(A) The Fire Chief of the jurisdiction in which such release or threatened release is located shall have primary authority for taking remedial or removal actions necessary to control or contain such release or threatened release and to assure the protection of human health, property and the environment. The role of the responding Hazardous Materials Response Team (hereinafter called "HMRT") is to give technical advice and assistance to the Fire Chief. The HMRT shall not direct the emergency response unless requested to do so by the Fire Chief or his authorized representative.
(B) The HMRT or the Fire Chief shall immediately report any release or threatened release that meets or exceeds the level of IDLH (Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health) to the Mayor of the City of Richmond. If in the opinion of the Mayor, the seriousness of the situation warrants, the Mayor shall declare the existence of a state of emergency in the jurisdiction, and thereafter, the response authority provided by this section shall then be vested in the Mayor. In such event, the Mayor may authorize the HMRT, the Fire Chief, or other appropriate person to exercise all or part of the response authority provided by this section until further notice.
(C) All local emergency response personnel shall cooperate with and operate under the direction of the Mayor of the jurisdiction, the Fire Chief, or other person then exercising response authority under this section until such time as the person then exercising response authority has determined that the response is complete, or responsibility for response has been assumed by the state or federal agency having primary jurisdiction over such release or threatened release.
(D) The person exercising response authority under this section shall coordinate and/or cooperate with other federal, state or local public health, safety and emergency agencies involved in the response to a release or threatened release of hazardous materials.
(E) The person exercising response authority under this section may, with the approval of the executive authority of the jurisdiction, obtain vital supplies, equipment, services and other properties needed for the protection of human health, property and the environment and obligates the jurisdiction for the fair value thereof.
(Ord. 00-38, passed 10-3-00)