EPCRA (Emergency Planning and
Community Right to Know Act)
a k a SARA Title III
Henry T. Hudson, Environmental Engineer
404-562-9188
hudson.henry@epamail.epa.gov
1
Why EPCRA?
Key hazardous chemical releases
Bhopal, India (1984)
Institute, West Virginia (1985)
Increased public concern
Worker right-to-know laws
OSHA Hazard Communication Standard
(HAZCOM)
State right-to-know laws
2
EPCRA Overview
Purpose of Emergency Planning
Protect public health and safety, and the
environment
Integrate with local emergency planning
efforts
Purpose of Community Right-to-Know
3
EPCRA Overview (continued)
Support and focus state and local planning
activities
Increase community awareness of chemical
hazards
Support chemical accident and pollution
prevention initiatives
4
Three EPCRA Subtitles
EMERGENCY PLANNING AND COMMUNITY
RIGHT-TO-KNOW ACT OF 1986
Title III of SARA (Superfund Amendments
Reauthorization Act) is made up of three
principal subtitles:
Subtitle A - Emergency Planning and Notification
Subtitle B - Reporting Requirements
Subtitle C - General Provisions
5
EPCRA Overview
Summary Chart of EPCRA Requirements
COVERAGE/ RELEVANT
SECTION TOPIC REQUIREMENT CHEMICAL LIST THRESHOLDS SUBMIT TO:
for RY 1998 (as of January 1, 1999) 356 Extremely Specified Threshold
Emergency LEPC Emergency Plan, SERC*
301-303 Hazardous Planning Quantities
Planning EHS Notificatioin LEPC
Substances (TPQ: 1 - 10,000 #)
EHS and
Emergency Accidental Release Specified Reportable SERC*
304 CERCLA102(a)
Notification Reporting Quantities LEPC
Substances
SERC*
Hazardous OSHA Hazardous 10,000 #; or, if EHS,
MSDSs or List of LEPC
311 Chemical Chemicals 500 #, or TPQ -
Chemicals Local Fire
Inventory (No Specfic List) whichever is lower
Dept.
SERC*
Hazardous Inventories, Hazards, and OSHA Hazardous 10,000 #; or, if EHS,
LEPC
312 Chemical Locations Chemicals 500 #, or TPQ -
Local Fire
Inventory (Tier I or II) (No Specfic List) whichever is lower
Dept.
Total Annual Release,
Toxic Chemical Over 600 Toxic 25,000 # manufactured
Waste Management, & EPA
313 Release Chemicals and or processed; 10,000 #
Source Reduction Data - State
Reporting Chemical Categories otherwise used
PPA (Form R)
Summary Chart of EPCRA Requirements (as of January 1, 1999)
6
EPCRA
Sections 301-303
Emergency Planning
7
Emergency Planning Requirements
(EPCRA Sections 301-303)
Section 301: Establish State Emergency Response
Commissions (SERCs), designate local
emergency planning districts, and
appoint Local Emergency Planning
Committees (LEPCs for each district)
Section 302: Designate extremely hazardous
substances (EHSs) and threshold
planning quantities and notification
requirements for covered facilities.
Section 303: Develop local emergency response
plans
8
Emergency Planning
Infrastructure
How state and local emergency planning
infrastructure is established
Governor designates state emergency response
commission (SERC) and SERC membership; or
Tribal Chief executive officer designates tribal
emergency response commission (TERC)
SERC designates local emergency planning
districts within state
9
Emergency Planning
Infrastructure (continued)
SERC appoints members of local emergency
planning committee (LEPC) for each planning
district
Membership includes industry, police department,
fire department, elected officials, and the general
public
10
Extremely Hazardous Substances
(EPCRA Section 302)
Selection criteria are based on acute lethal
toxicity
356 chemicals initially designated as EHSs
Overlap with 138 chemicals with CERCLA
hazardous substances
EPA can revise the list by adding or
deleting
Substances identified in 40 CFR part 355
11
Facility Notification Requirements
(EPCRA Section 302)
Facilities subject to emergency planning
requirements
Any facility (e.g., warehouses, manufacturers)
that:
Has a quantity of EHS present at any one time that
meets or exceeds specified threshold planning
