Guide to Agencies For Hazardous Waste Generating Businesses in the City of Los Angeles

City of Los Angeles
Board of Public Works
Hazardous & Toxic Materials Office- Board of Public Works

Rev. 6-92

City Hall
200 At Spring Street Room 353
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 237-1209

This guide presents the agencies involved in issuing environmental permits, licenses and receiving reports for businesses operating in the City of Los Angeles. The objective of this guide is to make the businesses in the City of Los Angeles aware of the different agencies that regulate businesses using hazardous materials and generating hazardous waste.

Table of Contents

  • City of Los Angeles Fire Department - Hazardous Materials Section
  • Bureau of Fire Prevention & Public Safety (Underground Tanks)
  • Bureau of Sanitation (Sewer)
  • South Coast Air Quality Management District
  • California Occupational Safety and Health Administration
  • California Environmental Protection Agency (CAL-EPA), Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC)
  • Regional Water Quality Control Board
  • State Board of Equalization
  • Los Angeles County Fire Department Hazardous Waste Control Program
  • Summary of Regulatory Requirements
  • Additional Publications
  • Further Information

  • City of Los Angeles Fire Department - Hazardous Materials Section

    The City of Los Angeles Fire Department Hazardous Materials Section is the Administrative agent for the California Health and Safety Code, California Code of Regulations related to emergency Planning and Community Right to Know laws, and Federal SARA Title Ill.

    There are three units within this department that process information related to hazardous materials.

    If you use any hazardous or toxic materials such as acetone, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, acids, solvents, degreasers or any other chemical that is considered hazardous to your health you need to have an inventory of the chemicals or materials at your facility and may be required to have a business plan.

    For further information contact:

    Los Angeles City Fire Department
    Hazardous Materials Section
    200 North Spring Street, Rm 990-B
    Los Angeles, CA 90012
    Phone (213)485-8080

    Geographical Jurisdiction

    City of Los Angeles

    Pollution Prevention Tips

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    Bureau of Fire Prevention & Public Safety (Underground Tanks)

    The Bureau of Fire Prevention & Public Safety maintains an Underground Tank Unit which implements and enforces the Underground Tank program. All underground storage tanks used for fuel, solvents, and other liquids, must be monitored for leakage. The law requires underground storage tank installations, removals, or alterations to be regulated under permit from the City of Los Angeles Fire Department. All underground tanks installed after January 1, 1984 are required to have secondary containment in addition to a leak detection system. All underground tanks installed prior to January 1, 1984 are classified as existing tanks and are required to have soil analysis report and a continuous monitoring device.

    For further information contact:

    Bureau of Fire Prevention and Public Safety Underground Tank Unit
    200 North Main St.
    Los Angeles, CA
    Phone (213)485-7545

    Geographical Jurisdiction

    City of Los Angeles

    Safety Tips

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    Bureau of Sanitation (Sewer)

    The City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works, Bureau of Sanitation enforces the Clean Water Act through their applications, inspections, and reporting requirements. Their purpose is to prohibit the discharge of certain pollutants, maintain optimum wastewater temperatures, and pH. If you have a process that discharges wastewaster to the sewer you may need a permit. Consult the Bureau of Sanitation Industrial waste operations department.

    For further information contact:

    Bureau of Sanitation
    Industrial Waste Operations
    4590 Colorado Boulevard
    Los Angeles, CA 90039
    (213) 485-5886

    Geographical Jurisdiction

    City of Los Angeles

    Pollution Prevention Tips

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    South Coast Air Quality Management District

    The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) is responsible for controlling air pollution and attaining federal and state air quality standards. This is done by limiting emission of hazardous and toxic chemicals into the air. If you expect to build a facility, expand or relocate an existing operation, or want to operate your current equipment, permits must be obtained through SCAQMD. Permits are required for any piece of equipment or process that emits or reduces air contaminants unless specifically exempted. Permits for new or modified facilities must be obtained before any construction begins.

