Accident prevention in New England involves a State/Local/Federal/industrial
partnership with a focus at the local level. The states
and local government are routinely involved in preparedness,
prevention and response activities. Although the program
has not been delegated, the states have RMP authority
for those facilities that are permitted under Title V
of the Clean Air Act (CAA). Under CAA Section 112(r),
EPA promulgated facility based regulations for the prevention
and detection of accidental releases of chemicals and
response to releases that occur. On June 20, 1996, EPA
published its final rule on accidental release prevention.
The RMP regulations (40 CFR Part 68) require covered facilities
to develop and implement a risk management program that
includes analyses of offsite consequences of accidental
chemical releases to the air, a five-year accident history,
a prevention program, and an emergency response program.
In addition, the facility must submit a risk management
plan that describes its hazards and prevention activities
and indicates its compliance with the regulations. Information and guidance documents are available
on the web site of EPA's
Emergency Management Programs . |