quantity (TPQ)
or
Is designated for participation by SERC
12
Emergency Planning Requirements
(EPCRA Sections 302-303)
Planning Notification
Notify SERC or TERC and LEPC
Designate facility emergency coordinator
Supply LEPC with planning information, as
requested
Coordinate emergency response planning with
community
13
Commonly Used Chemicals
CHEMICAL EHS (TPQ) RQ
NAME
Formaldehyde CAS 50-00-0 500 lbs 100 lbs
Nicotine CAS 54-11-5 100 lbs 100 lbs
Parathion CAS 56-38-2 100 lbs 10 lbs
Cyclohexane CAS 58-89-9 1000/10,000 lbs 1 lbs
Chloroform CAS 67-66-3 10,000 lbs 10 lbs
Phenol CAS 108-95-2 500/10,000 lbs 1000 lbs
Sodium Cyanide CAS 143-33-9 100 lbs 10 lbs
Potassium Cyanide CAS 151-50-8 100 lbs 10 lbs
Mercuric acetate CAS 1600-27-7 500/10,000 lbs 500 lbs
14
Commonly Used Chemicals
(continued)
CHEMICAL EHS (TPQ) RQ
NAME
Sulfur dioxide CAS 7446-09-5 500 lbs 500 lbs
Sulfur trioxide CAS 7446-11-9 100 lbs 100 lbs
Lithium hydride CAS 7580-67-8 100 lbs 100 lbs
Hydrofluoric acid CAS 7664-39-3 100 lbs 100 lbs
Hydrogen fluoride CAS 7664-39-3
Nitric acid CAS 7697-37-2 1,000 lbs 1000 lbs
Phosphorus (yellow CAS 7723-14-0 100 lbs 1 lbs
or white)
Bromine CAS 7726 -95-6 500 lbs 500 lbs
15
Commonly Used Chemicals
(continued)
CHEMICAL EHS (TPQ) RQ
NAME
Chlorine CAS 7782-50-5 100 lbs 10 lbs
Chromic chloride CAS 10025-73-7 1/10,000 lbs 1 lbs
Ozone CAS 10028-15-6 100 lbs 100 lbs
Sodium azide CAS 26628-22-8 500 lbs 1000 lbs
16
EPCRA Section 304
Emergency Release Notification
17
Emergency Release Notification
Releases of EHSs (40 CFR 355) or
Hazardous Substances (40 CFR 302.4) in a
reportable quantity (RQ)
RQ set by US EPA through rulemaking
If RQ not set by EPA, statutory RQ of one
pound applies
RQ is specified quantity released within a
rolling 24-hour period
18
Regulated Substances
Section 313
Chemicals
(Over 600)
228
CERCLA 79 21
Hazardous Substances
(739) 59
EHSs
(356)
19
Emergency Release Notification
Initial immediate notification (via telephone,
radio, or in person)
For EPCRA Section 304 chemicals & CERCLA
Section 103 chemicals, notify:
SERCs/TERCs of any state or Tribe likely to be
affected by release
Emergency Coordinators for LEPCs of any area
likely to by affected by release
For CERCLA Section 103 chemicals only,
notify National Response Center (NRC)
20
Emergency Release Notification
(continued)
Reduced reporting for continuous releases
Initial notification to the SERC, LEPC, and/or
NRC
Initial written follow-up to SERC, LEPC, and/or
EPA regional offices
One-time written follow-up report to EPA regional
office one year later (for CERCLA hazardous
substances only)
Subsequent notification of any statistically
significant increases or other changes in the release
21
Emergency Release Notification
(continued)
Follow-up written notifications required for non-
transportation related releases
Releases that are "continuous" and "stable in
quantity and rate"
Continuous
Occurs without interruption or abatement; or
Is routine, anticipated, intermittent, and incidental to normal
operation or treatment processes
"Stable in quantity and rate"
Is predictable and regular in amount and rate of
emission
22
Emergency Release Notification
(continued)
Continuous releases exclude:
Accidents
System upsets and malfunctions
Statistically predicted upsets
23
Emergency Release Notification
CERCLA Section 103 EPCRA Section 304
CERCLA Hazardous
Substances (40 CFR 302.4)
CERCLA Hazardous
Chemicals Covered
Substances (40 CFR 302.4)
EPCRA Section 302 EHS
(Appendix A to 40 CFR 355)
Any potential release with
Any release into the
Releases Covered potential for exposure to
environemnt
persons off-site
LEPC(s)
Notification Requirements NRC SERC(s)
TERC(s)
CERCLA Section 103 versus EPCRA Section 304
24
Commonly Used Chemicals
CHEMICAL EHS (TPQ) RQ
NAME
Formaldehyde CAS 50-00-0 500 lbs 100 lbs
Nicotine CAS 54-11-5 100 lbs 100 lbs
