of the Unified Program, and describe the innovative and successful approach California chose. Attendees will learn how the use of education and a consolidated inspection and enforcement program can lead to success. 
Posted by NEHA at 9:37 AM
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