San Bernardino County Fire Department
Hazardous Materials Division
Investigations and Enforcement Program
620 South "E" Street
San Bernardino, CA 92415-0153
Joe Ashbaker, Supervisor
Phone:  909.386.8430
Fax:  909.386.8460
 

The Hazardous Materials Division of the San Bernardino County Fire Department takes a balanced approach of effective enforcement procedures to minimize the potential risk to human health and the environment, and to establish an atmosphere to promote fair business practices throughout the County. 

Enforcement activities are an unfortunate but integral part of the San Bernardino County CUPA, Emergency Response, and Site Remediation programs.  While the ultimate goal of the Division is to help the regulated community achieve compliance, enforcement actions are sometimes necessary. 

It is the objective of the Hazardous Materials Division to implement enforcement actions to accomplish the following goals:

1. Ensure that violations are brought into compliance expediently and effectively.

2. Ensure that similar violators are treated uniformly.

3. Penalize violators to deter repeat violations.

4. Penalize violators to deprive them of any significant benefit or unfair business advantage gained from non-compliance.
    

An Investigations and Enforcement Program (IEP) has been established in the Hazardous Materials Division.  The IEP is responsible for facilitating the review and processing of all enforcement actions. The responsibilities of the IEP also include administrative, civil and criminal investigations.

The IEP facilitates all enforcement actions that involve Administrative Settlement Agreements or Administrative Enforcement Orders (AEOs).  The IEP also facilitates all enforcement actions that involve civil and criminal prosecutions through County Counsel or the District Attorney's office.  The IEP is responsible for monitoring the disposition of these actions, including compliance and payment of restitution and/or penalties.