SIMI VALLEY : Hazardous Materials Measure Proposed

The Simi Valley City Council tentatively decided Monday to require businesses to prove that they are handling hazardous materials safely.

The proposed ordinance is designed to help the city prevent accidents connected with the manufacture, storage and disposal of hazardous chemicals, officials said.

“We want to make sure everyone is operating safely,” said Jocelyn Reed, deputy director of the city’s Department of Environmental Services. “We’re making sure nothing slips through the cracks.”

Under the ordinance, all businesses would be required to obtain “tenancy certificates” from the city, Reed said. To obtain a certificate, business operators would have to provide information about the types of materials manufactured and stored on their premises.

If those materials are considered hazardous, operators would be required to prove they are in compliance with all local and state safety regulations, Reed said.

Existing businesses that violate safety regulations or fail to provide the necessary information would be subject to fines and other penalties.

The City Council is expected to give final approval to the ordinance in the next few weeks.