Quick reference guides

• LQGs that prepare or amend their facility contingency plans after May 30, 2017, will submit a “quick reference guide” to their contingency plans to the local emergency responders.

Large quantity generators (LQGs) that prepare or amend their facility contingency plans after May 30, 2017, will submit a “quick reference guide” to their contingency plans to the local emergency responders. Emergency responders told the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that facility contingency plans were too complicated and lengthy to be truly helpful in an emergency.

Quick reference guides should only contain the following:

• The types/names of hazardous waste (in layman’s terms) and the hazards associated with the waste (e.g., toxic paint wastes, spent ignitable solvent, corrosive acid);
• The estimated maximum amount of each hazardous waste that may be present at any one time;
• The identification of any hazardous wastes where exposure would require unique or special treatment by medical or hospital staff;
• A map of the facility showing where hazardous wastes are generated, accumulated, and treated and routes for getting to these wastes;
• A street map of the facility in relation to surrounding businesses, schools, and residential areas to understand how best to get to the facility and also evacuate citizens and workers;
• The locations of waste supplies (e.g., fire hydrants and their flow rates);
• The identification of onsite notification systems (e.g., fire alarm that rings offsite, smoke alarms); and
• The name of the emergency coordinator(s) and 24/7 emergency telephone number(s), or, in the case of a facility where an emergency coordinator is continuously on duty, the emergency telephone number for the emergency coordinator.