EPA works closely with a variety of stakeholders, including industry and local and tribal governments to prepare for and respond to accidents involving chemicals, radioactive materials and other hazardous substances. The Agency is proactive in attempting to prevent accidents by offering guidance through its Risk Management Program. In the event of an accident, the EPA's Federal Contingency Plans outlines protocols for working with other federal agencies and local authorities to formulate a concerted response. The EPA also conducts accident investigations and compiles a database of accident histories so that they can be studied and learned from.

Recommended EPA Web pages

• Emergency Management: Hazardous Substances
  Provides information about CERCLA hazardous substances.
• Solid Waste and Emergency Response: Emergencies, Accidents and Spills
  Provides information about emergencies, accidents, and spills.

Characterization

Contingency Plans
National Contingency Plan (NCP), Oil Removal Contingency Plan, Spill Prevention

Counter-Terrorism
Water Security

Disasters
Fire, Floods, Hurricanes, September 11 Response, Tornadoes, Volcanoes

Emergency Response
Consequence Management, Countermeasures, Mobile Laboratories, National Response Team (NRT), On Scene Coordinators, Radiological Emergency Response Team, September 11 Response, Training

Oil Spills
Facility Response Plan

Poisoning
Lead Poisoning, Mercury Poisoning, Pesticides

Reporting
Reporting Requirements, Toxics Release Inventory (TRI)