REPORTING 

ENVIRONMENTAL RELEASES 

IN COLORADO 

Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division 

(303) 692-3300 

January 2009 
Purpose of this Guidance 

This guidance is intended to provide an overview of various reporting 

requirements for a variety of releases to the environment. Please check all of 

the possible requirements for reporting. This guidance does not cover all 

potential release scenarios. This guidance is not intended to modify or replace 

statutes or regulations, which undergo periodic revisions. In the event of a 

conflict between this guidance and statutes or regulations, the statutes and 

regulations govern. 

Some reporting requirements are complex and overlapping, and this guidance 

does not go into details of all situations. If a release situation is not described 

in this guidance, or if clarification is desired, please obtain an official 

interpretation from the governing agency enforcing the statute or regulation. 
i 

Table of Contents 

Contact Information ...................................................................................................................................... ii

Colorado Environmental Release Reporting..................................................................................................1

A. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA)...................1

B. Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA).................................................3

Reportable Quantities Under CERCLA and EPCRA ............................................................................4

Exceptions and Exclusions.....................................................................................................................5

C. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) ............................................................................7

D. Radiation Control .................................................................................................................................9

E. Clean Water Act ...................................................................................................................................9

F. Safe Drinking Water Act ....................................................................................................................10

G. Clean Air Act .....................................................................................................................................10

H. Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) and Aboveground Storage Tanks (ASTs) ...............................11

I. Hazardous Materials Transportation....................................................................................................12

J. Oil and Gas Exploration and Production.............................................................................................15

K. Polychlorinated Biphenyls .................................................................................................................16

Abbreviations & Definitions........................................................................................................................17 
ii 

Contact Information 

Release Reporting Numbers 

National Response Center (NRC) 1 (800) 424-8802 

 24-hour reporting 

Colorado Environmental Release and Incident Reporting Line 1 (877) 518-5608 

 24-hour reporting 

Radiation Incident Reporting Line (303) 877-9757 

 24-hour reporting 

Colorado State Patrol (303) 239-4501 

 24-hour reporting 

US EPA Region 8 Emergency Response Spill Report Line 1 (800) 227-8914 

 24-hour reporting 

Division of Oil and Public Safety (Dept. of Labor and Employment) (303) 318-8547 

 Fax (303) 318-8546 

Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (Dept. of Natural Resources) (303) 894-2100 

Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (Dept. of Natural Resources) (303) 866-3567 

Colorado Public Utilities Commission Gas Pipeline Safety Section (303) 894-2851 

 (Dept. of Regulatory Agencies) 

Local Emergency Planning Committee (Dept. of Local Affairs) (720) 852-6603 

 Business hours only - to obtain a list of LEPC contacts 

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment 

Mailing Address: 

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment 

4300 Cherry Creek Drive South 

Denver, CO 80246-1530 

Office Hours: 

Monday – Friday, except holidays 8:00 am – 5:00 pm 

Environmental Divisions 

Air Pollution Control Division (303) 692-3100 

 Website http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/ap/ 

 Email comments.apcd@state.co.us 

Consumer Protection Division (303) 692-3620 

 Website http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/cp/ 

 Email comments.cpd@state.co.us 

Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division (303) 692-3300 

 Website http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/hm/ 

 Email comments.hmwmd@state.co.us 

Water Quality Control Division (303) 692-3500 

 Website http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/wq/ 

 Email comments.wqcd@state.co.us
Reporting Environmental Releases in Colorado January 2009 

Colorado Environmental Release Reporting 

Additional reporting requirements 

may be found in permits, licenses, 

registrations, contingency and 

pollution prevention plans, fire 

codes, and local ordinances. 

When a release of a hazardous material or other substance occurs to the environment, there are a 

number of reporting and notification requirements that must be followed by the company or 

individual responsible for the release. Environmental releases must be reported to the appropriate 

authorities so that necessary response actions are taken in a timely fashion to ensure maximum 

protection of human health and the environment. 

However, taking appropriate and timely response actions 

do not relieve you of your responsibility to report a release. 

In addition, the responsible party is always liable for any 

damages that may result from a release, and is responsible 

for appropriate clean up actions whether or not the release 

is required to be reported. 

There is no penalty for over-reporting, but there are for failing to report a release. If you are unsure 

if a release needs to be reported, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (the 

Department) recommends that releases be reported immediately even if the quantity of the release 

has not yet been determined. Your follow-up report will provide details that explain why the 

release was or was not reportable. 

“Release” includes any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, 

injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, or disposing into the environment, including abandonment 

or discarding of barrels, containers, and other closed receptacles containing any hazardous 

substance, pollutant, or contaminant. 

Most spills and releases are 

covered by more than one 

reporting requirement, and all 

requirements must be met. 

"Environment" is generally defined as any surface water, ground water, drinking water supply, land 

surface, subsurface strata, or ambient air. Releases into containment devices and those completely 

contained within a building or other structure are not releases into the environment as long as the 

hazardous substance does not volatilize into the ambient air or 

otherwise have the potential to enter the environment (e.g., 

through the floor or cracks in the floor). Releases of a substance 

into a storm drain or sewer, or onto a parking lot or roadway, are 

considered to be releases to the environment. 

Release reporting requirements are based on the type of material released and/or the situation under 

which the release occurred. Additional reporting requirements may be found in permits, licenses, 

registrations, contingency and pollution prevention plans, fire codes, and local ordinances. Please 

check all of the possible requirements for reporting. Most spills and releases are covered by more 

than one reporting requirement, and ALL requirements must be met. Enforcement action may be 

taken against those who fail to provide required notifications or reports. 

A. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act 

(CERCLA) 

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, commonly known 

as Superfund or CERCLA, provided broad Federal authority to respond directly to releases or 

threatened releases of hazardous substances that may endanger public health or the environment. 

This Act also enabled revision of the National Contingency Plan, which provides the guidelines and 

1 
Reporting Environmental Releases in Colorado January 2009 

procedures needed to respond to releases and threatened releases of hazardous substances, 

pollutants, or contaminants. 

Under CERCLA, the US EPA was directed to establish reporting quantities for all hazardous 

substances. The term "hazardous substance" is defined in CERCLA Section 101(14). These are 

defined by reference to substances that are listed or designated under other environmental statutes. 

They include: 

 all hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) listed under Section 112(b) of the Clean Air Act (CAA). 

Radio-nuclides are hazardous substances because EPA designated them generically as 

hazardous air pollutants under Section 112(b) of the Clean Air Act. Even though the source 

of their listing is the Clean Air Act, releases of radionuclides to all media, not just to air, are 

covered by CERCLA's reporting requirements. 

 toxic pollutants that are subject to pretreatment standards under Section 307(a) of the Clean 

Water Act (CWA) and toxic pollutants that present an imminent danger to public health 

when discharged to waters of the United States as designated under Section 311(b)(2)(A) of 

the Clean Water Act. All Clean Water Act hazardous substances are CERCLA hazardous 

substances, but only some CERCLA hazardous substances are Clean Water Act hazardous 

substances. 

 wastes that are regulated as listed and/or characteristic 

hazardous wastes under the Resource Conservation and 

Recovery Act (RCRA). This includes thousands of 

hazardous wastes that are not specifically listed but that 

exhibit one or more of the characteristics of ignitability, 

reactivity, corrosivity or toxicity. A material is 

considered to be a release of a CERCLA hazardous 

substance if the material was a waste prior to release, or if 

the substance is not cleaned up for reuse and thus must be 

disposed of as a RCRA hazardous waste after release. 

Report releases at or above 

the reportable quantity (RQ) 

within 24 hours: 

 Hazardous air pollutants 

under Section 112(b) of 

Clean Air Act 

 Toxic pollutants under 

Section 307(a) or under 

Section 311(b)(2)(A) of 

Clean Water Act 

 RCRA hazardous wastes 

 Elements, compounds or 

substances under Section 

102 of CERCLA 

 any element, compound, mixture solution or substance 

designated under Section 102 of CERCLA that may 

present substantial danger to public health or welfare or 

the environment. 

 any imminently hazardous chemical substance or mixture that EPA has taken action against 

under Section 7 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Any hazardous chemical 

substance or mixture that EPA has taken action against under this Act would automatically 

become a hazardous substance. To date, EPA hasn't designated any hazardous substances 

under the Toxic Substances Control Act. 

The person in charge of a facility or vessel must immediately report a release to the National 

Response Center (NRC) as soon as they have knowledge of a release to the environment of a 

CERCLA hazardous substance at or above the reportable quantity assigned to that substance within 

a 24-hour period. If the release is a mixture or solution of hazardous substances, it must be reported 

if the reportable quantity for any hazardous constituents is met or exceeded. If the responsible party 

doesn't know the quantity of one or more of the hazardous constituents contained in a mixture or 

solution, they must report the release if the total amount of the mixture or solution released equals 

or exceeds the reportable quantity for the hazardous constituent with the lowest reportable quantity. 

Reporting is also required if a non-CERCLA substance is released into the environment and rapidly 

degrades into a CERCLA hazardous substance in an amount that equals or exceeds the reportable 

quantity for the newly formed CERCLA hazardous substance. 

2 
Reporting Environmental Releases in Colorado January 2009 

These notification and reporting requirements are included in 40 CFR Part 302. A list of CERCLA 

hazardous substances is included in Table 302.4 of these regulations. 

B. Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) 

The Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 reauthorized the Comprehensive 

Response, Compensation and Liability Act to continue cleanup activities around the country. 

Several amendments, definitions, clarifications and technical requirements were added to the 

legislation, including additional enforcement authorities. Title III of the Superfund Amendments 

also authorized the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), which 

established the community's right to information about the chemicals that are stored, used at and/or 

released from local facilities. It also established a framework for developing emergency plans for 

responding to releases and reporting requirements for facilities. 

A list of EPCRA threshold 

planning quantities (TPQ) is 

included in 40 CFR Part 

355 Appendices A & B. 

Under this Act, owners or operators of facilities at which a 

hazardous substance or extremely hazardous substance is produced, 

used or stored must provide immediate notification to the National 

Response Center (NRC), the State Emergency Response 

Commission (SERC) and the affected Local Emergency Planning 

Committee (LEPC) when there is a release of a hazardous substance or extremely hazardous 

substance with the potential to affect off-site persons that equals or exceeds its reportable quantity 

within a 24-hour period. If the release is an EPCRA extremely hazardous substance, but not a 

CERCLA hazardous substance, then only the SERC and LEPC need to be notified. Note – there 

may be more than one SERC and/or LEPC potentially affected by a release. Don’t wait until there 

is a release to contact the SERC and LEPC(s) to ensure that the correct contacts will be made in the 

event of a spill. For a list of LEPCs, contact the Colorado Department of Local Affairs. 

The owner or operator of the facility must report a release as soon as they know about it. In 

addition to immediate telephone notification, the responsible party must also send a follow-up 

written report as soon as practicable after the release to both the State Emergency Response 

Commission (in this case, to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment) and the 

Local Emergency Planning Committee. This report must describe the release, associated response 

actions taken, and any known or anticipated health risks associated with the release. 

A table of CERCLA reportable quantities 

(RQ) is included in 40 CFR Section 302.4.

Although EPCRA requires notification only for 

releases that have the potential to affect persons beyond 

the facility boundary, EPA and the Colorado 

Department of Public Health and Environment strongly encourage facilities to report onsite releases 

if there is ANY potential for the release to migrate offsite. The burden of proof is on the facility to 

show that any release into the environment of a reportable quantity or more of a hazardous 

substance or extremely hazardous substance has NO POTENTIAL for offsite migration (e.g., via 

groundwater, the wind or getting tracked offsite by workers and vehicles). 

The State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) in Colorado is called the Colorado 

Emergency Planning Commission (CEPC). It consists of representatives of the Colorado 

Department of Public Health and Environment – Hazardous Materials and Waste Management 

Division, the Colorado Department of Local Affairs – Colorado Division of Emergency 

Management and the Division of Local Government, the Colorado Department of Public Safety – 

3 
Reporting Environmental Releases in Colorado January 2009 

Fire Safety Division, and the Colorado State Patrol. The Commission also includes representatives 

of affected industries, local governments, public interest or community groups and the Local 

Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) community. The Colorado Department of Public Health 

and Environment represents the Commission for reporting purposes. 

Reportable Quantities Under CERCLA and EPCRA 

All reportable quantities are listed in pounds (except radionuclides, which are in curies). Congress 

established a one pound reportable quantity for all hazardous substances and extremely hazardous 

substances until EPA could evaluate each substance and adjust the reportable quantity to a level 

more appropriate for the substance. During this assessment, each hazardous substance was 

evaluated for six primary criteria: aquatic toxicity, mammalian toxicity, ignitability, reactivity, 

chronic toxicity, and potential carcinogenicity. Reportable quantities for CERCLA hazardous 

substances are listed in 40 CFR Section 302.4. 

EPCRA extremely hazardous substances that are also hazardous substances under CERCLA have 

the same reportable quantity that is applicable under CERCLA. If not also listed as a CERCLA 

hazardous substance, extremely hazardous substances have a reportable quantity equal to the 

EPCRA threshold planning quantity (TPQ) for that substance. The threshold planning quantity is 

the quantity designated for each chemical in 40 CFR Part 355 Appendices A and B that triggers 

notification by facilities to the State Emergency Response Commission that those facilities are 

subject to emergency planning requirements. 

For convenience, reportable quantities for hazardous substances and extremely hazardous 

substances can also be found in the EPA List of Lists (EPA 550-B-01-003). Bear in mind that 

because this document is only updated periodically, it may not contain recently added substances. 

EPCRA extremely hazardous substances that 

are also CERCLA hazardous substances have 

the same RQ as under CERCLA. 

EPCRA extremely hazardous substances that 

are not listed under CERCLA have an RQ 

equal to their TPQ under EPCRA. 

All concurrent releases of the same substance from a single facility must be combined to determine 

if a reportable quantity has been met or exceeded. Releases of different substances from a single 

facility should not be combined for purposes of determining if the releases need to be reported. 

Rather, each substance should be evaluated separately to determine if one or more reportable 

quantities have been met or exceeded. For example, spilling a mixture containing half the 

reportable quantity of one hazardous substance and 

half the reportable quantity of another hazardous 

substance does not trigger the reporting 

requirement. Releases from separate facilities 

should be treated as separate releases and should 

not be combined to determine if a reportable 

quantity has been met or exceeded. 

Mixtures 

Most hazardous substances and extremely hazardous substances are not used or stored in pure form, 

but are mixtures or solutions. If a mixture of hazardous substances or extremely hazardous 

substances is released and the concentration of all hazardous substances and extremely hazardous 

substances in the mixture is known, then you must calculate the amount of each hazardous 

substance and extremely hazardous substance that has been released. If there is more than one 

hazardous substance or extremely hazardous substance in a mixture, you must check the reportable 

quantity for each substance. The release must be reported if the reportable quantity for any 

4 
Reporting Environmental Releases in Colorado January 2009 

hazardous substance or extremely hazardous substance has been met or exceeded. If the 

concentrations of the hazardous substances or extremely hazardous substances in the mixture are 

not known, then the release must be reported when the total amount of the mixture released equals 

or exceeds the reportable quantity for the constituent with the lowest reportable quantity. 

