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Permit Sonoma › Divisions › Fire Prevention & HazMat › Services and Fees › Hazardous Materials Unit and CUPA Program › Hazardous Materials Business Plan
Hazardous Materials Unit

Hazardous Materials Business Plan (HMBP)

Permit Sonoma Fire Prevention

Businesses that handle hazardous materials in California are required to file a Hazardous Materials Business Plan (HMBP). The HMBP consists of general business information; basic information on the location, type, quantity and health risks of hazardous materials; and emergency response and training plans.

The California Health & Safety Code (Division 20, Chapter 6.95) defines a hazardous material as "any material that, because of its quantity, concentration, or physical or chemical characteristics, poses a significant present or potential hazard to human health and the environment if released into the workplace or the environment." Common hazardous materials include new and used oil, gasoline, diesel fuel, propane, antifreeze, solvents, compressed gases, etc. Generally speaking, hazardous materials must be reported if they are handled in quantities equal to or greater than the following:

  • 55 gallons of a liquid
  • 200 standard cubic feet of a compressed gas
  • 500 pounds of a solid

HMBP Electronic Reporting Required

The deadline for reporting HMBPs electronically was January 1, 2013. This means all HMBP submittals, including updates to HMBPs, must occur electronically via the California Environmental Reporting System (CERS). This will reduce paperwork, automatically notify the CUPA of updates, and allow emergency responders to electronically access hazardous materials inventories and after-hours contact information.

Access CERS here 

California Environmental Reporting System (CERS) 

CERS Links 

California Environmental Reporting System (CERS)

Log-in to update and/or submit your HMBP.

CERS Guidance Document (108kB)

Guidance document created by our department to assist businesses starting this process.

CERS Business Portal Help Materials

"How to" resources for various CERS functions.

CERS Business User Training Materials

Access CERS training materials for businesses.

CERS Multi-Facility / Multi-Jurisdictional Businesses

For businesses with multiple facilities and/or facilities within multiple jurisdictions, a single organization may be established allowing consolidated management of all your facilities by one or more authorized users.

Supplemental Documents

Complete these forms and upload to CERS as part of your submittal.

Facility Site Plan / Storage Map (277kB)

Emergency Response / Contingency Plan & Employee Training

Annual HMBP / CERS Verification

  • Review previous CERS submission. (If no previous submission, and initial CERS submission is required based upon program elements above.)
  • If no changes, resubmit Facility Information and Hazardous Materials Inventory. (Please, make a note in the submission comment field that the submission is an Annual Verification with no changes.)
  • If changes to information are required, make changes and resubmit. (Please, make a not in the submission comment field of where changes were made.)

Annual Hazardous Materials Inventory Certification

Making a Submittal from a Previous Submittal

    CERS Reporting Requirements for Individual Program Elements

    HMBP (All Regulated Facilities)

    • Facility Information
      • Business Activities
      • Business Owner/Operator Identification 
    • Hazardous Materials Inventory
      • Hazardous Materials Inventory
      • Site Map
       
    • Emergency Response and Training Plans
      • Emergency Response/Contingency Plan
      • Employee Training Plan
       

    Underground Storage Tanks (USTs)

    • HMBP + Underground Storage Tanks
      • UST Facility Operating Permit Application
      • UST Tank Information
      • UST Monitoring Site Plan (This document does not need to be reported separately if the required information is provided in the Hazardous Materials Inventory Site Map.)
      • UST Response Plan (This document does not need to be reported separately if the required information is provided in the Hazardous Materials Business Plan Emergency Response and Training Plan.)
      • Certification of Financial Responsibility
      • Letter from Chief Financial Officer
      • Owner Statement of Designate UST Operator Compliance
      • UST Owner/Operator: Written Agreement (This document may be Uploaded, Stored at Facility, or Exempt if permit is issued to the operator.
      • Which UST Forms Must Be Uploaded
      • General Reporting Requirements for USTs
       

    Hazardous Waste Generators (HWGs):

    •  Less than 55 gallons on site at any one time:
      • Facility Information ONLY
       
    • Small Quantity Generators (SQGs) & Large Quantity Generators (LQGs):
      • HMBP
       
    • Tiered Permitting:
      • HMBP + Tiered Permitting
        • Tiered Permitting Facility
         
       
    • Recyclable Materials Report:
      • HMBP + Recyclable Materials Report
        • Recyclable Materials Report Documentation
         
       
    • Remote Waste Consolidation Annual Notification:
      • Consolidation Sites 
       

    Aboveground Petroleum Storage Act (APSA - more than 1320 gallons of petroleum product): 

    • HMBP + Aboveground Petroleum Storage Act  

    California Accidental Release Program (CalARP): 

    • HMBP