In any emergency situation relating to the prevention of an imminent release of a hazardous material, to the cleanup or disposal of a hazardous material that has been released, or to the related mitigation of the effects of a release of a hazardous material, the chief of the fire department in whose jurisdiction the emergency situation is occurring or his designee is responsible for primary coordination of the on-scene activities of all agencies of the state, the United States government, and political subdivisions that are responding to the emergency situation until the chief relinquishes that responsibility to a representative of one of the responding public agencies and so notifies that representative.

As used in this section, “hazardous material” means any material that is designated as such under the “Hazardous Materials Transportation Act,” 88 Stat. 2156 (1975), 49 U.S.C.A. 1801, as amended, and regulations adopted under it.