Also known as Title III of SARA, EPCRA was enacted by Congress as the national legislation on community safety. This law was designated to help local communities protect public health, safety, and the environment from chemical hazards.

EPA has an interpretive statement in response to questions raised about Clean Water Act (CWA) permitting requirements for the application of pesticides to or over the nation's waters. The statement reflects EPA’s belief that a CWA permit is not required where application of a particular pesticide to or over water is consistent with requirements under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). However, EPA is reinforcing for local officials, resource managers, agricultural producers, and other pesticide users the importance of applying pesticides in accordance with their label directions.

Questions submitted to the EPA about EPCRA and their answers. These are up-to-date as of August 2005.

Federal Acquisition and Community Right-to-Know
8 Aug 1995 and revoked by EO 13148
This EO requires Federal agencies, to the greatest extent practicable, to contract for supplies and services with companies that report publicly on the toxic chemicals they release into the environment.

Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management
24 January 2007
Executive Order 13423 "Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management", signed by President Bush on January 24, 2007. The order sets goals in the areas of energy efficiency, acquisition, renewable energy, toxics reductions, recycling, renewable energy, sustainable buildings, electronics stewardship, fleets, and water conservation. In addition the order requires more widespread use of Environmental Management Systems as the framework in which to manage and continually improve these sustainable practices.

A database that will allow any user to search for RCRA information from a comprehensive set of FAQs or submit their own question or comment on a variety of RCRA issues and topics.

This database is designed to enable users to locate documents, including publications, OSW memos, and other outreach materials, that cover a wide range of RCRA issues and topics.

Signed on August 10, 2005 SAFETEA-LU authorizes the Federal surface transportation programs for highways, highway safety, and transit for the 5-yr period 2005-2009.

Issued on December 2, 2005, the guidance document is intended to assist regional inspectors in reviewing a facility's implementation of the Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule at 40 CFR part 112 and understanding the rule's applicability, and to help clarify the role of the inspector in the review and evaluation of the performance-based SPCC requirements. The guidance document is also available to owners and operators of facilities that may be subject to the requirements of the SPCC rule and the general public on how EPA intends the SPCC rule to be implemented. The document is designed to provide a consistent national policy on several SPCC-related issues.

Links to the state POCs with RCRA expertise. Particularly valuable for states with RCRA primacy.

This tool enables the user to find state-specific TRI reporting requirements such as state rules, where to send complete reports, how to obtain forms, and state and federal guidance resources.

The ARIP database is a collection of information on accidental releases of hazardous chemicals at fixed facilities. The ARIP questionnaire consists of 23 questions about the facility, the circumstances and causes of the incident, and the accidental release prevention practices and technologies in place prior to, and added or changed as a result of, the event. The questionnaire focuses on several areas of accident prevention including hazard assessments, training, emergency response, public notification procedures, mitigation techniques, and prevention equipment and controls.

View a listing of chemicals that are monitored by EPA's Major Program Systems: Air (AFS), Water (PCS), Hazardous Waste (RCRIS),Superfund (CERCLIS) and Toxics Release Inventory (TRIS).

A free program you can use to find out about the reactivity of substances or mixtures of substances (reactivity is the tendency of substances to undergo chemical change). It includes:

• a database of reactivity information for more than 6,000 common hazardous chemicals,
• a way for you to virtually "mix" chemicals--like the chemicals in a derailed tankcars --to find out what dangers could arise from accidental mixing.

A system of software applications used widely to plan for and respond to chemical emergencies. It is one of the tools developed by EPA's Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Office (CEPPO) and NOAA, to assist front-line chemical emergency planners and responders. They can use CAMEO to access, store, and evaluate information critical for developing emergency plans. In addition, CAMEO supports regulatory compliance by helping users meet the chemical inventory reporting requirements of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA, also known as SARA Title III). CAMEO also can be used with a separate software application called LandView ® to display EPA environmental databases and demographic/economic information to support analysis of environmental justice issues.

This tool provides access to facility-level, form-by-form TRI data but does not include analyses of the TRI data, such as national trend analyses. These trends will be available in the spring Public Data Release after undergoing extensive data quality checks. In the reporting year 06 (RY06), e-FDR incorporates the changes finalized in the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) and the TRI Burden Reduction Rule. For example, the NAICS Rule requires facilities to report NAICS codes instead of Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes, and the Burden Reduction Rule expands the eligibility to use the Form A in lieu of the more detailed Form R.

