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  • What constitutes a revision of the PHA?

    The rule states that I have to update my RMP whenever I revise a PHA. What constitutes a revised PHA? Every time I go through management of change procedures I make a notation in the PHA file for the process, but would that constitute a revised PHA if the change…

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  • PHA revisions to consider offsite consequences

    If I need to revise a PHA to consider off-site consequences, when do I have to do that? In general, for a PHA originally completed to meet the requirements of OSHA PSM that did not consider offsite consequences, you should revise the PHA to consider offsite consequences when you update…

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  • What is the definition of "process"?

    Process, as defined at 40 CFR §68.3, means any activity involving a regulated substance, including any use, storage, manufacturing, handling, or on-site movement of such substances, or combination of these activities. Any group of vessels that are interconnected, or separate vessels that are located such that a regulated substance could…

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  • What is the definition of a retail facility?

    A flammable substance listed in 40 CFR §68.130 is excluded from the Risk Management Program regulations when it is used as a fuel or held for sale as a fuel at a retail facility (§68.126). What is the definition of a retail facility for the purposes of this exclusion? A…

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  • What does "contiguous property" mean?

    Property that is adjoining. Public rights-of-way (e.g., railroads, highways) do not prevent property from being considered contiguous. Property connected only by rights-of-way are not considered contiguous (e.g., two plants with a connecting pipeline).

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  • Do exemptions for gasoline and hydrocarbon mixtures apply to toxic substances?

    The amendments to the List Rule ( 63 FR 640; January 6, 1998) added exemptions from threshold determination for regulated substances in gasoline that is in distribution or related storage for use as fuel for internal combustion engines, and for regulated substances in naturally occurring hydrocarbon mixtures prior to processing…

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  • Worst-case release scenarios for toxics and flammables in same process

    The owner or operator of a stationary source subject to the risk management program regulations must analyze the worst-case release scenario involving a Program 2 or 3 process containing a regulated flammable substance and the worst-case release scenario involving a Program 2 or 3 process containing a regulated toxic substance…

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  • State air permitting agency assigning EPA implementation and enforcement

    Can a state air permitting agency unilaterally assign to EPA the implementation and enforcement of the requirements of 40 CFR Part 68.215(e)? No, such reassignment of responsibilities can only be achieved by the state entering into a written agreement with the Administrator under which EPA will implement and enforce the…

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  • Withdrawal of an erroneous RMP submission

    What should a facility do if it submitted a risk management plan (RMP) but later discovers that it was never subject to the risk management program requirements? If a facility discovers that it submitted an RMP in error and was never subject to the risk management program regulations, it should…

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  • What level of off-site property damage triggers five-year accident history reporting?

    What level of off-site property damage triggers reporting? Any level of known offsite property damage triggers inclusion of the accident in the five-year accident history. You are not required to conduct a survey to determine if such damage occurred, but if you know, or could reasonably be expected to know…

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  • Do I need to report releases for processes that have shut down?

    A process involving a regulated substance had an accidental release with off-site consequences two years ago. The process has been shut down. Do I have to report anyway? No. The release does not have to be reported in your accident history. Your Risk Management Plan only needs to address operating…

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  • Changes required for adding new reactor vessels for same substance

    What if I change a process by adding new reactor vessels, but do not change the substances? Because increasing the number of reactor vessels is usually a major change to your process, you will have six months to update your RMP to reflect changes in your prevention program elements and…

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  • Are releases under prior ownership included in the five-year accident history?

    Documentation of a five-year accident history is required as part of the hazard assessment under 40 CFR Section 68.42. Should a stationary source subject to the risk management program regulations report as part of the five-year accident history any accidents that occurred when the facility was under prior ownership? Yes…

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  • What constitutes "significant property damage on site?"

    Under the hazard assessment requirements at 40 CFR Part 68, Subpart B, the owner or operator of a covered stationary source must document a five-year accident history that includes all accidental releases from covered processes that resulted in deaths, injuries, or significant property damage on site, or known offsite deaths…

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  • Air dispersion models and accounting for multiple vessels

    Must air dispersion models that are used to analyze worst-case release scenarios under 40 CFR §68.25 be able to account for multiple vessels and how those vessels could impact one another in the event of an accidental release? No. Models used for worst-case release scenario analysis do not need to…

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