Parathion CAS 56-38-2 100 lbs 10 lbs
Cyclohexane CAS 58-89-9 1000/10,000 lbs 1 lbs
Chloroform CAS 67-66-3 10,000 lbs 10 lbs
Phenol CAS 108-95-2 500/10,000 lbs 1000 lbs
Sodium Cyanide CAS 143-33-9 100 lbs 10 lbs
Potassium Cyanide CAS 151-50-8 100 lbs 10 lbs
Mercuric acetate CAS 1600-27-7 500/10,000 lbs 500 lbs
25
Commonly Used Chemicals
(continued)
CHEMICAL EHS (TPQ) RQ
NAME
Sulfur dioxide CAS 7446-09-5 500 lbs 500 lbs
Sulfur trioxide CAS 7446-11-9 100 lbs 100 lbs
Lithium hydride CAS 7580-67-8 100 lbs 100 lbs
Hydrofluoric acid CAS 7664-39-3 100 lbs 100 lbs
Hydrogen fluoride CAS 7664-39-3
Nitric acid CAS 7697-37-2 1,000 lbs 1000 lbs
Phosphorus (yellow CAS 7723-14-0 100 lbs 1 lbs
or white)
Bromine CAS 7726 -95-6 500 lbs 500 lbs
26
Commonly Used Chemicals
(continued)
CHEMICAL EHS (TPQ) RQ
NAME
Chlorine CAS 7782-50-5 100 lbs 10 lbs
Chromic chloride CAS 10025-73-7 1/10,000 lbs 1 lbs
Ozone CAS 10028-15-6 100 lbs 100 lbs
Sodium azide CAS 26628-22-8 500 lbs 1000 lbs
Benzene CAS 71-43-2 10 lbs
Ethyl Acrylate CAS 140-88-5 1000 lbs
Xylene(mixed CAS 1330-20-7 100 lbs
isomers)
Mercury CAS 7439-97-6 1 lbs
27
EPCRA
Sections 311-312
Hazardous Chemical Inventory Reporting
28
EPCRA Sections 311-312
Chemical inventory reporting
Section 311 - Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs)
Section 312 - Tier II forms
Regulated facilities
Facilities subject to OSHA's HAZCOM (29 CFR
1910.1200)
No specific list of hazardous chemicals
HAZCOM applies to broad categories of chemicals,
including any chemical that poses a physical or health
hazard
29
EPCRA Sections 311-312
Regulated chemicals and reporting
thresholds
500 # or TPQ, whichever is less, for EHS
(include any EHS in a mixture)
10,000 # for other OSHA hazardous chemicals
Maximum quantity on-site at any one time
Most aggregate EHS quantities present in raw
materials and all mixtures
30
EPCRA Sections 311-312
Submit sections 311 and 312 information to:
SERC or TERC
LEPC
Local fire department
31
EPCRA Sections 311-312
Reporting for Mixtures
Report on mixtures as a whole or by hazardous
components
Choose either reporting method
Maintain consistent method for reporting under
EPCRA Sections 311 and 312
32
MSDS Reporting
(EPCRA Section 311)
Section 311 reporting requirements
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs); or
List of hazardous chemicals grouped by EPA's
five physical and health hazard categories:
Fire
Sudden release of pressure
Reactivity
Immediate (acute)
Delayed (chronic)
33
MSDS Reporting
(EPCRA Section 311)
Submit original list or copies of MSDSs
within 90 days of exceeding reporting
thresholds
Update submission within 90 days of
obtaining significant new information
34
Tier II Reporting
(EPCRA Section 312)
Section 312 reporting requirements
Report chemical-specific information on Tier II
form
Submit reports annually on or before March 1
for previous calendar year's activities
35
EPCRA Sections 311-312
States may require facilities to:
Submit Tier II form
Submit state reporting forms
Report lists of hazardous chemicals
Report exact quantities
Provide additional information (e.g., UN registry
number)
States may set lower reporting thresholds
States may have a fee system
36
EPCRA Sections 311-312
Public availability of inventory information
EPCRA Sections 311 and 312 information
available to the general public upon request
from SERC/TERC or LEPC
General public has the right to request, through
the SERC/TERC or LEPC, additional
information
37
311 & 312 Reporting Thresholds
For Extremely Hazardous Substances (EHSs)
designated under Section 302 of Title III, the
reporting threshold is 500 pounds (or 227 kg)
or the threshold planning quantity (TPQ),
whichever is lower.
For all other hazardous chemicals for which
facilities are required to have or prepare an
MSDS, the minimum reporting threshold is
10,000 pounds (or 4.450 kg).
