Reimbursement program for local haz-mat responses
Local fire departments that respond to haz-mat incidents may be eligible for reimbursement from the federal government under an Environmental Protection Agency program initiated last year.
A department must meet certain eligibility criteria: It must have responded to a haz-mat incident alone or with the aid of a state or federal agency, the response must have been in accordance with requirements of the Comprehensive Environmental Response. Compensation, and liability Act; the National Contingency Plan: and (after this month ) the local emergency plan prepared under SARA Title 111. The reimbursement program is designed to help local departments financially when they undertake temporary emergency measures.
Hie reimbursement program applies only to those incidents that occurred after Oct. 21. 198″ Departments could be reimbursed for the cost of employ ee salaries, equipment rental, and replacement of equipment contaminated during the response. Priority w ill be given to departments with limited resources; applications are taken twice each year. For more information contact the RCRA/CERCLA Hotline at (800) 424-9346.
