ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS DIVISION

Business

Program Element Summaries
Consolidated Permit
CUPA Permit Application Package
Billing and Payment Information
Questions & Disputes
CUPA Glossary

Program Element Summaries

1.  Hazardous Materials Reporting and Response Planning (HMRRP)
(Municipal Code, Article 5, Sanitation and Health, Chapter 5.24) The Unified Program includes two chemical inventory and emergency planning disclosure programs. The first is the HMRRP which refers to the City's chemical disclosure ordinance, and is sometimes referred to as the Community Right To Know (CRTK) Program.

2.  The Uniform Fire Code Business Plan
The second is the Hazardous Materials Management Plans (HMMP) which refers to similar reporting requirements in the Uniform Fire Code, and is sometimes referred to as the Hazardous Materials Business Plan, or Uniform Fire Code Business Plan. All of these programs are administered by the City's Fire Department. When you submit the HMRRP documents it satisfies all of these requirements. The fee structure is in accordance with Resolution No. 8127 (CCS) which was adopted by the Santa Monica City Council on October 23, 1990. Based upon the chemical inventory, each business is placed into one of four classes. Each class has a fixed cost recovery fee. The fee is based on a classification which considers the following variables: - Number of employees - Number of hazardous materials - Number of extremely hazardous substances (EHS) - Size of the facility (square feet) - Aggregate quantity of chemical by physical state - gases (cubic feet) - solids (pounds) - liquids (gallons)
 
Reduction of the fee is most commonly achieved by reduction of the chemical inventory. The FY 07/08 fee structure is as follows:
 
Type 1: $126.00
Type 2: $253.00
Type 3: $488.00
Type 4: $675.00

3.  Hazardous Waste Generation and Onsite Treatment (Health & Safety Code Division 20, Chapter 6.5, Articles 1-13; California Code of Regulations Title 22, Division 4.5, Chapters 10-12, 20, 31) This program element is run by the Los Angeles County Health Hazardous Materials Department. It includes regulation, inspections, investigations and site remediations of businesses which generate and / or treat hazardous waste. Also the County implements the Tiered Permitting Program for limited waste treatment by qualifying businesses. The FY 08/09 hazardous waste generator fee groups are based on the number of employees as follows:

State of California Surcharge
(Health & Safety Code Division 20, Chapter 6.11, Section 25404.5 (b); California Code of Regulations Title 27, Division 27, Section 15210 and section 15240) In addition to the six Program Elements is the surcharge which is an annual cost-recovery fee for State oversight of the Unified Program. It is a fee to be paid by all Unified Program Facilities. For questions, please call the Environmental Programs Division at (310) 458-8711.

4.  Accidental Release Prevention (ARP)
This is a reporting and emergency planning program for businesses which handle extremely hazardous materials. Fees are determined on a case by case basis and are based on time and materials. The ARP was formerly known as the Risk Management Prevention Plan (RMPP) For questions, please call the Fire Department at (310) 434-2666.

5.  Aboveground Storage Tanks (AST)
(Municipal Code, Article 8, Building Regulations, Chapter 8.24) The AST Program is for tanks with a storage capacity of 10,000 gallons or greater. For questions, please call the Fire Department at (310) 434-2666.

6.  Underground Storage Tank (UST)
(Municipal Code, Article 8, Building Regulations, Chapter 8.24) The UST Program is administered by the Environmental Programs Division of the Department of Environment and Public Works Management.

The FY 08/09 fee structure is as follows: first tank $1,963.00, each additional tank $27.00, and an annual State surcharge of $15.00 per tank. *Facilities which have made five year advance payments for the State service charge will receive a non-refundable service charge credit to their accounts. For questions, please call the Environmental Programs Division at (310) 458-8227.

Additional CUPA Notes

Consolidated Permit

• Underground Storage Tank Permit: This permit was previously issued by the City's Environmental Programs Division
   
• Hazardous Waste Generator Permit: This permit was previously issued by the County's Fire Department - Health Hazardous Materials Division.
   
• Hazardous Waste Treatment Permit: This permit was previously issued by the State Department of Toxic Substances Control. It includes only the lowest three tiers in the classification. These are:
  PBR: Permit-By-Rule CA: Conditional Authorization CE: Conditional Exemption

Any business that handles threshold amounts of hazardous materials, generates any amount of hazardous waste, and/or plans to install, operate, or remove an underground storage tank is required to obtain a CUPA permit.  Please complete the permit application package that best reflects the activities of your business.

If you need further assistance with the CUPA permit application process, please complete the online “CUPA Business Activities Notification Form” and a CUPA representative will contact you.

CUPA Permit Applications:

●  Hazardous Materials Disclosure Application
●  Hazardous Waste Generator Application
●  Hazardous Materials Disclosure & Hazardous Waste Generators Application
●  Hazardous Materials Disclosure & Underground Storage Tank Application
●  Complete CUPA Application Package
●  Consolidated Contingency Plan  

The City of Santa Monica accepts versions of the CUPA application package distributed by the California Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and County of Los Angeles Health Hazardous Materials Division. 

Billing Information

A part of the State's requirements are that CUPA's send a single consolidated bill to businesses which are regulated under one or more CUPA Programs. Therefore, all businesses subject to the Unified Program will be sent one annual bill for all the applicable Unified Program Elements in July. There will be no fee increases associated with the City's certification, although the fees will continue to be adjusted every year according to the Consumer Price Index. The City is required to collect for the State an annual surcharge which is currently $24.00.  The City of Santa Monica CUPA administration for 08/09 is $498.00.  The administrative fee applies to all CUPA facilities.

 

PAYMENT OPTIONS

Option 1:  Pay-by-Mail
Return your payment in the yellow return envelope to the following: 

City of Santa Monica

CUPA Invoice

P.O. Box 2126

Santa Monica, CA  90407-2126

Option 2:  Pay-by-Phone
You can make your CUPA payment by phone by calling (310) 458-8224.  Please have your credit card number and CUPA billing account number ready when you call this number.

• 08/09 Due Date: September 12, 2008.
   
• Late payment penalty: 25% on the entire bill.
   
• No partial payments: Any outstanding balance after the due date is subject to the 25% late fee.
   
• No permits will be issued until the entire bill is paid, including any associated late fees.
   
• Enforcement: Non-payment can result in civil and criminal prosecution and revocation of all related permits, licenses, and other authorizations.
   
• Unresolved disputes: Disputed bills must be paid in full by the deadline. Appeals after the due date will be considered after payment has been made.
   
• Plan in advance: Because of the consolidation process, fees which had been distributed throughout the year will now be due together in a single, larger amount.

Questions & Disputes

For billing questions or disputes, please email the CUPA Program Manager or call the Environmental Programs Division at (310) 458-8711. This is the administering office for the Unified Program. Do not call the Utilities division with questions about your bill. Disputes should be addressed immediately. Even if a dispute is not resolved by September 1, the bill must be paid in full. Appeals of unresolved disputes will be considered after payment has been made. Partial payments will not be accepted.

CUPA Glossary

This page was last modified on 06/11/2008