38
Reporting on Mixtures
Reports on mixtures or hazardous
components should:
Provide the required information on each
component of a mixture which is a hazardous
chemical by calculating the quantity of each
hazardous chemical in the mixture; or
Provide the required information on the mixture
itself by reporting on the total quantity of the
mixture.
39
EPCRA SECTION 313
EPCRA SECTION 313
TOXIC CHEMICAL RELEASE
INVENTORY (TRI)
40
TRI: THREE POINTS TO ID
THOSE WHO MUST REPORT
Point No. 1 of 3 - SIC Codes
Private-sector facilities in the following SIC codes:
- 20 through 39,
- 10 (except 1011, 1081, and 1094),
- 12(except 1241),
- 4911, 4931, 4939 (limited to facilities that combust coal
and/or oil for the purpose of generating power for
distribution in commerce),
- 4953 (limited to facilities regulated under RCRA
Subtitle C),
- 5169, 5171, 7389 (limited to facilities primarily engaged in
solvent recovery services on a contract fee basis); AND
41
TRI: THREE POINTS TO ID
THOSE WHO MUST REPORT
Point No. 2 of 3 ?No. of Employees
Those with 10 or more full time employees
(equivalent of 20,000 hours per year); AND
Point No. 3 of 3 ?Exceeding Threshold Amounts
Those that exceed threshold amounts for
manufacturing, or processing, or otherwise
using listed chemicals in a given year.
42
THRESHOLD AMOUNTS THAT TRIGGER
TRI REPORTING (EPCRA SECTION 313)
For a Section 313 chemical, a facility meeting all
other criteria must file a Form R report for that
chemical if the facility:
Manufactured (including imported) more than
25,000 pounds per year, or
Processed more than 25,000 pounds per year, or
Otherwise used more than 10,000 pounds per
year (this includes amounts imported)
43
INTERDEPENDENCE OF CHEMICAL LISTS
IN SARA TITLE III (EPCRA)
CERCLA 102(a) SARA Section 302
(SUPERFUND) Extremely
Hazardous Hazardous
Substances Substances - 360
Section 313 Toxic
Chemicals - 317
WHITE CIRCLE: SARA 311-312
Hazardous per OSHA HCS - -
Over 500,000 Substances
44
Title III List of Lists
SAMPLE OF LAYOUT
Section 304
Cas Sec. 302(EHS) EHS CERCLA CAA 112R Sec RCRA
Number Chemical Name TPQ RQ RQ TQ 313 Code
74-90-8 Hydrocyanic acid 100 10 10 2500 x P063
74-95-3 Methyl bromide 1000 313 U068
74-98-6 Propane 10000
45
United States Environmental
Protection Agency ?Region 4
Emergency Planning and Community
Right-to-Know Act
(EPCRA)
46
What is EPCRA
The EMERGENCY PLANNING and
COMMUNITY RIGHT-TO-KNOW ACT
(EPCRA) was enacted in 1986 in response to
accidental chemical releases in Bhopal, India
(1984) and Institute, West Virginia (1985).
47
What is EPCRA (cont'd)
Established requirements for the
identification and reporting of hazardous
chemicals within the community.
Established requirements for state and local
emergency planning.
Established requirements for chemical
release reporting.
48
Components of EPCRA
Emergency Planning (Section 302)
Release Notification (Section 304)
Hazardous Chemical Inventory Reporting
(Sections 311-312) (Tier I or Tier II)
Toxic Chemical Release Inventory (Section
313) (TRI)
49
EPCRA Organizations/Roles
USEPA Region 4 EPCRA Section
SERC (State Emergency Response
Commission)
LEPC (Local Emergency Planning
Committee) usually at county-level
50
USEPA R-4 Role in EPCRA
The R-4 EPCRA Enforcement Section
monitors and enforces EPCRA
requirements within the eight state Region
Inspections and Compliance Assistance
Release Investigations
EPCRA Violation Enforcement Actions
CAMEO Training
51
State Emergency Response
Commission (SERC) Role
Designates local emergency planning
districts (NC has three regional offices plus
the county-level LEPCs)
Supervises/coordinates LEPC activities
Receives
Tier II and TRI chemical inventories
Receives Emergency Release Notifications
52
Local Emergency Planning
Committee (LEPC) Role
The LEPC is your local resource for
chemical right-to-know.
Maintains emergency response plans.
Maintains copies of chemical inventories.
Maintains MSDSs or list of hazardous
chemicals in the inventories.
Consists of representatives of facilities subject
to emergency planning and notification
requirements.
