California Accidental Release Prevention (CalARP)

The California Accidental Release Prevention (CalARP) Program protects people from the release of regulated substances into the environment.

Regulated substances are chemicals that pose a major threat to public health and safety or the environment because they are highly toxic, flammable or explosive. Some businesses store or handle regulated substances during the course of their work.

Examples of regulated substances are:

  • Ammonia
  • Chlorine gas
  • Hydrogen
  • Nitric acid
  • Propane

CalARP was adapted from the Federal accidental release program established by the Clean Air Act Section 112(r) and modified to meet California's needs. The goal of the CalARP program is to prevent accidental releases of substances that pose the greatest risk of immediate harm to the public and the environment. Sierra County CUPA staff conducts inspections at CalARP facilities and reviews Risk Management Plans. 
  
A CalARP facility is a facility that handles, manufactures, uses, or stores any of the extremely hazardous materials listed as regulated substances found in tables 1-3 of the California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 2, Chapter 4.5 above threshold quantities. Facilities must submit a Risk Management Plan (RMP) if they handle a Federally Regulated Substance in amounts greater than federal threshold quantities (see Tables 1 & 2) OR if they handle a State Regulated Substance in amounts greater than the state threshold quantities (Table 3) AND have been determined to present a significant likelihood of a regulated substance accident risk.   

Sierra County Environmental Health provides regulatory oversight for the CalARP program, including:

  1. Routine inspections of CalARP facilities 
  2. Completeness reviews of Risk Management Plans 
  3. Evaluation reviews of Risk Management Plans 

Authority

Resources:

List of regulated substances and thresholds quantities for Accidental Release Prevention View Document - California Code of Regulations (westlaw.com)