Michelle Merrington Kelsey Bardsley

What is EPCRA?  Gives the public the right to know and receive information on chemical spills or accidental releases  Prevents another major incident like in Bhopal, India  Emergency Planning  Emergency Release Notification  Community Right-to- Know Reporting Requirements  Toxic Chemical Release Inventory

Bhopal, India  About 40 tons of Methyl Isocyanate (MIC) poured out of a tank and spread into the air of a city of nearly 900,000  3,800 dead  Approximately 11,000 with injuries

Emergency planning  Prepares a community in case a chemical release were to happen  The State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) makes sure the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) is doing annual run through of their Emergency Response Plan.

Emergency release notification  If a facility releases a reportable quantity (RQ) of a substance they must immediately report it to the LEPC who informs the SERC  The SERC then informs the entire state  The facility is also required to provide a follow-up report.  If not reported, it is a criminal penalty of up to $25,000 and up to 2 years prison sentence.

Community Right-to- Know Reporting Requirements  Needs to be reported if equal or greater than the following requirements designed by the EPA  10,000 pounds (4,500 kg) for hazardous chemicals  lesser of 500 pounds (230 kg) or the threshold planning quantity (TPQ) for extremely hazardous substances. ‘  Provides information to the community about mixtures and chemicals present at a facility in their community

Toxic Chemical Release Inventory  Facilities are required to take inventory of their toxic chemicals and report what’s going on

Extras  Also called Sara Title III  Passed by Reagan in 1986

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