Emergency Response Assistance Program

The Emergency Response Assistance Program started as an off shoot of the Louisiana Hazardous Substance Emergency Events Surveillance (HSEES) program (2001 - 2009), which was replaced by the Louisiana Toxic Substance Incidents Program (LaTSIP) (2010 - 2013). As part of these programs, SEET staff would receive 30-50 reports per day (approximately 12,000 per year) from the Louisiana State Police (LSP) and the National Response Center (NRC) containing information on chemical releases. SEET Emergency Response staff would review the reports and provide the nine LDH regions of the state with copies of all the LSP and NRC reports specific to their region. If follow up public health action was necessary, the program would provide an emergency response packet consisting of information about the event, the chemical(s) of concern, health effects and medical management, and map(s) of the area, which display the incident location, points of interest, hospitals, schools, day care centers, nursing homes, and current contact information. A Material Safety Data Sheet(s) may also be sent, when all necessary information was provided. Although Louisiana no longer participates in these federal programs, SEET continues with the Emergency Response Assistance portion of those programs.

Report a Chemical Spill

If you would like to report a release involving a toxic substance(s), you can do so by calling one of the following organizations: (in fact, you may be legally responsible to report a release)*

• Louisiana State Police (LSP) at (225) 925-6595 or toll free at (877) 925-6595*
• Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) at (225) 219-3640 Monday - Friday from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm; or after hours, including holidays and weekends, at (225) 342-1234
• National Response Center (NRC) at 1-800-424-8802

*The hazardous materials HOT LINE 1-877-925-6595 is staffed by the Right-to-Know Unit and is the reporting point to the LSP for a chemical spill or emergency. Any transporter, manufacturer, storage facility, or anyone involving the handling of any regulated hazardous material must contact the LSP immediately to report any spillage or threat to public safety.

For FIXED FACILITY releases, LAC 33.V.10111B mandates:

B. Reportable Releases and Incidents. Any release or incident involving a regulated hazardous material must be reported immediately by the owner or operator, or one of their designated representatives as soon as the owner or operator or designated representative, has knowledge of such release or incident, if it meets one or more of the following criteria:

1. The release directly causes any injury requiring hospitalization or any fatality; or
2. The release results in a fire or explosion which could reasonably be expected to affect the public safety beyond the boundaries of the facility; or
3. The release (other than an application of a pesticide or fertilizer) exceeds the reportable quantity during any continuous 24 hour period when that reportable quantity could be reasonably expected to escape beyond the site of the facility; or
4. The incident, accident or cleanup within a facility could reasonably be expected to affect the public safety beyond the boundaries of the facility ( for example: a facility evacuating its personnel); or
5. The owner or operator knows a protective action beyond the facility has been initiated.

For TRANSPORTATION releases, LRS 32:1510 mandates:

A. Each person involved in an incident, accident, or the cleanup of an incident or accident during the transportation, loading, unloading, or related storage in any place of a hazardous material subject to this Chapter shall report immediately by telephone to the department if that incident, accident, or cleanup of an incident or accident involves:

1. A fatality due to fire, explosion, or exposure to any hazardous material.
2. The hospitalization of any person due to fire, explosion, or exposure to any hazardous material.
3. (a) A continuing danger to life, health, or property at the place of the incident or accident under any of the following circumstances:
   (i) The incident or accident results in the release of a hazardous material, as defined in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
   (ii) As a result of the incident or accident, a bulk package of a regulated hazardous material as defined in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, comes to rest at an angle forty-five degrees or more from the upright position.
   (iii) It is deemed necessary to transfer a hazardous material, as defined in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, from one bulk package to another bulk package on a public highway or within five hundred feet of an inhabited building.
   (b) Vehicles suffering mechanical failures completely unrelated to the transportation container or the material contained therein, shall not be required to notify under this Paragraph.
4. An estimated property damage of more than ten thousand dollars.

Did You Know?

Wildfire Smoke, Particulate Pollution and Your Health

Contact

For more information, submit a feedback form or call the Section of Environmental Epidemiology and Toxicology at 1-888-293-7020.