Minnesota Administrative Rules

7514.1600 EMERGENCY RESPONSE CRITERIA AND DISPATCHING.

Subpart 1.

Emergency response.

An emergency response authorized by the commissioner may include technical assistance provided by a team via telephone and other means of communication or the deployment of team personnel and equipment to the scene of a hazardous materials incident.

Subp. 2.

Criteria for authorizing emergency response.

Except as provided in subparts 3 and 4, the commissioner shall use the provisions of this subpart to determine whether to authorize a team response. The commissioner shall authorize a team response when all the following criteria are met:

A.

there is a release or potential release from a transportation incident or fixed facility;

B.

the release presents an actual or potential threat to public safety or the environment;

C.

local emergency response personnel have been dispatched, are on the scene, and have made an initial assessment of the incident;

D.

local authorities have determined that the response needs of the incident exceed local capabilities; and

E.

local authorities have requested a team response.

Subp. 3.

Alternate response criteria.

The commissioner shall authorize a team response when the commissioner considers the response to be necessary to protect life, property, and the environment from the effects or potential effects of a hazardous materials release.

Subp. 4.

Special response criteria.

The commissioner shall authorize an emergency response team or a chemical assessment team response to provide standby technical assistance in support of a bomb squad response when the commissioner considers it necessary. A response under this subpart is limited to incidents involving explosives, explosive devices, incendiary devices, shock-sensitive explosive chemicals, or a law enforcement agency response to clandestine drug lab incidents. When a team responds, its costs are recoverable costs.

Subp. 5.

Authority to request team response.

Authority to request the response of an emergency response team and a chemical assessment team resides with local authorities whose jurisdiction includes the scene of the hazardous materials incident.

Subp. 6.

Procedure for requesting team.

The Minnesota duty officer system is the point of contact for requesting a response by an emergency response team or a chemical assessment team.

Subp. 7.

Canceling response en route to incident.

Team response may be canceled en route to an incident only by the local authority that initially requested the response.

Subp. 8.

Terminating team response actions for safety reasons.

The team may terminate response actions at an incident without direction from the incident commander when the team leader or safety officer determines that the ordered response actions would place team personnel in imminent danger.

Subp. 9.

Terminating team response at conclusion of incident.

Team response may be terminated at an incident upon the direction of the local incident commander, or as provided in subpart 8 or part 7514.0900, subpart 5.

Subp. 10.

Deployment time.

The average deployment time for emergency response teams and chemical assessment teams must not exceed 15 minutes.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 299A.50

History:

19 SR 450

Published Electronically:

October 2, 2007