Cleanup and Remediation service: Answering the Most Frequently Asked Questions

CHEMTREC’s Emergency Response Information service provides 24/7 access to our emergency response hotline. Customers can also choose to add our new Cleanup and Remediation service, launched this year. This service offers expert guidance and support for handling incidents involving small releases and Limited Quantity (LQ) hazardous materials, helping customers manage these inevitable but impactful situations with confidence. Our new offering accelerates the response, enabling quick initiation of cleanup and remediation efforts to reduce the impact of unintended releases.

We spoke with our Watch Supervisor, Philip Blashford, to address some common questions about the Cleanup and Remediation service. We hope these insights assist you in selecting the right partner for handling hazmat cleanup.

• Does CHEMTREC carry out the cleanup and remediation itself?
  No. This piece is completed by a trusted partner with nationwide reach and a proven track record of success.

   

• How does CHEMTREC vet their cleanup and remediation partners?
  All partners are evaluated for necessary skills, experience, and stability, and additionally, partners must be an American Chemistry Council Responsible Care (RC) Partner and commit to the RC program’s safety and sustainability standards.

   

• How long does a typical remediation project take?
  The duration of a remediation project varies depending on the extent of contamination and the specific remediation methods used. On average, projects can range from a few hours to a few days, weeks, or even several months.

   

• Do customers still receive incident reports from CHEMTREC?
  Yes, customers will still receive their initial incident report. If they choose to use CHEMTREC for cleanup and remediation, they would also receive a detailed closure report specific to what actions took place for cleanup and remediation.

   

• Will a cleanup and remediation team be dispatched without first notifying or getting approval from the customer?
  No, the customer will need to activate the cleanup.

   

• Why is California excluded?
  Based on the additional regulatory restrictions, CHEMTREC has chosen not to assist with cleanup and remediation incidents in California at this time.

   

• Who do the customers communicate with?
  Customers will communicate and receive project updates from CHEMTREC. If the customer prefers to speak directly to the partner or team on the ground, that too is possible.

   

• What about reporting to local, state, and federal agencies when needed?
  Our cleanup and remediation partner will handle local and state reporting. If the customer wishes to add federal, such as 5800.1, please request a quote for our Incident Reporting service.

   

• How does CHEMTREC pre-qualify contractors?
  CHEMTREC’s cleanup and remediation partner has a database that covers approximately 1,500 active and trusted contractors throughout the United States. Contractors and rate sheets are reviewed and negotiated in advance of an emergency.

   

• What does a cleanup and remediation report include?
  The report may vary slightly depending on the incident, but generally, the reports include background, emergency response, regulatory notifications, corrective actions, waste disposal, conclusions, and attachments (i.e., photos, etc.).

   

• What will the invoice include, following an incident?
  An invoice will be shared along with the final report, categorizing tasks with time and materials spent, with hourly rates scaled to tasks.

   

• I noticed that the offering covers small releases under 55 gallons only. What if a spill exceeds this amount?
  The 55-gallon release guardrail is based on the total amount of product released and not the container size. So, if a 330-gallon tote spilled 40 gallons, it would be within CHEMTREC’s ability to respond. But if 20 five-gallon pails spilled all 100 gallons in total, it would be outside of the guardrails. In this case, we would let the customer know, and they could choose for us to connect them with additional partners able to assist.

   

• How much does it cost to add Cleanup and Remediation to our current Emergency Response Information contract?
  $100 annually if enrolled prior to a spill occurring. Expedited requests, after a spill has occurred, require a one-time $500.00 set-up fee and then the annual $100 subscription fee in following years.

   

• How do I sign up for Cleanup and Remediation?
  In order to purchase cleanup, registrants must have CHEMTREC’s emergency response phone number service first. You can register online at https://secure.chemtrec.com/Security/Create-New-Company-Account or request a quote at https://www.chemtrec.com/request-quote.

   

• If I have additional questions, who should I contact?
  Please reach out to our sales team at sales@chemtrec.com.

   

In conclusion, our Q&A with Philip Blashford highlights the importance of our new Cleanup and Remediation service in responding to hazardous material incidents, especially those involving small releases and Limited Quantity (LQ) materials. By adding this service, customers gain not only timely support but also the expertise needed to minimize the impact of such incidents. We hope this information helps you make an informed decision when choosing a partner for effective and efficient hazmat cleanup. At CHEMTREC, we’re committed to providing reliable, round-the-clock assistance to help enhance safety and swift resolution in emergencies.