Information for Small Businesses
Small businesses often must comply with EPA regulations to help prevent, prepare for, and respond to environmental emergencies, including chemical releases and oil spills.
Emergency Management Regulations
Chemical Accident Prevention - Risk Management Plan
Facilities that produce, handle, process, distribute, or store certain chemicals must develop a hazard assessment, a prevention program, and an emergency response program.
Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) Regulations
According to the EPCRA chemical reporting requirements, facilities must report the storage, use, and release of certain hazardous chemicals.
- Emergency Release Notification (Section 304)
- Hazardous Chemical Storage Reporting (Sections 311-312)
- Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Reporting (Section 313)
National Contingency Plan (NCP) Subpart J - Product Schedule
Subpart J of the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP) directs EPA to prepare a schedule of dispersants, other chemicals, and oil spill mitigating devices and substances that may be used to remove or control oil discharges.
Oil Pollution Prevention - Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Rule
Facilities that handle or store above 1,320 gallons of oil and have a reasonable expectation of discharge to navigable waters must prepare and implement an SPCC Plan.
Small Business Assistance at EPA
Small Business Gateway
Includes environmental information and contacts for small businesses.
Small Business Ombudsman
Provides general advice and information on EPA activities and initiatives related to Small Businesses. Call their hotline at 1- 800-368-5888 from 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Eastern Time).
Enviro$ense: Small Business Assistance
Enviro$ense is an online information network that provides pollution prevention/cleaner production solutions, compliance and enforcement assistance information, and innovative technology.
For More Information
Contact the Superfund, TRI, EPCRA, RMP & Oil Information Center. The Information Center maintains a call center and regularly distributes messages via e-mail to provide important updates to the public, state and local governments, and the regulated community.