The California Accidental Release Prevention (CalARP) program was implemented on January 1, 1997 and replaced the California Risk Management and Prevention Program (RMPP). The purpose of the CalARP program are to prevent accidental releases of substances that can cause serious harm to the public and the environment, to minimize the damage if releases do occur, and to satisfy community right-to-know laws. This is accomplished by requiring businesses that handle more than a threshold quantity of a regulated substance listed in the regulations to develop a Risk Management Plan (RMP). An RMP is a detailed engineering analysis of the potential accident factors present at a business and the mitigation measures that can be implemented to reduce this accident potential. The RMP contains:
- Safety information
- A hazard review
- Operating procedures
- Training requirements
- Maintenance requirements
- Compliance audits
- Incident investigation procedures
The CalARP program is implemented at the local government level by the Certified Unified Program Agencies (CUPAs). The CalARP program is designed so these agencies work directly with the regulated businesses. The CUPAs determine the level of detail in the RMPs, review the RMPs, conduct facility inspections, and provide public access to most of the information. Confidential or trade secret information may be restricted. For public requests of information contact the CUPAs directly.
Laws and regulations
State Statute: Health and Safety Code Sections 25531 - 25543.3
State Regulation: Title 19, California Code of Regulations, Division 2, Chapter 4.5
Related Federal Program: Clean Air Act 112(r) and Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 68
Applicability
Facilities which store regulated substances above state or federal threshold quantities are subject to the CalARP program. HMCD regulates CalARP facilities anywhere in the county except for the cities of Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, and Gilroy.
View permit fees here
General requirements
- Submit a Risk Management Plan to HMCD
- Pay an annual invoice to keep your permit active
