Industrial Interface Update
by Taras Semeniuk

The Industrial Interface project was initiated in the spring of 2002 by Alderman Joe Ceci in response to incidents such as the Dura-Lite and Hub Oil fires. A task force headed by Mr. Wayne Brown of the Calgary Fire Department was formed to identify the issues related to the use and storage of potentially hazardous substances on industrial lands and recommend a plan of action to reduce the level of risk.
The project is now one step closer to a Hazardous Materials Bylaw. On April 7th, the Industrial Interface Project report was presented to Council and approved to go forward on the following recommendation:
"The preparation of a policy document to support the development of a Hazardous Substance Bylaw to require the reporting of data on hazardous substances stored and/or used within Calgary city limits."
This means the Industrial Interface Project task force will work on a policy document to be brought back to the Standing Policy Committee on Community and Protective Services in December 2003 for approval. The document will include hazardous substance threshold volumes and a detailed plan for implementation in early 2004.
A Hazardous Materials Bylaw will enhance the safety of citizens, emergency responders and industrial employees by mitigating the risk posed by the storage and use of hazardous substances in Calgary through the:
· upgrading of the preparedness of industrial occupancies by requiring the identification of all on-site hazardous substances;
· awareness of hazardous substances that are present at facilities and having that information available for emergency responders in the event of an incident;
· assistance in risk analysis critical to long-range planning related to life safety, fire safety, and environmental concerns;
· mitigation of risk and the perception of risk through the identification of hazardous substances; and
· development of a stronger understanding between the residential and industrial communities.
As well, preparations are being made to develop and implement a Residential/Industrial Interface Committee to manage the issues related to the storage and use of hazardous substances.