Hazardous Materials Inspection and Permitting System (HIPS)

The City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County have recently enacted a comprehensive Ground-Water Protection Policy and Action Plan (GPPAP) and a Hazardous Materials and Waste Storage Policy. Implementation of the Hazardous Materials and Waste Storage Policy is a vital step to improving the quality of life in Albuquerque by ensuring the quality of our ground-water resources. The Hazardous Materials & Waste Storage Policy is intended to prevent, control and mitigate conditions that pose a threat to ground water quality related to the storage, handling and use of hazardous materials and wastes.

Recent studies have shown that large amounts of water have already been contaminated to the extent that it affects its usefulness as drinking water and new contamination events are continually being reported. The GPPAP has identified hazardous materials and waste storage facilities to be one of the three highest priority threats to ground water and relies on the Uniform Fire Code to affect ground water protection because of its existing and adequate provisions to regulate the storage, handling, and use of hazardous materials. Enforcement of the Uniform Fire Code's inspection and permitting roles will protect the ground water without requiring additional and duplicate regulations.

Fire Prevention Bureau Inspectors will seek out the handlers of hazardous materials and waste, help them understand and comply with the Uniform Fire Code and educate them on the proper procedures for the storage, handling and use of hazardous materials. Most importantly they will ensure these facilities have made the necessary provisions for primary and secondary containment—the means by which spills are controlled and hazardous materials are prevented from entering the ground-water. The Bernalillo County Fire Department's Fire Prevention Bureau has also made a full commitment to inspecting and permitting hazardous materials and waste storage facilities. Both the City and County have adopted the Uniform Fire Code into City Ordinance 22-1993 and County Ordinance 92-10.

The HazMat Inspection & Permitting System (HIPS), designed by Public Works' Computer Services Manager, Art Machtinger, and HazMat Hazardous Materials Permit System Manager, Rene Noriega, will track business information, referrals, inspections and plans review for new construction or renovations. The system will be full integrated with the Albuquerque Fire Department's imaging system, SARAH ( Search & Retrieval of all Hazards), for effective records management and fast and easy retrieval of inspection documentation. The Alarm Room can also fax available information stored in the SARAH System (e.g., Emergency contacts, site plans, hazardous material listings, etc.) to responders.

HIPS incorporates the use of a US West Business Listing which includes Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Codes to facilitate the identification of hazardous material handlers in the greater Albuquerque area. SIC Codes are US Government standardized codes used to classify businesses by activity type. The Albuquerque Geographic Information System group has mapped these businesses throughout the County to identify high hazard businesses which are located in geographic areas most vulnerable to contamination. The initial phase of these inspections will concentrate on facilities that are located within Wellhead Protection Areas and areas especially vulnerable to contamination. A wellhead protection area is a designated area surrounding a public water supply well through which contaminants are likely to move toward and reach the well. Other areas especially vulnerable to contamination are likely to be used for public and private water supply.

The HazMat Inspection & Permitting System does not alter the way the Fire Prevention Bureau performs inspections. Instead, HIPS changes the strategy from one that is reactive to one that is proactive by targeting businesses and facilities that are involved in activities that are potentially hazardous to the ground-water.