Risk Management Plan (RMP) Assistance/Enforcement Program

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 .