53
Most Common Healthcare
Industry EPCRA Violations*
Failure to report accidental chemical
releases to local authorities (LEPC and Fire
Department) (CERCLA 103 and EPCRA
304)
Failure to report hazardous chemicals
inventory to LEPC and SERC (EPCRA 302,
311 and 312)
*EPA Office of Compliance Sector Notebook Project, Profile of the Healthcare
Industry, Chapters I, II and III. February 2005. EPA/310-R-05-002.
54
What If I Have A Release?
Release contained within property?
EHS only chemical > No formal notification
EHS and/or CERCLA chemical > Notify National
Response Center (NRC) at 1-800-424-8802
Release leaves property?
EHS only > Immediate report and follow-up to SERC
& LEPC
CERCLA only > Immediate report to SERC, LEPC
and NRC and follow-up to SERC & LEPC
EHS and CERCLA > Immediate report to SERC, LEPC
and NRC and follow-up to SERC & LEPC
55
Do I Need To Report My
Chemical Inventory?
If chemicals in inventory have MSDS and:
More than 10,000 lbs for non-EHS chemicals;
More than the TPQ or 500 lbs (whichever is
less) for EHS chemicals; and,
Threshold met at any one time during the year
56
How Do I Report My
Inventory?
Initial report:
Emergency planning notification letter
One time notification
Notify SERC and LEPC
Tier I or II report:
Annually to SERC and LEPC
Information:
http://www.ncem.org/SERC/downloads.htm
57
EPCRA Contacts
National response Center (800) 424-8802
USEPA Region 4 (800) 241-1754, or
USEPA Region 4 EPCRA Section
http://www.epa.gov/region4/air/epcra/
NC SERC
http://www.ncem.org/sercmenu.htm
58
USEPA R-4 CONTACTS
US EPA Region 4 General Information
61 Forsyth Street (800)241-1754
Atlanta, Georgia 30303 (404)562-9900
US EPA Region 4 EPCRA Enforcement Section
Caron Falconer Section Chief (404)562-8451
Robert Bookman Program Manager (4040562-9169
Erika White Alabama (404)562-9195
Bryce Covington Florida (404)562-9192
Henry Hudson Georgia (404)562-9188
Charles Combs Kentucky (404)562-9179
Lawrence Fincher Mississippi (404)562-9190
Vinson Poole North Carolina (404)562-9186
Jyoti Bhushan South Carolina (404)562-9182
Andrew Porter Tennessee (404)562-9184
Email: lastname.firstname@epa.gov
59
Selected References
40 CFR Subchapter J, Parts 302, 355, 370 and
372 available at:
http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-
idx?sid=401d1fa5a85e820674e669b8a3edf23b&c=ecfr&tpl
=/ecfrbrowse/Title40/40cfrv27_02.tpl
CAMEO Chemical Library
CAMEO Chemicals
Tier II Submit
http://yosemite.epa.gov/oswer/ceppoweb.nsf/content/tier2.h
tm
Healthcare Sector Notebook
http://www.hercenter.org/links/
60
What & Where To Submit
COVERAGE/ RELEVANT
SECTION TOPIC REQUIREMENT CHEMICAL LIST THRESHOLDS SUBMIT TO:
356 Extremely Specified Threshold
Emergency LEPC Emergency Plan, SERC
301-303 Hazardous Planning Quantities
Planning EHS Notification LEPC
Substances (TPQ: 1 - 10,000 lb.)
CERCLA CERCLA102(a) NRC*
Emergency Accidental Release Specified Reportable
103* / Substances* and SERC
Notification Reporting Quantities
EPCRA 304 EHSs LEPC
SERC
Hazardous OSHA Hazardous 10,000 lb.; or, if EHS,
MSDSs or List of LEPC
311 Chemical Chemicals 500 lb., or TPQ -
Chemicals Local Fire
Inventory (No Specfic List) whichever is lower
Dept.
SERC
Hazardous Inventories, Hazards, and OSHA Hazardous 10,000 lb.; or, if EHS,
LEPC
312 Chemical Locations Chemicals 500 lb., or TPQ -
Local Fire
Inventory (Tier I or II) (No Specfic List) whichever is lower
Dept.
25,000 lb.
Total Annual Release,
Toxic Chemical Over 600 Toxic manufactured or
Waste Management, & EPAReg. Office
313 Release Chemicals and processed; 10,000 lb.
Source Reduction Data - State
Reporting Chemical Categories otherwise used; PbT
PPA (Form R / FORM A)
Thresholds
61
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