2022 Colorado Code
Title 29 - Government - Local
Article 22 - Hazardous Substance Incidents
§ 29-22-102. Hazardous Substance Incidents - Response Authorities - Designation - Definition

1. It is the purpose of this section to provide for the designation of emergency response authorities for hazardous substance incidents. Every emergency response authority designated in or pursuant to this section is responsible for providing and maintaining the capability for emergency response to a hazardous substance incident occurring within its jurisdiction. An emergency response authority may provide and maintain the capability for such response directly or through mutual aid or other agreements, including an agreement with a private entity to support the emergency response authority, responding fire departments, or other government agencies. Subject to the provisions of local or regional response agreements for hazardous substance incidents, the first emergency response authority, or its public agency designee through mutual aid or otherwise, to arrive at the scene of the incident, regardless of whether the incident occurs within its jurisdiction, is responsible for the emergency response as incident commander until such time as the emergency response authority that has jurisdiction over the incident site has arrived, after which unified command shall be followed until the emergency response has concluded. As used in this section, "emergency response to a hazardous substance incident" means taking the initial emergency action necessary to minimize the effects or threat of adverse effects of a hazardous substance incident on human health or the environment.
2. If a hazardous substance incident occurs on private property and is otherwise reportable to any federal, state, or local agency, the owner of the property or person or entity operating on the property shall promptly report the incident to and coordinate a response with the appropriate emergency response authority designated in or pursuant to this section. If the owner or operator does not undertake or coordinate an emergency response or if, in the judgment of the designated emergency response authority, there exists an imminent danger to human health or the environment beyond such property, the designated emergency response authority may undertake the emergency response to such hazardous substance incident, as provided in this section. Nothing in this subsection (2) shall be construed to prohibit the owner of private property or a person or entity operating on such property from undertaking the emergency response to a hazardous substance incident occurring on the property.
3. 1. The governing body of every town, city, and city and county shall designate by ordinance or resolution an emergency response authority or authorities for hazardous substance incidents occurring within the corporate limits of such town, city, and city and county. The governing body shall annually report the designation to the hazardous materials section of the Colorado state patrol. Unless otherwise designated by ordinance or resolution, the fire authority responsible for the area within the corporate limits of such town, city, or city and county is the designated emergency response authority.
   2. The board of county commissioners of every county in the state shall designate by ordinance or resolution the emergency response authority or authorities for hazardous substance incidents occurring within the unincorporated area of the county. The board shall annually report the designation to the hazardous materials section of the Colorado state patrol. Unless otherwise designated by ordinance or resolution, the county sheriff responsible for the unincorporated area of the county is the designated emergency response authority.
   3. (Deleted by amendment, L. 99, p. 432 ,  1, effective April 30, 1999.)

4. (Deleted by amendment, L. 99, p. 432 , § 1, effective April 30, 1999.)
5. 1. For the purposes of this section, if a hazardous substance incident occurs on any federal, state, or county highway located outside of municipal city limits, the Colorado state patrol shall be the emergency response authority for such hazardous substance incident.
   2. The Colorado state patrol may delegate such authority to the emergency response authority designated pursuant to subsection (3) of this section or to any public entity capable of performing the emergency response to a hazardous substance incident upon approval of the governing body of the entity receiving authority under such delegation.
   3. In performing its duties under this subsection (5), the Colorado state patrol shall, when practicable, locate its emergency response resources based upon its assessment of the hazardous substances emergency response needs of the different geographic areas of the state.
   4. The Colorado state patrol shall actively coordinate its emergency response capabilities and plans with local emergency response agencies.

6. Each governing body identified in subsection (3) of this section and the Colorado state patrol shall, as necessary, exercise continuing supervisory authority in consultation with other federal, state, and local agencies having regulatory jurisdiction for the cleanup and removal of the hazardous substance involved in an incident.

Source: L. 83: Entire article R&RE, p. 1217, § 1, effective July 1. L. 99: Entire section amended, p. 432, § 1, effective April 30. L. 2016: (1), (2), and (3) amended, (HB 16-1046), ch. 60, p. 157, § 1, effective March 31.

Editor's note: This section is similar to former § 29-22-102 as it existed prior to 1983.