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  • Threshold calculations for acid mixtures

    Do you apply the whole weight of an acid mixture towards the threshold under EPCRA Sections 311 and 312 or just the percentage of acid stated on the material safety data sheet (MSDS)? Aqueous acids are considered mixtures under EPCRA Sections 311 and 312. The acid itself is the hazardous…

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  • Why does EPA recommend submitting a list for EPCRA 311?

    Why does EPA recommend submitting a list rather than Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) to meet the requirements of Section 311? Lists will minimize the paperwork burden for state and local governments and local fire departments. In addition, the list can be used as an index to inventory forms required…

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  • Facilities that close during a reporting year

    A facility storing hazardous chemicals on site permanently ceases operations and notifies the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC). Since the facility will no longer be in operation on March 1 of the following year, must the owner/operator of the closed facility submit a Tier I or Tier II hazardous chemical…

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  • Recommended approach for reporting lead acid batteries when complying with Tier II reporting

    Does EPA have a standard or recommended reporting approach for lead acid batteries when complying with EPCRA Section 312 Chemical Inventory Reporting (i.e., Tier II reporting)? EPA suggests that facilities report for lead acid batteries in the same manner they used when complying with EPCRA Section 311 MSDS reporting requirements…

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  • Purchases but never receives or stores a hazardous chemical over threshold amount

    If a facility purchases more than 10,000 pounds of a hazardous chemical for which OSHA requires an MSDS in a calendar year but never actually receives or stores more than the 10,000 pound threshold at one time, must the facility report under EPCRA Sections 311 and 312? The MSDS and…

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  • How are mixtures handled for Sections 311 and 312 reporting?

    The owner or operator of a facility may meet the requirements of Sections 311 and 312 by choosing one of two options: • Providing the required information on each component that is a hazardous chemical within the mixture. In this case, the concentration of the hazardous chemical in weight percent…

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  • Obtaining an RMP ID Number

    How can a facility subject to the Risk Management Plan (RMP) requirements obtain its RMP ID number? The owner or operator of a regulated RMP facility that has already submitted an RMP, may obtain the facility's identification number (RMP ID Number) by contacting the RMP Reporting Center (703-227-7650). An RMP-covered…

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  • Does the distance to endpoint start at the process or stationary source boundary?

    When selecting the worst-case release scenario for Program 2 and 3 processes as required by 40 CFR §68.25, a stationary source owner or operator must analyze the release scenario that results in the greatest distance to an endpoint. Does the "greatest distance to an endpoint" refer to the greatest total…

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  • Using meteorological station data for off-site consequence analyses

    For the purpose of the offsite consequence analyses required under 40 CFR Part 68, Subpart B, there are several instances in which data gathered at a local meteorological station may be used to establish the modeling parameters of wind speed, atmospheric stability, temperature, and humidity for the stationary source. How…

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  • Underground storage tank off-site impacts to groundwater, drinking water, or soil

    For the worst-case and alternative release scenarios of an underground storage tank, should I consider any impact on groundwater, drinking water, or soil? No. As part of the worst-case and alternative release scenarios, you need to define the offsite impacts to the environment (40 CFR §68.33) by listing the environmental…

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  • Accidental releases from non-covered processes

    Should the owner or operator include accidental releases from processes containing listed substances below the threshold quantity in the five-year accident history required under the hazard assessment provisions of 40 CFR Part 68, Subpart B, and in the incident investigation requirements under 40 CFR Part 68, Subparts C and D…

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  • Why are industries exempt under OSHA's PSM subject to RMP?

    The Program 3 prevention program requirements under 40 CFR Part 68 are almost identical to the requirements of OSHA's process safety management (PSM) standard. OSHA exempts certain industries from the PSM standard. Why does EPA not exempt those same industries from the CAA §112(r) risk management program requirements? EPA and…

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  • Redoing calculations if RMP*Comp is updated

    Will RMP*Comp be updated? If so, would I have to redo calculations I might already have made with an earlier version? No, you do not have to redo your work if you have already completed your consequence analyses. RMP*Comp is based on the EPA's Offsite Consequence Analysis Guidance (OCA Guidance)…

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  • Different distances to toxic endpoints with different versions of RMP*Comp

    I've noticed that for certain chemicals, RMP*Comp gives substantially different distances to the toxic endpoint than previous versions. Why? In the current version of RMP*Comp, we have incorporated new chemical-specific distance tables for ammonia, chlorine, and sulfur dioxide. The generic tables are still used for other chemicals (you can see…

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  • Distance to endpoint calculations used by RMP*Comp

    Does RMP*Comp perform some math or modelling in order to arrive at an endpoint distance, or is it simply interpolating from the tables in the EPA's Offsite Consequence Analysis Guidance (OCA Guidance)? RMP*Comp follows the procedures set out in the OCA Guidance . This means that for some scenarios, the…

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