Failure to Report Spills
On Time Can Be Hazardous

 
Spills of hazardous materials, diesel fuel and other regulated substances are subject to a maze of environmental regulations. Nearly 30,000 federal, state and local jurisdictions across the U.S. require incident reports from spill generators. Shippers and transporters who are unprepared to handle spill emergencies quickly and comply with all reporting requirements can end up with major expenses for cleanup and disposal services, liability issues, and steep penalties for failing to file incident reports on time.
 
Reportable quantities vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and spills often involve multiple jurisdictions, confusing the issue. When in doubt about whether a spill involves a reportable quantity, report it. Failure to file required reports can bring stiff fines and penalties, making it unwise to try to cover up a spill.

 
It Can Happen to You
 

Any fleet can become a spill generator. Being prepared for environmental incidents - on the highway or at your facility - is the best way to contain costs and limit your legal liability associated with spills of hazardous materials, diesel fuel and other regulated substances. Next is creating a spill contingency plan, which is a set of detailed instructions for handling spills quickly and complying with all regulations associated with the incidents.
 
The contingency plan ensures that the right people in your company are notified, the right internal and external reports are triggered, and that preferred contractors are contacted to handle the spill. The contingency plan is the key to efficient coordination of cleanup, mitigation and reporting efforts. The efforts you spend "planning a spill" can help minimize your costs and limit the likelihood of liability claims in the event of an unintentional release on the road or at your facility.
 
You might include an expert in environmental claims management, such as Spill Center, to provide assistance 24/7 with technical and legal aspects associated with spills.
 
The key to avoiding fines for non-compliance with environmental reporting regulations is maintaining current information and the contacts for every jurisdiction in which your equipment operates. The alternative is to use the services of experts who can do that for you and provide advice on how to avoid getting caught in the maze of environmental laws.

Click here to start using Spill Center today. Formed in 1990, Spill Center develops custom spill contingency plans for subscribers and provides environmental claims management, incident reporting, compliance documentation, cleanup contractor referrals, and other services to help subscribers limit costs and liabilities related to spills of hazmat, fuel and other regulated materials. Click here to request a callback to learn more about our service options and how Spill Center can help you improve your company's spill emergency preparedness.
 
We hope you found this information useful. We plan to provide industry updates and tips on containing costs and limiting liability after hazmat incidents on a regular basis. Visit the Spill Center website (www.spillcenter.com) or call me directly if we can be of service to your company or if you have questions about Spill Center subscriber services. My direct number is 978-568-1922, X222. E-mail me at tmoses@spillcenter.com.
 
Sincerely,
 
 

Tom Moses
President 
Spill Center