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PA EPA FINALIZES REG. FOR CHEMICAL RELEASE MGMT. PLANNING

Release Date: 06/07/96
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PA EPA FINALIZES REG. FOR CHEMICAL RELEASE MGMT. PLANNING

FOR RELEASE: FRIDAY, JUNE 7, 1996

EPA FINALIZES REGULATIONS FOR CHEMICAL RELEASE MANAGEMENT PLANNING

EPA has announced a final regulation requiring risk management planning to help prevent accidental releases of hazardous chemicals. The rule, issued under the authority of the 1990 Clean Air Act (CAA), is intended to prevent serious chemical accidents that have the potential to affect public health and the environment. The risk management planning requirements of CAA, section 112(r), complement and support the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 by making information available to the public on chemical risk and ways to reduce it. These new risk management planning requirements will affect facilities that produce, handle, process, distribute or store certain chemicals. The universe of facilities covered by this rule includes: chemical manufacturers; other manufacturers; certain wholesalers and retailers; drinking water systems; wastewater treatment works; ammonia refrigeration systems; utilities and federal facilities. Any facility with more than a threshold quantity of a listed "regulated substance" in single process must comply with the regulation. These substances and their threshold levels were published in the Federal Register on Jan. 31, 1994. This list included 139 regulated substances. EPA proposed modifications to the final list on April 15, which would exclude facilities handling explosives, exploration/production facilities for oil and gas and gasoline. EPA estimates that 66,000 facilities will be covered by this rule. Facilities have three years from date of publication in the Federal Register to come into compliance with these new regulations. For more information, contact the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Hotline at 1-800-424-9346 or 703-412-9810. Copies of the regulation can also be obtained via the INTERNET at https://www.epa.gov/swercepp.

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