California Accidental Release Prevention

Introduction

​The California Accidental Release Prevention (CalARP) program was implemented on January 1, 1997 and replaced the California Risk Management and Prevention Program (RMPP). The purpose of the CalARP program are to prevent accidental releases of substances that can cause serious harm to the public and the environment, to minimize the damage if releases do occur, and to satisfy community right-to-know laws. This is accomplished by requiring businesses that handle more than a threshold quantity of a regulated substance listed in the regulations to develop a Risk Management Plan (RMP). An RMP is a detailed engineering analysis of the potential accident factors present at a business and the mitigation measures that can be implemented to reduce this accident potential. The RMP contains:

• Safety information
• A hazard review
• Operating procedures
• Training requirements
• Maintenance requirements
• Compliance audits
• Incident investigation procedures

The CalARP program is implemented at the local government level by Unified Program Agencies (UPAs). The CalARP program is designed so these agencies work directly with the regulated businesses. The UPAs determine the level of detail in the RMPs, review the RMPs, conduct facility inspections, and provide public access to most of the information. Confidential or trade secret information may be restricted. For public requests of information contact the UPAs directly.

Contact Information

Jack Harrah, Senior Emergency Services Coordinator
Hazardous Materials
Phone: (916) 845-8759
jack.harrah@caloes.ca.gov 

​CalARP Documents