A search on the term “Toxics” and then a zip code will result in a list of facilities in that have reported toxic releases, including air emissions, water surface water discharges, releases to land, underground injections, and transfers to off site locations through the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI).

EPA's new system for responding to public emails about pesticides relies on a database of questions that provide possible responses to the individual's query, allowing the person to decide if enough information has been provided.

This system provides complete and easy access to technical health and environmental effect information on chemicals that are manufactured in exceptionally large amounts. Information in this database are submitted through EPA's High Production Volume (HPV) Challenge Program. HPVIS allows users to search for summary information, test plans, and new data on high production volume chemicals as they are developed.

IRIS is an EPA database of human health effects that may result from exposure to various substances found in the environment. IRIS was initially developed for EPA staff in response to a growing demand for consistent information on chemical substances for use in risk assessments, decision-making and regulatory activities. The information in IRIS is intended for those without extensive training in toxicology, but with some knowledge of health sciences.

The Consolidated List of Chemicals Subject to the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and Section 112(r) of the Clean Air Act was prepared to help firms handling chemicals determine whether they need to submit reports under sections 302, 304, or 313 of EPCRA and, for a specific chemical, what reports may need to be submitted. It will also help sites determine whether they will be subject to accident prevention regulations under CAA section 112(r). These lists should be used as a reference tool, not as a definitive source of compliance information.

The Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) Database identifies over 3,000 LEPCs throughout the U.S.

The National Response Center (NRC) is the sole federal point of contact for reporting oil and chemical spills. In addition to gathering and distributing spill data for Federal On-Scene Coordinators, the NRC serves as the communications and operations center for the National Response Team, which is chaired by EPA. The NRC has implemented an on-line query system that makes oil and chemical spill data available via the World Wide Web.

This tool provides an efficient and user-friendly way to determine compliance with applicable reporting requirements for releases of hazardous substances to the environment. The tool helps to expedite the determination of whether an RQ was exceeded within a 24-hour period and provides contact information for reporting releases to the appropriate regulatory authorities. This Version 2.0 is optimized for mobile devices (e.g., Blackberry, Blazer, Palm Pilots, etc.) for real-time analyses at the scene of a hazardous substance release.

RMP*Comp is an electronic tool used to perform the off-site consequence analysis required under the Risk Management Program rule published by the EPA on July 20, 1996, which implements Section 112(r) of the Clean Air Act. Previously, EPA has referred to this tool as RMP Calculator or RMP Assistant.

RMP*Submit 2004 is the free, official EPA, personal computer software for facilities to use in submitting Risk Management Plans (RMP) required under the Risk Management Program.

This site allows you to search 4 environmental databases, including Envirofacts, for your zip code, to retrieve environmental information about your community. In addition, you can explore the databases below to learn more about your community. The four databases are:

• Envirofacts: Pollution, hazardous waste sites, and other regulatory information
• EnviroMapper: "Live" and customizable computer-generated maps of regulated sites throughout the United States
• Surf Your Watershed: Environmental conditions and activities in watersheds throughout the United States
• UV Index: Ultraviolet (UV) Index Forecast A daily forecast of the expected intensity of Ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

This system provides information on substances and how they are represented in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations and information systems.

EPA has developed Tier2 Submit 2004 to help facilities prepare an electronic chemical inventory report. Twenty-two states are accepting Tier2 Submit from facilities for the 2004 reporting year

EPA has developed Tier2 Submit to help facilities prepare an electronic chemical inventory report. Tier2 Submit is free to download and fully compatible with CAMEOfm.

A tool to help facilities determine and complete their Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) section 313 (TRI) reporting obligations.

This system provides fast and easy access to the TRI data to help communities identify facilities and chemical releases that warrant further study and analysis.

A new toxicological profile is available for perchlorates and seven updated profiles are available for acrolein, arsenic, barium, benzene, heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide, lead, and xylenes. Profiles describe available toxicological and epidemiological information, as well as whether adequate information exists on the health effects of each substance.

PCRC is maintained by the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS). The PCRC is one of the Compliance Assistance Centers developed by industry-government partnerships, with support from EPA's Office of Compliance.

This site contains links to information on TRI chemical lists, tri pbt chemicals, list changes, toxicity, regulatory program information, fact sheets, and chemical specific guidance documents.

AIChE, was founded in 1908. AIChE is a professional association of more than 50,000 members that provides leadership in advancing the chemical engineering profession. Chemical engineers are at the forefront of research to assure the safe and environmentally-sound manufacture, use, and disposal of chemical products.