    For more information contact:

    Public Information specialist
    South Coast Air Quality Management District
    Office of Public Advisor and Small Business Assistance
    21865 E. Copley Dr.
    Diamond Bar, CA 91765-4182
    Phone (714)396-2000

    Pollution Prevention Tips

    Geographical Jurisdiction

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    California Occupational Safety and Health Administration

    The California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal/OSHA) is responsible for insuring compliance with the applicable labor codes.

    There are four units within Cal/OSHA:

    1. Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board,
    2. Division of Occupational Safety and Health
    3. Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board
    4. Consultation Service.

    The Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board is the standards-setting agency within the Cal/OSHA program. The enforcement of the standards is carried out by Division of Occupational Safety and Health by performing inspections and investigations. The Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board reviews the facts and applicable standards concerning citations, orders special action and penalties and abatement schedules that are on appeal, as well as resolves legal issues in dispute. The Consultation Service provides information or free on-site consultations to employers in a manner that is insulated from the Cal/OSHA enforcement activities.

    For further information contact:

    CAL/OSHA Consultation Services
    8535 E. Florence Ave., Suite 200
    Downey, CA 90240
    Phone (213) 861-9993
    or
    Cal/OSHA
    395 Oyster Point Blvd., Wing C, third floor South
    San Francisco, CA 94080
    Phone (415)737-2843

    Geographical Jurisdiction

    State of California

    Safety Tips

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    California Environmental Protection Agency (CAL-EPA), Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC)

    The California Environmental Protection Agency - Department of Toxic Substances Control is the states' lead agency in implementing the amended Hazardous Waste Control Law, as well as those provisions of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Under the Hazardous Waste Control Law, Cal/EPA - DTSC is directed to identify as hazardous those wastes which can cause serious illnesses or even death to humans. Cal/EPA- DTSC is also responsible for issuing permits (such as TSDF Part B), Hazardous Waste hauler registration, and E.P.A. Identification number. The newest permit that is issued under their jurisdiction is Permit By Rule (PBR) for Fixed-Based Treatment Units (FTU's - those which are permanently stationed at a single site). You may need a permit under PBR if you have a pretreatment unit, elementary neutralization units, and oil/water separators.

    For further information contact:

    CAL/EPA - Department of Toxic Substances Control
    Office of Environmental Information
    P.O. Box 806
    Sacramento, CA 95812-0806
    Phone (916)327-1848.

    Geographical Jurisdiction

    State of California

    Pollution Prevention Tips

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    Regional Water Quality Control Board

    The Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) has the authority to require any property owner within the City of Los Angeles to take appropriate remedial actions in the event of a violation such as a spill of hazardous or toxic materials. The RWQCB is authorized to issue enforcement orders, including cease and desist orders, injunctions and cleanup or abatement orders. They can also assess civil penalties for violations under the Porter-Cologne act.

    If you have a manufacturing facility there is a new permit that may be required as of January 1992. It is called a Storm Water permit and is covered under the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). If the facility's material handling equipment or activities, raw materials, intermediate products, or industrial machinery are exposed to storm water or rain then a Storm Water permit is required. Examples of material handling include: storage, loading and unloading, transportation or conveyance of any raw material.

    For further information contact:

    Regional Water Quality Control Board
    101 Centre Plaza Dr.
    Monterey Park, CA 91754
    Phone (213)620-4460.

    Geographical Jurisdiction

    Los Angeles County

    Pollution Prevention Tips

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    State Board of Equalization

    The State Board of Equalization is the administrative agency that issues tax identification number to businesses that generate hazardous waste. If you have a waste that is considered hazardous under the state regulations you must pay a state excise tax on that waste when you transport it out of your facility.

