CHMM Planning for Hazardous Materials 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under EPCRA Section 302, which criterion triggers a facility's obligation to notify the SERC and LEPC about an Extremely Hazardous Substance (EHS)?
- Exceeding the Threshold Planning Quantity (TPQ) (Correct answer)
- Releasing more than 1 pound into the environment
- Employing more than 10 workers who handle the substance
- Operating within 500 feet of a residential zone
Correct answer: Exceeding the Threshold Planning Quantity (TPQ)
Facilities must notify the SERC and LEPC within 60 days of first receiving or producing an EHS in quantities at or above the Threshold Planning Quantity.
Question 2: Which OSHA standard requires employers to develop a written emergency action plan when employees may be exposed to hazardous materials emergencies?
- 29 CFR 1910.119
- 29 CFR 1910.38 (Correct answer)
- 29 CFR 1910.1200
- 29 CFR 1910.132
Correct answer: 29 CFR 1910.38
29 CFR 1910.38 (Emergency Action Plans) requires employers to establish written plans addressing evacuation, emergency reporting, and employee roles during emergencies.
Question 3: A Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) is required to review and update its emergency plan at minimum how often?
- Every 6 months
- Annually (Correct answer)
- Every 2 years
- Every 3 years
Correct answer: Annually
EPCRA requires LEPCs to review their emergency response plans at least annually to ensure they remain current and accurate.
Question 4: Which element is NOT typically required in a facility's EPCRA Section 303 emergency response plan?
- Methods and procedures for immediate response
- Designation of a community coordinator
- Financial liability insurance documentation (Correct answer)
- Evacuation routes and procedures
Correct answer: Financial liability insurance documentation
Section 303 emergency plans focus on operational response elements such as notification, evacuation, and coordination — financial insurance documentation is not a required element.
Question 5: The Incident Command System (ICS) principle of 'unity of command' means that each responder:
- Must report to exactly one supervisor (Correct answer)
- Can give orders to any personnel on scene
- Is responsible for all tactical decisions
- Reports simultaneously to the IC and their agency supervisor
Correct answer: Must report to exactly one supervisor
Unity of command ensures every individual has one designated supervisor, preventing confusion and conflicting instructions during incident response.
Question 6: When developing a site safety plan for a hazardous materials response, the first step should be to:
- Assign personal protective equipment levels to all responders
- Identify and characterize the hazard using available information (Correct answer)
- Establish decontamination corridors
- Notify off-site medical facilities
Correct answer: Identify and characterize the hazard using available information
Hazard identification and characterization must precede PPE selection and other protective measures to ensure appropriate safeguards are chosen.
Question 7: Under SARA Title III, which section requires facilities to submit Material Safety Data Sheets (or a list of hazardous chemicals) to the SERC, LEPC, and local fire department?
- Section 302
- Section 304
- Section 311 (Correct answer)
- Section 313
Correct answer: Section 311
EPCRA Section 311 requires facilities subject to OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard to submit MSDSs or chemical lists to state and local planning authorities.
CHMM Planning for Hazardous Materials 2
Under EPCRA Section 302, which criterion triggers a facility's obligation to notify the SERC and LEPC about an Extremely Hazardous Substance (EHS)?