A nonprofit organization working to reduce chemical use, waste, risks and costs through the transformation of the chemical supply train.

The National Coalition for Pesticide-Free Lawns advocates safe, healthy, LIVING lawns and landscapes with the use of organic and least toxic practices and products that nurture healthy lawns and landscapes and protect the health of children, families, pets, wildlife and the environment from unnecessary exposure to toxic pesticides.

The NPEP program encourages public and private organizations to form voluntary partnerships with EPA to reduce the use or release of any of 31 Priority Chemicals (PCs). NPEP is part of EPA's National Waste Minimization Program and the Resource Conservation Challenge, a national effort to conserve natural resources and energy by managing materials more efficiently. EPA has established a National Waste Minimization Goal to act as a measurement of program success. Our goal is to work with industry and the public to reduce the use or release of 4 million pounds of priority chemicals by 2011

CCPA brings together manufacturers, insurers, government, academia, and expert consultants to lead the way in improving manufacturing process safety. CCPS and its sponsors are committed to protecting employees, communities, and the environment by developing engineering and management practices to prevent or mitigate catastrophic releases of chemicals, hydrocarbons, and other hazardous materials.

The NRC is the sole federal point of contact for reporting oil and chemical spills. In addition to gathering and distributing spill data for Federal On-Scene Coordinators, the NRC serves as the communications and operations center for the National Response Team, which is chaired by EPA. The NRC has implemented an on-line query system that makes oil and chemical spill data available via the World Wide Web.

The center provides FAQs on Superfund, EPCRA, TRI, and RMP. They also post a monthly summary of questions posed to the center and their answers.

An independent federal agency investigating chemical accidents to protect workers, the publice, and the environment. The CSB determines the causes of accidents but does not issue fines or penalties. The immediate causes of accidents often involve equipment failures, human errors, unforeseen chemical reactions or other hazards. But the ultimate goal of the Board's investigations is to determine the root causes of accidents, which typically are deficiencies in safety management systems.

This program is an opportunity for individuals, groups, and organizations to compete for annual awards in recognition of innovations in cleaner, cheaper, smarter chemistry. The Program provides national recognition of outstanding chemical technologies that incorporate the principles of green chemistry into chemical design, manufacture, and use, and that have been or can be utilized by industry in achieving their pollution prevention goals.

This program is designed by the EPA to help communities work at the local level to address the risks from multiple sources of toxics in their environment. Through CARE various local organizations, including non-profits, citizens, businesses, schools and Federal, state, and tribal or local government agencies create collaborative partnerships to address toxics in their local environment. CARE helps communities to improve their environment through local action, providing technical support and federal funding directly to the collaborative partnerships working at the local level.

Provides information about EPA's Emergency Management programs, their emergency management partners, and locating information resources for cleanup or response activities.

This book, intended for safety managers, chemists, and engineers alike, helps both small and large companies address safe handling, processing and storing of chemicals that might become involved in uncontrolled chemical reactions. The Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS), in partnership with OSHA, the EPA, the American Chemistry Council, and Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association, has made this book available.

When there is a release of a reportable quantity (RQ) of any extremely hazardous substance or CERCLA hazardous substance, the facility must make emergency release notification to the State Emergency Planning Committee (SERC) and the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC). A written follow-up notification must be submitted to the LEPC and the SEPC.

Federal facilities that have chemicals held above the following thresholds must submit either copies of their MSDSs or a list of MSDS chemicals to the SERC, LEPC, and local fire department:

• for all extremely hazardous substances present in amounts >= 500 lb (227 kg, approximately 55 gal) or the threshold planning quantity, whichever is lower
• for gasoline (all grades combined) in amounts >= 75,000 gal (or approximately 283,900 L) when the gasoline is in tanks entirely underground at a retail gas station that was in compliance during the preceding CY with all applicable UST regulations
• for diesel fuel (all grades combined) in amounts >= 100,000 gal (or approximately 378,500 L) when the diesel is in tanks entirely underground at a retail gas station that was in compliance during the preceding CY with all applicable UST regulations
• for all other hazardous chemicals present at any one time in amounts >= 10,000 lb (4540 kg).

A quick guide on when you have to report gasoline or diesel.

Example of SOW to use for contracting out your EPCRA survey and reporting.

