Hazardous Materials Facility-Closure Guidelines

Feedback

Font Size: + -

When a business storing or using hazardous materials closes, a Facility Closure Notification Form and Closure Plan must be completed and submitted to Fremont Fire Department (FFD) for review and approval. Closure may include a CUPA permitted activity, significant operation or storage area within a business.

The Facility Closure Notification Form and Closure Plan must include an evaluation of hazardous materials and hazardous wastes operations as reported in the facilities Hazardous Materials Inventory Statement (HMIS). The HMIS is an element within the Hazardous Materials Business Plan (HMBP), which is maintained in the California Environmental Reporting System (CERS) and reviewed by the FFD.

Information presented here is also available to view as a document.

Closure Plan Submittal:

Plan must be submitted no less than 30 days prior to the termination of the storage of hazardous materials at the storage facility for currently operating facilities.
Plan must be prepared and submitted to FFD by the facility manager, facility owner, property owner or a qualified representative.

Closure Plan Description:

Describe procedures for terminating the storage of hazardous materials in each storage facility or area.
Discuss the use and storage of hazardous materials and wastes on-site, how they will be decommissioned, removed, disposed of in an appropriate manner. This may also include any recycling, re-use or reclaiming of specific hazardous materials and wastes.
Discuss in detail decontamination, cleaning and sampling procedures to ensure no residual hazardous materials and waste remain that can threaten public health, public safety, or the environment.
Identify measures to eliminate or minimize the need for further maintenance or monitoring.

Removal of Hazardous or potentially hazardous materials and Wastes

Additional Permits and Approvals

Closing underground storage tanks (USTs) requires:
- Submittal of a separate UST closure plan for approval.
- A permit issued before work may begin.
- Notifying Alameda County Water District (ACWD).
Demolition work may also require local building department permits.
Closing groundwater or vadose wells requires a permit from the (ACWD).
Hazardous waste treatment systems subject to Tiered Permit, requires notification to the Union Sanitary District (USD).

Closure Plan Detailed Summary and Steps

Complete and Submit a Closure Notification form with the required deposit. The deposit will be dependent on the complexity and size of the facility closure.

Site information and history:
- Provide general site and facility maps/diagrams.
- Include a site history describing past and current chemical use or hazardous material/waste storage
- Include diagrams showing historical and chemicals uses by room/area/building

Provide a history of all soil and groundwater sampling conducted at the site.

Closure of facilities:
- Summarize all facilities to be closed.
- Identify fixed equipment and buildings.
- List all chemicals and wastes.
- Identify fume exhaust systems, including fans, scrubbers, ducting locations, and type of input. Will these systems remain in place or be removed and is sampling required.
- Identify process water or wastewater sanitary sewers, including pipeline locations, type of input, clean-outs, vents and inlets and sampling locations.
- Identify contaminated or potentially contaminated process equipment, including piping, pumps, tanks, process vessels and vaults.
- Identify areas such as walls, ground surfaces, floors, etc. of potential or known contamination and/or corrosion.

Analytical testing and results:
- Describe the analytical testing and analysis used to determine whether materials or residues are hazardous waste or potential contamination.
- Who will be performing the sampling and testing, provide “chain of custody” details.
- Classify all waste, including residues, equipment, piping, and in some cases building materials (walls, floors, structural elements).
- Specify all test procedures and their requirements.
- Ensure the final closure report includes or references all procedures, analytical results and interpretations.

Hazardous waste disposal and/or hazardous materials sales manifests and disposal receipts:
- In the final closure report, include a statement confirming that all hazardous waste disposal is completed and documentation provided. Hazardous materials transferred or sold must be disclosed and documented with name, address and contact information.
- The receipts must clearly identify which chemicals or piece of equipment they correspond to. Alternately, the final closure report must include an index linking each receipt to the appropriate chemical or piece of equipment.

Soil, groundwater, or other required samples:
- Provide a description of the number and types of soil, groundwater, or other required samples that will be collected, handled, and analyzed to determine whether past facility activities have caused any residual impacts to the site.
- All samples must be analyzed by a certified laboratory, and all environmental assessment work must be overseen and signed off by a State‑certified geologist, State‑registered civil engineer or other qualified individual.
- The final closure report must include:
  - A statement confirming that all environmental assessment work will be overseen and signed off by a State‑certified geologist, State‑registered civil engineer or other qualified individual.
  - The name, address, and phone number of the sampler, the environmental firm, and all laboratories involved.

Areas/items identified as hazardous, potentially hazardous, or contaminated:
- In the closure report, provide a description of the specific steps that will be taken for all items or areas identified as hazardous, potentially hazardous, or contaminated.
- Include the procedures for removing, disposing of, neutralizing, or reusing materials that have already been characterized along with the steps that will be followed to characterize any materials or areas that have not yet been assessed.
- Identify who will be responsible for the disposal, removal, treatment, or cleaning of these items or areas.

Disposal Certification:
- Certification that disposal of hazardous waste(s) will meet all Federal and California EPA requirements.

Include a site safety and spill contingency plan, scaled to the closure activities.

Post Closure Report

A final closure report must be submitted to the Fremont Fire Department (FFD) within 30 days after completing all work outlined in the approved closure plan.
The report must:
- Document the actions taken to close the facility or any applicable portions of it
- Include all relevant receipts (such as manifests, bills of lading, tank destruction certificates, or similar documentation) for chemical, waste, and equipment disposal or transport.
- Present the results of any soil or water sampling conducted.
- Outline conclusions and request full or partial closure.
  - For partial facility closures, a revised (HMBP) shall be submitted.
The individual signing the report shall certify that the approved facility closure has been completed.

City of Fremont, CA Official Website

FREMONT APP

Report a Concern

Check Request Status

Top Services Requested

Give Feedback

Hazardous Materials Facility-Closure Guidelines

Closure Plan Submittal:

Closure Plan Description: