Hazardous Materials

To report a Hazardous Materials/WMD or Explosives Incident, contact your local fire department, or State Communications at 1-800-632-8000, or (208) 846-7610.

The most important goal of State of Idaho Hazardous Materials Program is life safety. We are working to increase the preparedness of citizens, and state and local governments for hazardous materials incidents. We assist in raising the public’s awareness of hazardous materials issues and increase their access to hazardous materials inventory information. We assist with training and Special Teams throughout the State of Idaho. We serve as an emergency response coordination and liaison organization for Idaho and work in cooperation with state and federal agencies to prepare for, respond to and recover from hazardous materials incidents.

The Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security carries out the requirements of the Federal Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA), as well as the Idaho Hazardous Substance Emergency Response Act. We are the state repository for regulatory reporting concerning hazardous material storage, transport and release within Idaho to include Tier II’s, Toxic Release Inventories (TRI’s) and Risk Management Plans (RMP’s). The Bureau is responsible for coordinating with and assisting Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPC’s).

Hazardous Materials Incident Response Cost Recovery

The liability for costs associated with a hazardous substance emergency are the responsibility of the spiller. The Bureau is responsible for recovering costs from the spiller and, if the spiller is unknown, petitioning the State Board of Examiners for issuance of a deficiency warrant to reimburse the responding entities for reasonable documented costs.

Response agencies may submit claims to the Bureau for recovery of the documented costs incurred as a direct result of responding to and/or containment of a hazardous substance incident. These claims must be received by the Bureau of Homeland Security within 60 days of the close of the incident.

Special Teams

Idaho's Regional Response Teams were designed as support units for hazmat incidents that exceed the resources of local response agencies. These specially trained teams are available to provide 24-hour coverage, seven days per week, and are presently located in fire departments of Boise, Nampa/Caldwell, Lewiston, Pocatello, Coeur d' Alene, Magic Valley, and Idaho Falls. In the last several years, we have coordinated with local first response agencies to create additional special teams throughout the State of Idaho.

• Regional Hazardous Materials Response Teams (RRTs)

  These are a fire based, specialized resource for responding to hazardous materials/WMD type incidents. Each team is working to become a Type 1 Haz Mat Team. Each team can provide for specialized chemical assessment, containment, research, and otherwise emergency control of chemical type incidents.

• Regional Bomb Squads

  These are a law enforcement based, specialized resource for responding to explosives, suspicious packages, or other devices suspected of having explosive potential. They are equipped to remote assessment and render safe activities.

• Idaho Collapse Search and Rescue (ICSAR) Teams

  These are a fire based, specialized rescue resource specifically designed to respond to the problems presented in completing search and rescue activities in collapsed structures. They can perform remote search, confined space, materials breaching, and other activities associated with reaching trapped persons within collapsed structures.

• Idaho Incident Management and Support Team (IIMAST)

  This is a team made up of individuals from fire, law enforcement, EMS, public health, public works, and other public entities to provide overhead management of large scale, state or lower type emergencies/events. This team is trained in the wild land type incident management style and can provide emergency organization to areas within the state that need this kind of assistance. This is a relatively new team and is still growing in capability.

Regional Distribution of Special Teams

Region I

Counties: Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai, Shoshone
RRT: Kootenai Fire and Rescue
Bomb Squad: MOU in process with Spokane PD
ICSAR: Coeur d’Alene Fire Department
IIMAST: Statewide resource with participation from all areas of the State

Region II

Counties: Clearwater, Idaho, Latah, Lewis, Nez Perce
RRT: Lewiston Fire Department
Bomb Squad: Comes from Regions 1 and 3
ICSAR: Comes from Regions 1 and 4
IIMAST: Statewide resource with participation from all areas of the State

Region III

Counties: Adams, Canyon, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, Washington
RRT: Caldwell and Nampa Fire Departments
Bomb Squad: Nampa City Police Department
ICSAR: Comes from Region 4
IIMAST: Statewide resource with participation from all areas of the State

Region IV

Counties: Ada, Boise, Camas, Elmore, Valley
RRT: Boise Fire Department
Bomb Squad: Boise Police Department and Mountain Home Air Force Base
ICSAR: Boise Fire Department
IIMAST: Statewide resource with participation from all areas of the State

Region V

Counties: Blaine, Cassia, Gooding, Jerome, Lincoln, Minidoka, Twin Falls
RRT: MVERT (Magic Valley Emergency Response Team) made up of six fire departments
Bomb Squad: Twin Falls Police Department
ICSAR: Comes from Regions 4, 6, and 7
IIMAST: Statewide resource with participation from all areas of the State

Region VI

Counties: Bannock, Bear Lake, Butte, Bingham, Caribou, Franklin, Oneida, Power
RRT: Pocatello Fire Department
Bomb Squad: Comes from Regions 5 and 7
ICSAR: Pocatello Fire Department and Idaho Falls Fire Department
IIMAST: Statewide resource with participation from all areas of the State

Region VII

Counties: Bonneville, Clark, Custer, Fremont, Jefferson, Lemhi, Madison, Teton
RRT: Idaho Falls Fire Department
Bomb Squad: Idaho Falls Police Department
ICSAR: Idaho Falls Fire Department and Pocatello Fire Department
IIMAST: Statewide resource with participation from all areas of the State

Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act EPCRA Basics

EPCRA has the following four provisions:

• Emergency planning (Section 301-303) ;
• Emergency release notification (Section 304) ;
• Hazardous chemical storage reporting requirements (Sections 311-312) ;
• Toxic chemical release inventory (Section 313) For detailed information please view the EPA Link provided. 

Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPC’s)

Forming a Local Emergency Planning Committee can bring independent organizations together under the shared mission of protecting the health and safety of the public.

Through the LEPC, all those organizations involved in responding to emergencies work together before the emergency occurs. This means that plans can be developed with those most directly involved in any response effort along with those that know the consequences of accidents, emergencies and disasters. Working together improves mutual understanding of the capabilities and resources in your community.

Duties of L.E.P.C.'s

• County Commissioners nominate individuals for their LEPC’s to the Bureau of Homeland Security (BHS)
• Each LEPC appoints officers and notifies the BHS of these appointments
• The LEPC designates an Emergency Coordinator and advises the BHS of their 24-hour telephone number to receive notices.
• The LEPC should advise the BHS of the name & address of the Information Coordinator.
• Develops & updates an Emergency Response Plan
• Conducts exercises
• Submits by-laws to the BHS that have been adopted by motion of the LEPC
• Provides a copy of minutes, or other meeting documents to the BHS.
• Receives chemical release and Tier II reports, and provides public access to information on chemicals in the LEPC.
• Educates the public about risks from accidental & routine releases of chemicals.