This is the first set of characterizations based on EPA's scientific review of the screening-level hazard, or toxicity, data submitted by the U.S. chemical industry through EPA's HPV Challenge Program or other information collected by EPA. Companies were asked provide the public with basic health and safety data on chemicals that are manufactured in excess of a million pounds a year. The hazard characterizations include a summary of the data submitted, EPA's evaluation of the quality and completeness of the data, and an assessment of the potential hazards that a chemical or chemical category may pose. EPA will combine this information with human and environmental exposure information collected from EPA's Inventory Update Reporting to develop a risk characterization and determine if additional action is needed to ensure the safety of the HPV chemicals' manufacture and use. EPA intends to use this approach to assess risks and identify and take needed action on 3000 HPV chemicals by 2012.

Under Phase I of ToxCastTM, the chemicals will be examined via high throughput screening (HTS) bioassays. Phase I will be used to create chemical signatures of compounds which will then be compared to known toxicity data in this proof-of-concept phase. It is expected that patterns will emerge that are predictive of compounds that could cause harm to people and the environment. Results of Phase I are expected in 2008, and will be posted on the ToxCastTM Web site. Phase II will involve a larger, more diverse set of chemicals to test the predictability of patterns identified in Phase I. In Phase III, ToxCastTM will expand the list to thousands of environmental chemicals, delivering an affordable, science-based system for decision-makers.

The March 2007 E.O. 13423 Implementing Instructions, Section VIII.A provides: "No later than January 24, 2008 each agency, at all appropriate organizational levels ......shall develop written goals and support actions to identify and reduce the release and use of toxic and hazardous chemicals and materials .....and other pollutants that may result in significant harm to human health or the environment." This checklist identifies the minimum elements that each agency should consider in developing its toxic and hazardous chemicals goals and plans. The checklist was developed by the Office of the Federal Environmental Executive (OFEE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in conjunction with the Interagency Environmental Leadership Workgroup and the Interagency Sustainable Acquisition and Materials Management Practices Workgroup. Completed and updated plans are to be forwarded to OFEE.

This is a collaborative initiative to shrink industrial use of 31 priority chemicals. The challenge commitment seeks a 10 percent decrease in the use of one or more of the chemicals over three years at government and industrial facilities throughout the country. The Challenge is sponsored by two EPA programs, the National Partnership for Environmental Priorities and the National Environmental Performance Track. Chemicals from the list include PCBs, Fluorene, Cadmium, Lead, and Mercury.

This report, developed by EPA's Office of Solid Waste, uses data submitted by facilities for the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) and Hazardous Waste Biennial Report and examines the trends for quantities and management of the 31 priority chemicals (PCs). Section 5 of the report addresses the generation and management of PCs at federal facilities. The information in this annual report can provide valuable guidance to Federal agencies evaluating their efforts to reduce or eliminate PCs as mandated under EO 13423, section 2, paragraph 2e(i). For further information about this Report, please contact Bill Kline at 540-341-3631 (kline.bill@.epa.gov).

This is an effort to help schools safely manage their chemicals and avoid costly and possibly dangerous accidents. Through the campaign, schools are connected with local chemical management experts and a web-based toolkit.

SFI is an approach that encourages pollution prevention in new chemical development through the transfer of EPA's chemical risk screening methodologies.

The P2 Framework is compilation of many of EPA's Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) most important computer-based methods for predicting risk-related information. The P2 Framework provides important methods to predict risk-related information that may not be readily available. Its purpose is to provide information that can inform decision making and help promote the design, development, and application of safer chemicals, products, and processes.

The beneficial use of high-volume, low-hazard industrial byproducts is expanding, with a number of applications gaining market and regulator acceptance. This conference examines the question of whether these byproducts can be recycled in an environmentally and economically sound manner. Conference information including agendas, speaker bios, presentations and attendee lists are available.

A system of software applications used widely to plan for and respond to chemical emergencies. It is one of the tools developed by EPA's Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Office (CEPPO) and NOAA, to assist front-line chemical emergency planners and responders. They can use CAMEO to access, store, and evaluate information critical for developing emergency plans. In addition, CAMEO supports regulatory compliance by helping users meet the chemical inventory reporting requirements of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA, also known as SARA Title III). CAMEO also can be used with a separate software application called LandView ® to display EPA environmental databases and demographic/economic information to support analysis of environmental justice issues.

Addresses inventorying chemicals, emergency planning, emergency releases, and community right-to-know.

Training on RCRA that was presented over a 3-day period by DOE. Training is in PDF files.

Contains information about Federal and state guidelines for the disposal of mercury-containing lamps.

In-person and web-based training courses for staff involved with Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) reporting under Section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA).