Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) . . . . . . . . . .31Citizens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33Fire Departments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35Public Institutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37Land Use Planners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41Industry and Small Businesses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47The Federal Role . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49

For More Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
1

art 1
Chemicals in Your Community

3

Chemicals are an important part of the modern world.

They make our water safe todrink, provide fuel for our cars,increase the production from ourfarms, and are often key parts ofproducts we use every day.Many of the properties of chemicals that make them valuable tous, however, such as their abilityto kill dangerous organisms inwater and pests on crops, pose ahazard to us and the environment if the chemicals are used ordisposed of improperly. 

EPA is committed to providing you

with as much information as possibleabout chemicals at your local businesses,and other facilities, so that you can workwith local government agencies, citizengroups, and business to ensure that thechemicals in your community are usedsafely. You can also ensure that facilitiesand emergency responders are preparedto respond appropriately to accidents.

Preface
Chemicals in Your Community

5

This pamphlet:

• Summarizes the information you can

obtain under EPCRA and CAA;

• Tells you where to find it;• Tells you about other information you

may also find helpful; and 

• Indicates how you can use these various sources of information to build a

snapshot of chemicals stored andreleased in your community. It also discusses how specific groups,

such as fire departments, health care professionals, State and local agencies, citizens, and industry can use the informationto improve the safety of our communities.

d your family and neighbors are the

most at risk if chemicals in your

nity are being used unsafely or

d into the environment. You are 

est position to work with local

s to ensure that you, your neigh

cal agencies, and responders are

d to handle any accidents that do

.

o laws, the Emergency Planning and

nity Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA)

 Clean Air Act’s (CAA) chemical

t prevention provisions (also called

 management program), were

ally designed to provide you with

tion on chemicals at individual

s, their uses, and releases. Many

PA programs also have data avail

 do States, local governments,

ssociations, public interest groups,

ividual facilities. Much of this

tion is easily available on the

t; other information is available

ate and local agencies who receive

reports from facilities. 
7

The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know

Act (EPCRA) and the Clean AirAct (CAA) both require facilitiesto report on hazardous chemicalsthey store or handle, and bothprovide for public access tothese reports. These laws helpbuild better relationships amonggovernment at all levels, businessand community leaders, environmental and other public-interestorganizations, and individual citizens. 

The laws recognize that citizens are

full partners in preparing for emergenciesand managing chemical risks. Each ofthese groups and individuals has animportant role in making the programwork:• Local communities and State governments are responsible for understanding risks posed by chemicals at the

local level, managing those risks,reducing those risks, and dealing with

Chemicals in Your Community

Dealing with Chemicals: It's Everybody's Job
9

explaining the hazardsinvolved in using chemicals, by opening communication channels with community groups, and byconsidering changes intheir practices to reduceany potential risks tohuman health or the environment.

• The Federal government

provides national leadership and assistance toStates and communities toensure they have the toolsand expertise necessary toreceive, assimilate, andanalyze all data, and totake appropriate measuresto reduce the risk of accidents and chemical emissions. EPA helps facilitiescomply with the laws'requirements; it ensuresthe public has access toinformation on chemicalstorage and releases aswell as other informationto protect the nation's air,

water, and soil from pollution. EPA works withindustry to encourage voluntary reductions in theuse and release of hazardous chemicals wherever possible.

Chemicals in Your Community

nt

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ci

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e

er

yy

e

• Citizens, health professionals, public-interest

and labor organizations,the media, and otherswork with government andindustry to use the information for planning andresponding to emergenciesin the community. 

• Facilities that use hazardous chemicals are

responsible for operatingsafely, using the mostappropriate techniquesand technologies; gathering information on thechemicals they use, store,and release into the environment and providing itto government agenciesand local communities;and helping set up procedures to handle chemicalemergencies. Some industry groups and individualcompanies have gonebeyond the letter of thelaw and have reached outto their communities by
11

Chemicals in Your Community

ion is Available? 

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Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs).Companies must submit copies of theMSDSs or list of chemicals to the SERC,LEPC, and local fire department. MSDSsare available for more than 500,000products that could create physicalhazards or adverse health effects andinclude the chemical identity, components of chemical mixtures, the physical properties (e.g., boiling point), hazards (e.g., flammability, corrosivity, toxicity), and health hazards. The SERC orLEPC can tell you which MSDSs facilities have; and, they or the facility canprovide you with a copy of the MSDS.MSDSs do not have a standard formatand can sometimes be confusing. Online databases, which often have multiple versions of MSDSs for individualchemicals, can help you find an MSDSthat is well organized and easy to read.Toxics Release Inventory (TRI). Certainfacilities file annual reports on allreleases of about 650 chemicals. Thedata include estimates of the quantitiesof chemicals released to air, water, andland and otherwise managed as waste.TRI data are available on-line. You cansearch for specific facilities or searchfor all facilities in a town, county, orState.

Risk Management Plans (RMPs).Certain companies file chemical accident prevention plans that include asummary describing the facility and itsprocesses; the worst-case and othermore likely accident scenarios; the facility's accident prevention practices; itsemergency response program; a recenthistory of serious chemical accidents (ifany); and planned improvements tosafety design or operations. You alsowill learn why accidents have happenedand find out what companies have doneto prevent recurrences.You can getRMPs from EPA's Envirofacts databasein a system called RMP*Info. Community Emergency Response Plan.The LEPC has developed a communityemergency response plan for chemicalaccidents. You can review the plan,which addresses facilities with certainquantities of 356 extremely hazardoussubstances (acutely toxic chemicals).Your LEPC can provide information onwhich local facilities have beeninvolved in the planning process.

What's Available on the Internet?Profiles of the extremely hazardous substances:www.epa.gov/ceppo/ep_chda.htm#ehsERNS online (release reports by Stateby year): www.epa.gov/ernsacct/pdf/index.htmlAccess to the on-line copies of MSDSsmaintained by a number of universities:www.hazard.com TRI and RMP data through Envirofacts:www.epa.gov/enviro. (Also available inEnvirofacts, data on facilities that have:• Permits to release substances to

water, in the Permit ComplianceSystem database. 

• Permits to release hazardous pollutants to air, in the air release database. • Permits to store and treat hazardous

wastes, in the RCRA database.)

TRI data also are available atwww.epa.gov/tri, www.rtk.net, and atwww.scorecard.org, which maps thelocation of facilities in a county or city.
13

If you have Internet access, the easiest

way to begin is to search RMP*Info andthe TRI database for your city and county.Use these to develop a list of facilities andchemicals in your area. Ask your SERC orLEPC to provide information from theirrecords on other facilities in the community that have filed reports. 

Annual chemical inventories (available

from the SERC and LEPC) are likely to bethe most comprehensive source becausethey cover the largest number of chemicals. But remember that some facilitiescovered by other environmental regulations may not be required to file theseinventories. The threshold for reportingchemicals also varies among the regulations and not all companies are requiredto report information under every environmental regulation. Some facilities mayreport acutely toxic chemicals to helpLEPCs prepare local emergency responseplans, but are not required to file RiskManagement Plans. In some cases, chemicals will be reported under TRI, but notunder any of the other rules because TRIis based on the total quantity used duringthe year, not the quantity on site at anyone time.

Chemicals in Your Community

How Do I Build a Picture ofChemical Use in My Community?
15

Chemicals in Your Community

dView

w

,

Indian Areas, Alaska Native lands,counties. •EPA-regulated sites, a subset of thefacilities, sites, and monitoring stations represented in five EPA databases including sites with air and waterpermits, sites handling hazardouswastes, Superfund sites, and TRI facilities. •Selected demographic and economicinformation from the 1990 Census, and •Key geographic features of theUnited States provided by the UnitedStates Geological Survey and otherFederal agencies. LandView will give you a map whichyou can then fill in with data fromother sources.

at

cal

s

y

d

processors and food distribution centers may have largequantities of ammonia in theirrefrigeration systems. Yourlocal drinking water systemand sewage treatment plantalso store toxic chemicals thatare used to kill dangerous bacteria in the water. Many industrial and commercial sites also use and sell chemi- cals. What's Missing? 1. Trade Secrets and Confidential Business Information. Under the community right- to-know law, facilities are not required to disclose the identity of a chemical on a Toxic Release Inventory or an annual inventory report if it is a trade secret, but they must indicate what type of chemical it is. The risk management program allows facilities to withhold from their Risk Management Plans any information that would reveal confidential business infor- mation. In practice, less than one percent of the facilities that have filed any of these reports have claimed information as confi- dential or trade secret. If a facility in your community has made such a claim, you may ask EPA to determine whether the claim is legitimate. 2. Facilities Not Required to Report. Some facilities that handle hazardous chemicals are not required to report information under community right-to-know laws. EPA recently exempted virtually all gas stations
17

Chemicals in Your Community

from EPCRA reportingbecause the public and emergency responders are awareof the location of these facilities and of the hazards ofgasoline. Likewise, facilitiesthat handle relatively smallquantities of acutely toxicchemicals and up to 10,000pounds of other hazardouschemicals are not required toreport. Many agriculturalchemicals are not subject toreporting under these rules,as well.3. Transportation. Chemicalstransported through yourcommunity by rail, barge, ortruck are not reported toEPA. You may assume thatany of the chemicals you findat facilities in your localityare moving through yourcommunity via railroad linesor major highways. But,chemicals also may be transported through your community on the way to someother location. Some LEPCs

have surveyed traffic onmajor roads and rail lines todetermine which chemicalsare being transported andwho is transporting them.Most vehicles that carry hazardous materials must bemarked with placards thatidentify the hazard class andgive a number that identifiesthe specific chemical.4. Non-Filers. Although environmental laws impose substantial penalties for facilitiesthat fail to report, some companies may be unaware oftheir reporting obligations.When you develop a list offacilities in your communitythat have reported underthese rules, you should checkwhether other, similar facilities exist in your community.Work with those facilities andyour LEPC to determinewhether they should also bereporting. 

mitations

ed on estimates, not actual measure

missions; you cannot tell from the data

in large amounts over a short period of

nformation on the rate of release is need

lth and the environment.

 extent of human exposure. Many things

eleased; these natural processes (e.g.,

e extent of actual exposure.

s, SERCs, and EPA are often made while

m those reports, such as in EPA’s

m (ERNS), may not accurately reflect the

sed, or the impacts.

EPCRA 312 and TRI are given in broad

tual quantity.

of facilities covered, usually by including

esholds below which reporting is not

only certain industrial sectors with more

may handle the same chemicals or may

se hazards.

n the RMP are usually based on conserva

cenario and weather conditions and on

reported are likely to overestimate the
19

Chemicals in Your Community

tion Sources

s

Where Can I Get It?LEPC, SERC, Toxic Release Inventory(TRI) and RMP*Info (located in EPAEnvirofacts at www.epa.gov/enviro)LEPC, SERC, EPA TRI and RMP*InfoTRI and RMP*InfoLEPC, SERC, TRI databaseRMP*InfoTRIERNS and RMP*InfoLEPC, SERC, on-line MSDS databasesRMPsRMP*InfoTRI 

What Do These Data Mean?

The presence of hazardous chemicals

does not necessarily mean that the community is at risk. These chemicals can be,and usually are, handled safely. Many ofthe substances covered by EPCRA pose little risk to the community because, even ifspilled, they will not migrate beyond thefacility; they may, however, pose risks toworkers at the facility. (Other right-toknow regulations provide information toworkers on workplace hazards.) Somechemicals are hazardous only if you areexposed to them over a long period oftime. Most of the chemicals are dangerousonly if people are exposed to them abovecertain concentrations. For some of thechemicals EPA has set standards detailinghow much of the chemical can be releasedsafely to the air or water per hour or day.The Occupational Safety and HealthAdministration (OSHA) has set permissibleexposure levels for workers for manychemicals that are generally included onMSDSs. 
21

To evaluate the dangers these chemicals may create for your community it is

useful to understand the differencebetween hazard and risk. 

Hazards in chemical properties generally cannot be changed. Chlorine is toxic

when inhaled or ingested; propane is flammable. There is little that you can do withthese chemicals to change their toxicity orflammability. Similarly, if you live in anearthquake zone or an area affected byhurricanes, earthquakes and hurricanesare hazards. When a facility conducts ahazard review or process hazards analysis,it will identify hazards and determinewhether the potential exposure to the hazard can be reduced in any way (e.g., bylimiting the quantity of chlorine stored onsite).

Risk usually is evaluated based on several variables, including the likelihood of a

release occurring, the inherent hazards ofthe chemicals combined with the quantityreleased, and the potential impact of therelease on the public and the environment.For example, if a release during loadingoccurs frequently, but the quantity ofchemical released is typically small and

Chemicals in Your Community

Hazard vs. Risk
23

Chemicals in Your Community

at a facility that is a considerable distance from anyoneelse, it might not merit anysteps to reduce the likelihood.

How Can Risk Be Reduced?

Communities and facilities

can work together to reducerisk. Many companies havealready cut back on routineemissions, reduced the quantities of chemicals stored, orswitched to less hazardouschemicals. In all cases,improved operations, such asbetter employee training,operating procedures, andpreventive equipment maintenance, can reduce risks andimprove the efficiency of thebusiness. EPA and OSHA haveimposed such safe practicesrequirements on facilities thathandle the most hazardouschemicals. Through RMP*Info,companies and communitiescan compare the quantities

stored, hazard controls, detection systems, and mitigationsystems used for one facilitywith those reported by similarfacilities elsewhere. Thesedata may provide ideas onhow to improve safety.

Facilities handling chemicals that could pose risks to

the public have a general dutyto identify the hazards of theiroperations, design and operate safe plants, and be prepared to mitigate any releasesthat occur. The communitycan use the data availableunder the right-to-know lawsas a way to spark dialoguewith facilities to find outwhich risks need to bereduced and how to do it.

off

od

ho

l

e

rs

d

to

on

e

e

ls

assign a numerical value torisk. Generally, facilities andemergency planners estimaterisk - in qualitative terms - ashigh, medium, and low. Mostpotential worst-case releasesare considered to be low risk,but that does not mean theycould not happen; it simplymeans that they are unlikelyto occur. Smaller releasesmay be more likely, but mayhave little effect on the surrounding community and,therefore, still would be considered low risk.

The challenge for the community and for facilities is to

decide which risks need to bereduced and where time andresources can best be spent.For example, a serious releasemay be very unlikely, but if itcould affect schools or hospitals if it happened, a community might decide to work withthe facility to reduce the risk.If the same release occurred
25

Chemicals in Your Community

(name, location, contacts), RMP*Info pro

rocesses, prevention practices, and acci

ng information in RMP*Info when you call

what it does and the chemicals it uses.

-case and alternative release scenarios, the

cidents, the five-year accident history, and

larger corporation. You can search

name to look at RMPs from other facilities

ty has, the quantity of each chemical, the

mmable or toxic), and number of covered

ear in more than one process. If you want

s with the same chemical, search RMP*Info

ch identifies the industrial sector).

eleases in the past five years. You can

 what type of release it was (gas, liquid,

injuries, property damage), what caused

has done to prevent a recurrence. 

Prevention Program Provides a list of covered processes, the NAICS code (which identifies thetype of activity, such as petrochemical manufacturing), and the program level.If you want to review RMPs for similar facilities in your state or nationwide,search RMP*Info by the NAICS code.Major hazards identifiedFind out which major hazards are associated with a process. You can compare the list to the hazards identified by other facilities in the same NAICScode using the same chemical (search RMP*Info by NAICS code and chemical).Process controls in useFind out what kinds of process controls (safety measures) the facility uses toreduce the risk of an accident. You can compare the controls to those identified by other facilities in the same NAICS code using the same chemical(search RMP*Info by NAICS code and chemical).Mitigation systems in useFind out what kinds of mitigation systems (e.g., dikes, scrubbers) the facilityuses to limit the quantity of the chemical accidentally released that reachesthe community. You can compare the systems to those identified by otherfacilities in the same NAICS code using the same chemical (search RMP*Infoby NAICS code and chemical).Detection systemsFind out what kinds of systems the facility uses to detect releases early sothey can respond quickly and limit the risk to you and your community. Youcan compare the systems to those identified by other facilities in the sameNAICS code using the same chemical (search RMP*Info by NAICS code andchemical).Emergency Response ProgramFind out whether the facility has an emergency response plan and which localresponse agency the facility coordinates with to ensure a rapid and saferesponse if an accident occurs.

P*Info
Chemicals in Your Community

27

Part 2
29

Part 2: Stakeholders

Chemicals in Your Community

Right-to-know laws have forged a closer relationship among citizens, health professionals, industry, public-interest organizations, and the local, State, and Federal

government agencies responsible foremergency planning and response, publichealth, and environmental protection. 

Under the provisions of EPCRA and the

CAA, all of these groups, organizations,and individuals have vital roles to play inmaking the laws work for the benefit ofeveryone. The laws require facilities toprovide information on the presence ofhazardous chemicals in communitiesdirectly to the people who are most affected, both in terms of exposure to potentialrisks and the effects of those risks on public health and safety, the environment,jobs, the local economy, property values,and other factors. 

These "stakeholders" include people

who are best able to do something aboutassessing and managing risks throughinspections, enforcement of local codes,reviews of facility performance and, whenappropriate, political and economic pressures. 
31

Chemicals in Your Community

n

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s

v

n.

l

m

nt

vi

ou

n

m

gone beyond these standardsto create a higher level of safety and performance. You canwork with your local facilitiesto ensure that not only arethey complying with State andFederal laws, but that they arealso moving beyond them toprotect your community.

This section describes

how each of the key groupsand organizations—as well asindividual citizens can use theinformation available underthese laws to fulfill thepromise of community rightto-know laws: a safer, healthier environment for you andyour family. 

Local Emergency PlanningCommittees (LEPCs)

LEPCs are crucial to the success of

community right to know and can play avital role in helping you understand chemical information and other environmentaldata.

LEPCs include local elected officials;

law enforcement, civil defense, firefighting,first aid, health, and local environmentaland transportation agency employees;hospital staff; broadcast and print mediajournalists; community activists; andindustry representatives. 

The LEPCs developed a community

response plan to prepare for and respondto chemical emergencies, focusing on 356extremely hazardous substances. Theplans are reviewed annually, exercised,and updated. Because LEPC members represent the community, they are familiarwith factors that affect public safety, theenvironment, and the local economy andcan help you understand the chemical hazards and risks present in your community.

The LEPC also receives emergency

release notifications and the annual hazardous chemical inventory informationsubmitted by local facilities. They willmake this information available to you
33

Citizens

Chemicals in Your Community

ritten request. Facilities covered

CAA risk management program also

ate their on-site emergency

e plans with the LEPCs. If there is

formation that you want on partic

emicals or facilities, the LEPC can

 it on your behalf and can serve as

 for discussions with community

 the public, and facilities. 

Emergency Plan?

dous materials;

ponse to a chemical accident;

tion or shelter-in-place procedures;

dating the plan.

Community right-to-know laws and regulations were written specifically with you,

the citizen, in mind. They are based on theprinciple that the more you and yourneighbors know about hazardous chemicals in your community, the better prepared your community will be to managethese potential hazards and to improvepublic safety and health as well as environmental quality. By volunteering to workwith your LEPC and engaging in a dialoguewith local industry, you can play a majorrole in making the laws work. 

The laws require industry and others

to give you information on potential chemical hazards and inventories, on releasesof toxic chemicals into the environment,on accident scenarios, and on preventionpractices. There are several ways you canbecome involved in obtaining and usingthis information to enhance the quality oflife in your community: • Attend LEPC meetings and make sure

all appropriate groups are members.Volunteer to serve on the LEPC as acitizen representative. 

• Make sure that the LEPC has obtained

all the information it needs from local
35

Fire Departments

Chemicals in Your Community

Fire departments are essential members of their LEPCs not only because they

are often the first to respond, but alsobecause fire departments have importantexpertise regarding chemical hazards andemergency planning. Any responders whowill be involved in hazardous materialsresponse will have specific training to handle such emergencies. 

Fire departments receive the same

information about annual hazardous chemical inventories and MSDSs as LEPCs do.Having access to this information helps afire department responding to a chemicalemergency know which chemicals, as wellas their quantities and locations, to expectat the scene. A fire department can requestadditional, more specific information aboutchemical inventories at a plant, and it canalso request an on-site inspection.

Fire departments may find the emergency release notifications filed with the

LEPC and the five-year accident historiesreported in the RMP useful in identifyingfacilities in the area that are having accidents even if those accidents have not yetrequired a response from fire fighters.Talking to the facilities about these smalleraccidents may help identify steps that can

m

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e

et

u,

e

m

t

o

r

ma

to

C

to

. 

s

unity. This web site con- tains links to other govern- ment and non-government web sites that may be of interest. Many facilities may also have web sites that provide information on safety policies and practices. • Call or visit facilities in your community and ask if they have complied with the reporting, emissions, and prevention require- ments of State and Federal environmental laws. These laws give you the opportunity to become direct- ly involved in the decisions that affect your safety and health. Your knowledge of and participation in these pro- grams can help ensure that they accomplish their goals in your community.
37

c Administration (NOAA) and EPA developed a

MEOTM to help firefighters meet their informa

ains information about commonly transported

 evaluate accident release scenarios and evacu

table databases and computer mapping pro

 obtained from www.epa.gov/ceppo/.

Chemicals in Your Community

Hospitals, schools, and State and local

governments can be vital to the success ofany emergency response action.Ambulance crews and emergency roompersonnel must know how to transportand treat victims of exposure to hazardouschemicals. Schools and public buildingsshould plan for emergencies. The information available under EPCRA and the CAAcan help these institutions prepare foremergencies and identify opportunities forrisk reduction. Here are some ways publicinstitutions can participate in emergencyplanning and hazardous chemical riskreduction: • Join the LEPC, or at least learn who

represents public institutions on thecommittee and stay in contact withthat person. 

• Inform the LEPC of sensitive facilities

within the community (hospitals,schools, and nursing homes) thatshould be included in the emergencyresponse plan. Know how they will benotified in the event of an accident andbe prepared to respond. Become familiar with plans for responding to firesand other emergencies involving hazardous chemicals. 

n to prevent more serious accidents

lities subject to the RMP rule must

ate their emergency response plans

ivities with the local fire depart

 LEPCs. Fire departments may

 use the opportunity to review facils and equipment, discuss joint

es, and consider whether the facili

provide additional training or sup

uipment when needed. Fire depart

may also want to review RMP infor

on detection and mitigation sys

 local facilities to determine how

ay facilitate a response.

Public Institutions
39

ionals

trained medical professionals who

partments, hospitals, and private prac

terest in the information available

mbining their medical knowledge with

chemicals obtained from the reports

ource of information about risks to the

ties. Here are some of the ways these

l representative on the LEPC.

dical personnel to deal with emergencies

ofessionals should contact their State training

r more information on training programs).

PCs to determine if any acute or chronic health

ous substances in their communities. Health

ormation to develop a list of hazardous sub

that they or the hospitals and medical centers

cal or have the web addresses to locate infor

case of an emergency. MSDSs and other data

 provide emergency treatment data.

cilities to determine whether other chemical

that are present. For example, chemicals

ther dangerous substances.

Chemicals in Your Community

• Work with the LEPC to build an information base about hazardous chemicals in the community. Be sure that

hospitals and other medical personnelare familiar with chemical hazards thatexist in the community, with the stepsto take to treat people exposed, andwith the actions needed to avoid contamination.

• Use the information base to identify

"hot spots," or potential problem areasthat warrant further investigation todetermine if they represent unacceptable risks to the public health or theenvironment. Use this information towork with industry on voluntary programs to reduce the amounts andrisks of hazardous chemicals used orreleased in the community. Public institutions may also be subject

to the reporting requirements underEPCRA and the CAA if they have the covered substances above the thresholds foreach requirement. Water treatment andwastewater treatment plants are particularly likely to be subject to the rules.
41

Chemicals in Your Community

One of the best ways to reduce risk to

the public from hazardous chemicals is tolocate the chemicals at a considerable distance from areas where the public lives,shops, and plays. The information collected under community right-to-know lawsprovides land use planners, school boards,property developers, and businesses withdata they can use to make informed decisions about where to locate new industrialfacilities and where to allow developmentclose to existing facilities that handle hazardous chemicals.

Land use planning agencies and others

involved in planning decisions shouldwork with the LEPC to develop maps thatlocate facilities with chemical inventories.The more likely scenarios (alternative scenarios) reported in the RMPs may beuseful to planners. If facilities have reported that these releases could travel a halfmile from the site before dispersing, planners may want to refrain from allowingnew residential development, nursinghomes, day care centers, or hospitals within that area; school boards may want toensure that new schools are not located inareas within the zones of alternativerelease scenarios.

Land Use Planners

s should question any new business

nity about their anticipated chemical

e hazardous chemicals: food distribu

may have ammonia refrigeration sys

mable gases. All of these can be han

ose to homes, schools, or hospitals

arily. In some cases, risks are

with hazardous chemicals close to each

rage of explosive flammable gases next

 for water treatment could increase the

ers can work with facilities to ensure

gerously close to chemicals at adjacent

d Chemical Use
43

Hazardous substances are not found

only at large chemical plants and refineries. They are also used routinely by othermanufacturers, by food processors anddistributors, most of whom have refrigeration systems, by water treatment andsewage treatment plants, and by manysmall operations such as garages and drycleaners. Even if these chemicals are handled and used safely, they may be of concern if stored or used improperly, or during an emergency such as a fire. 

Facilities and the public should review

environmental data to determine whichchemicals are being used in the immediatearea. Even if a business does not handleany chemicals, it should be aware of anynearby facilities that are handling hazardous chemicals. A release of thesechemicals could affect the business'sworkers, customers, and property. Talkingwith the facility and with the LEPC canensure that should an emergency occur,the business will know what to do to protect workers and customers.

The RMP data can help both the public

and industry assess its practices. You canlook at RMPs from other facilities in thesame sector with similar numbers of

Industry and SmallBusinesses

w industrial facilities will not have

ormation under these laws, but the

m similar facilities can be used to

p estimates of how large a buffer

needed to protect the public.

s should ask the new facility about

micals and quantities it expects to

 site. They and the facility owner

rk with the LEPC to develop esti

f what a reasonable buffer would

ey can also look at RMPs submitted

ties using similar types and quanti

hese chemicals to determine what

es the chemicals may travel. RMP

n also help both the community

 facility determine what types of

measures should be installed to

duce the risk.