    For further information contact:

    State Board of Equalization
    Phone (916)739-2582

    Geographical Jurisdiction

    State of California

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    Los Angeles County Fire Department Hazardous Waste Control Program

    The Los Angeles County Fire Department Hazardous Waste Control Program regulates the disposal, handling, and storage of hazardous and toxic materials. Their purpose is to protect the County of Los Angeles from accidental spills or releases of hazardous materials. They accomplish this through inspections, emergency response enforcement and site mitigation.

    There are three sections within the L.A. County Fire Department Hazardous Waste Control Program:

    1. Inspection Section
    2. Investigation Section
    3. Emergency Operations Section.

    The Inspection section is responsible for the inspection of facilities and issuing licenses to generators of hazardous waste within L.A. County.

    The Investigation section consists of two units:

    1. Enforcement Unit
    2. Site Mitigation Unit.

    The Enforcement Unit investigates allegations of criminal violations of hazardous waste control laws. The Site Mitigation Unit reviews and approves site assessment and mitigation workplans for sites that are determined to be contaminated with hazardous materials.

    The Emergency Operations Section consists of:

    1. Emergency Response Unit
    2. Special Services Unit
    3. Training/Data Management Units.

    All of these units are available 24 hours a day in the event of an emergency involving hazardous materials.

    For further information contact:

    L.A. County Fire Department
    Hazardous Waste Control Program
    2615 South Grand Ave., Room 601
    Los Angeles, CA 90007
    Phone (213)744-3223

    Geographical Jurisdiction

    County of Los Angeles, except the cities of Long Beach, Pasadena and Vernon.

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    Summary of Regulatory Requirements

    Who Needs It?

    What Is Required?

    U.S. EPA Identification number

    Agency In ChargePhone Number
    U.S. EPA(800) 262-7937
    Public Health License Waste Control Program
    L.A. County Hazardous
    (213) 744-3223
    Permit By Rule City of Los Angeles
    CAL/EPA
    (916) 327-1848
    (818) 567-3096
    Industrial Waste Discharge Permit
    Bureau of Sanitation
    (213) 485-5886
    Certificate of Disclosure and Business Plan
    City of Los Angeles Fire Department
    (213) 485-8080
    Biennial Report
    U.S. EPA
    (800) 262-7937
    Exception Report
    CAL/EPA
    (916) 327-1848
    (818) 567-3134
    Source Reduction Evaluation Review Plan and Report
    CAL/EPA
    (916) 327-1848
    (818) 567-3134
    Extremely Hazardous Waste Permit
    CAL/EPA
    (916) 327-1848
    (818) 567-3120
    Toxics Release Inventory
    U.S. EPA
    (800) 262-7937
    Emission Inventory Plan Report
    South Coast Air Quality Management District
    (714) 396-2000
    Spill Prevention Control and Contingency Plan
    U.S.EPA
    (800) 262-7937
    Manufacturing facilities whose machinery, handling equipment or activities, raw materials, intermediate products are exposed to storm run off or rain:
    Storm Water Control Board
    Regional Water Quality Permit
    (213) 620-4460

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    Additional Publications

    Some additional publications available from the Hazardous and Toxic Materials Office that may be helpful are:

    Additional Fact Sheets for:

    City of Los Angeles
    Board of Public Works
    Hazardous and Toxic Materials Office
    200 N. Spring Street, Room 353
    Los Angeles, California 90012

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    Further Information

    For further information and assistance or to request additional publications please contact the HTM Office at:

    City of Los Angeles
    Board of Public Works
    Hazardous and Toxic Materials Office
    200 N. Spring Street, Room 353
    Los Angeles, California 90012
    (213) 237-1209

    The Board of Public Works Hazardous and Toxic Materials Office was established by the Los Angeles City Council in 1988. The purpose of this program is to promote the National policy of minimizing hazardous waste generation and encourage citywide compliance with hazardous materials and waste requirements. Technical assistance is provided other City agencies and industry through on-site consultation, information dissemination, and waste assessments.

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    Last Updated: January 8, 1996