Chemical accidents can occur at businesses of any size. Many small businesses handle ammonia, chlorine, and other chemicals that could pose a risk to the surrounding community if an accident were to occur. Section 112(r) of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments sets forth a series of requirements aimed at preventing and minimizing the consequences of accidental chemical releases. These requirements are the basis of a rule on "Risk Management Programs for Chemical Accidental Release Prevention" promulgated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on June 20, 1996.

The rule applies to public and private facilities that manufacture, process, use, store, or otherwise handle regulated substances at or above specified threshold quantities ranging from 500-20,000 pounds. EPA estimates that approximately 66,000 facilities nationwide will be regulated under the rule. Some of these facilities are large, while a great number are small- to medium-sized, such as propane distributors and users, drinking water chlorination plants, and ammonia refrigeration facilities.

The rule requires all regulated facilities to prepare and execute a risk management program with the following:

• A hazard assessment to determine the consequences of worst case and other accidental release scenarios on the public and the environment and a summary of the facility's five-year history of accidental releases.
• An accidental release prevention program designed to detect, prevent, and minimize accidental releases.
• An emergency response program designed to deal with any accidental release to protect human health and the environment.
• A risk management plan (RMP) that summarizes the facility's risk management program. This must be submitted to a central point to be designated by EPA. All RMPs will be made available to appropriate state and local agencies and the public.

The 1984 methyl isocyanate release in Bhopal, India, which killed over 2,000 people, and a subsequent chemical release in West Virginia, which hospitalized more than 100 people, increased the public's concern about the potential dangers of accidental releases of hazardous substances. As a result, the U.S. now has rules designed to prevent and protect people from accidental releases of hazardous compounds.

On June 20, 1986, EPA issued the Accidental Release Prevention Rule, as required by section 112(r) of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. This rule affects stationary sources ranging from chemical manufacturers and refineries to cold storage facilities and propane distributors. It requires owners or operators of affected facilities to evaluate the potential offsite hazards of accidental releases and develop and implement programs that prevent and minimize the consequences of these hazards.

The type and quantity of chemicals used, not the size of the company, determine whether an accidental release must be reported. Toxic and flammable chemicals ("regulated substances") covered by this regulation include materials that many small businesses commonly use and store. The rule lists 77 toxic compounds and 63 flammable compounds and explosives. The rule affects public and private stationary sources that manufacture, store, or use any of these compounds at or above applicable threshold quantities, which range from 500-20,000 pounds. Examples of regulated substances are chlorine in excess of 2,500 pounds and ammonia in quantities over 10,000 pounds.

Farmers who use ammonia as a nutrient are exempt, as are those who store or sell propane for use as a fuel. EPA has delisted propane and is proposing to delist explosives, exempt gasoline for internal combustion engines, crude oil, and field gas.

Compare the chemicals you use with EPA's complete list of regulated substances.       For guidance on applicability and threshold quantities, visit EPA's Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Web site.

Businesses that handle, use, or store any of these substances above a certain quantity are required to develop a risk management program, then prepare and submit a written summary of the program to EPA. The summary is referred to as a "Risk Management Plan" or RMP. EPA will make the RMP available through the Internet to the public and to state and local officials involved in planning for and responding to chemical emergencies in thr area. In this way, people who live nearby and police and firefighters are able to become aware of chemicals used by the business, potential hazards, and steps being taken to prevent accidents.

The rule requires applicable facilities to develop and implement safe business practices to identify hazards and manage risks. Businesses must analyze worst-case releases, document a five-year history of serious accidents, coordinate with local emergency responders, and file a risk management plan with EPA. If an accidental chemical release could affect the public, the business also must analyze realistic scenarios and develop and implement a prevention program that includes identification of hazards, written operating procedures, training, maintenance, and accident investigation. If facility employees respond to accidental releases, the business also must implement an emergency response program.

EPA encourages businesses that are covered by the rule to contact the Emergency Planning and RMP Hotline (1-800-424-9346) to review the specific requirements that apply to various sources.

 Good News: Many Businesses Already Do Some of This!

The good news is that many businesses already are complying with many of these requirements because they are part of normal safety operations. Following is a list of programs and activities that may be required if normal safety operations do not already include them:

• Employee training on operating procedures for equipment.
• Employee training on Material Safety Data Sheets to comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Hazard Communication Standard.
• Maintenance and inspection of equipment and processes.
• Documentation of equipment specifications.

Affected facilities must develop and implement risk management programs. Program requirements are process-specific and are divided into Programs 1, 2, and 3. Program 1 contains the fewest requirements, while Program 3 contains the most. Some facilities may have processes in more than one program. Programs 1 and 2 will affect most small businesses.

Owners or operators of affected facilities must complete an RMP that includes a risk management program summary and a registration form. One RMP copy was to be sent to EPA by June 20, 1999. After that date, an RMP must be submitted whenever a regulated compound is first determined to be present above the threshold quantity. EPA encourages facilities to use existing emergency response programs to meet rule requirements whenever possible.

EPA is responsible for receiving the RMPs, qualitatively reviewing them to make sure they are comprehensive and technically adequate, and making them available to states, local communities, and the public.

 Contacts

EPA Region 10

Lisa McArthur
Environmental Cleanup Office [ECL-116]
1200 Sixth Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101
ph: (206) 553-0383
fx: (206) 553-0175
email: mcarthur.lisa@epa.gov

Regional 24-Hour Emergency Response Number: (206) 553-1263

National Response Center: 1-800-424-8802

 Web Sites

EPA's Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Web Site with links to:

Risk Management Plans

Includes an overview of the federal Risk Management Program and information on preparing and submitting an RMP; industry-specific guidance; and regional, state, and tribal guidance.

Emergency Planning

Includes resources on applicable laws, compliance and reporting, guidance and resources, and chemical information.

Laws and Regulations

Includes information on the Clean Air Act 112(r), chemical safety, regulated chemicals, proposed rules, and other laws and regulations affecting chemical emergency preparedness and prevention.

Tools and Resources

Includes applicable databases and software, frequently asked questions and answers (FAQs), publications, and external links.

RMP Offsite Consequence Analysis Guidance

EPA pdf publication designed to help businesses compile hazard assessments without having to invest in computer modeling programs. EPA has developed standardized RMP forms to encourage facilities to submit RMPs electronically.

Download electronic RMP compliance tools.