Chemicals in Your Community
Chemicals in Your Community

45

employees and determine the typicalquantity of chemicals used and commonprocess controls, detection and mitigationsystems used, and training approaches.Reviewing the prevention program datamay provide ideas for additional steps thatcould be implemented. Reviewing accident histories may indicate potential problem areas that should be considered. 

Safer operations are not only good for

the public, they are also more cost-effective and efficient for businesses.Preventing accidents eliminates workerinjuries, as well as costly down-time andclean-ups. Reducing routine emissionscuts hazardous wastes that require treatment and special care. 

ible Care®

chemical manufacturers, distributors, and

 of practice that address accident preven

 Chemical Manufacturers Association has

nagement codes that address safety prac

unity involvement. The National

as adopted the Responsible Distribution

es for the shipping and handling of chemi

sociation members to reach out to the pub

tner in managing chemical risks and plan

ould talk with your local facilities to see if

e similar programs. More information on

cmahq.com and www.nacd.com.
47

State agencies serve a

number of roles in collectingchemical information andimplementing environmentalrules. In some States, all information will be collected bythe same State agency; inother States, different agencies may have the lead forchemical inventories, TRI, andRMP data. All of the agenciesshould, however, be membersof the State EmergencyResponse Commission, orSERC, and, therefore, if youare seeking information acrossall of the right-to-know rules,your SERC is a good startingpoint. It will either provide theinformation to you directly ortell which other State agencyhas the data and how to contact the right person. Besidesproviding you with information submitted to it, the SERCcan:• Ask for further information

from facilities about a particular chemical or facility. 

• Help you identify other

sources of environmentaldata.

• Help you interpret the

data or identify expertswho can assist you inunderstanding chemicalrisks and risk reductionmethods.Data available under the

right-to-know laws can also beuseful to State agencies, suchas the State and regionalwater authorities and air permitting authorities. The RMPdata can help water agenciesidentify patterns of chemicaluse and practices amongwater treatment and wastewater treatment plants nationally; with that information,they can help local waterauthorities improve theirknowledge of chemical storage and handling.

Chemicals in Your Community

States

an Tribes

bes

on

h

at

Tribes that function as Tribal EmergencyResponse Commissions (TERCs) receiveall reports on hazardous or toxic chemicals, and citizens should go to the TERCfor information. If, however, the tribehas entered into an agreement with aState, the agreement will designate whowill receive reports and answer questions. 
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The Federal Role

Chemicals in Your Community

States and local communities have the

primary governmental responsibility tomake community right-to-know programswork. The Federal government, however,also has important contributions to make.The Federal government's major responsibilities include:• Providing guidance, technical assistance, and training to States, communities, and industry;• Enforcing the laws to ensure compliance;• Maintaining a national databases for

TRI reports and making the data accessible to citizens;

• Ensuring that LEPCs have the information they need to take appropriate

steps to reduce the risks in their communities; and

• Collecting and distributing RMP data to

States, LEPCs, and the public.The Federal government also has a

variety of responsibilities to regulate certain toxic and hazardous substances underother Federal environmental and occupational health and safety laws. 
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For a list of names, addresses, and telephonenumbers for SERCs and LEPCs, check theRight-to-Know Net web site at http://www.rtk.net/lepc/For EPA regional EPCRA contacts, check http://www.epa.gov/ceppo/sta-loc.htmFor RMP regional and State contacts, check 

http://www.epa.gov/ceppo/For access to EPA's on-line databases, check http://www.epa.gov/enviroState TRI program officials and EPA RegionalTRI contacts can be found at http://www.epa.gov/tri/statecon.htm.TRI data releases can be ordered from theNational Service Center for EnvironmentalPublications (NSCEP) at:Box 42419Cincinnati, OH 45242-2419(800) 490-9198Fax: (513) 489-8695 or 8692Online orders: http://www.epa.gov/ncepihom/.For general information about EPCRA andCAA RMP, call the EPCRA Hotline at (800) 424-9346.

Chemicals in Your Community

For More Information