Radionuclides 

Releases of radionuclides in a mixture are additive. These releases are subject to reporting: 

 if each radionuclide in a released mixture or solution is known, then the ratio between the 

quantity released and the reportable quantity for the radionuclide must be determined for 

each radionuclide. If the sum of the ratios for the radionuclides in the mixture or solution 

released is equal to or greater than one, it must be reported. 

 if all of the radionuclides in the mixture are known but the quantity released of one or more 

of the radionuclides is unknown, it must be reported if the total quantity released is equal to 

or greater than the lowest reportable quantity of any one radionuclide in the mixture. 

 if one or more radionuclides in the mixture is unknown, it must be reported if the total 

quantity released is equal to or greater than either one curie or the lowest reportable quantity 

of any of the known radionuclides in the mixture (whichever is lower). 

Exceptions and Exclusions 

Petroleum Products 

A release of a petroleum product 

containing a reportable quantity of 

an EPCRA extremely hazardous 

substance is reportable. 

Under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), 

petroleum products are excluded from the definition of hazardous substance. "Petroleum product" 

includes crude oil, any fraction of crude oil that is not specifically listed as a hazardous substance, 

natural and synthetic gases, and mixtures of natural and synthetic gases. EPA interprets petroleum 

as including those amounts of hazardous substances, like 

benzene, that are indigenous to crude oil or its fractions or 

that are normally added during the refining process. 

Hazardous substances added to the petroleum or increased 

in concentration solely as a result of contamination during 

use are not included in the petroleum exclusion.

Unlike the petroleum exclusion under CERCLA, extremely hazardous substances that are naturally 

occurring in petroleum products or that are normally added during refining are subject to reporting 

under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA). Therefore, a release 

of a petroleum product containing a reportable quantity of one or more extremely hazardous 

substances is reportable to the Colorado Emergency Planning Commission (CERC) and the Local 

Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) if a reportable quantity is met or exceeded. 

Note: releases of oil and petroleum to water are also covered 

under the Clean Water Act (Section E of this document). 

Releases of petroleum from regulated storage tanks are covered 

under the Colorado storage tank regulations (Section H of this 

document). 

The responsible party is always 

responsible for appropriate clean 

up actions whether or not the 

release is required to be reported. 

5 
Reporting Environmental Releases in Colorado January 2009 

Metals 

Under normal handling and use, solid forms of most metals present few health hazards. Metal fines 

and metal dust may cause irritation of the eyes, skin, and respiratory system, and fine particles of 

certain metals, including antimony, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, nickel, 

selenium, silver, thallium, or zinc, dispersed in the air can be an explosion and/or health hazard. 

EPA has determined that releases of these metals with particles larger than 100 micrometers would 

not normally require response action due to the unlikely inhalation of such large particles. 

However, notification of the release of a reportable quantity of antimony, arsenic, beryllium, 

cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, nickel, selenium, silver, thallium, or zinc is required if the mean 

diameter of the particles released is less than 100 micrometers (0.004 inches). An exception to this 

is a release of a metal classified as a radionuclide, which does not qualify for this exemption even if 

the particles meet the size criteria. 

Naturally Occurring Radionuclides 

Notification of the release of naturally occurring radionuclides from large land holdings, like parks 

or golf courses, is not required. EPA broadened this exemption to include land containing ore 

reserves even if the undisturbed ores contain elevated natural concentrations of radionuclides, and 

to land disturbance activities including farming, construction, and disturbance incidental to 

extraction activities at all mines except uranium, phosphate, tin, zircon, hafnium, vanadium, 

monazite, and rare earth mines. Land disturbance incidental to extraction activities includes land 

clearing, overburden removal and stockpiling, and excavating, handling, transporting and storing 

ores and other raw materials. Land disturbance incidental to extraction also includes replacing 

materials in mined-out areas as long as those materials have not been processed and don't contain 

elevated radionuclide concentrations. Notification of the release of naturally occurring 

radionuclides from sites where coal and coal ash (fly ash, bottom ash, boiler slag) are stored or 

disposed is also not required. 

Federally Permitted Releases 

Releases that are regulated under one or more of the following programs are exempt from CERCLA 

and EPCRA reporting requirements: 

 permitted discharges under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES); 

 permitted dredge and fill discharges under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act; 

 permitted and interim status hazardous waste units under the Resource Conservation and 

Recovery Act; 

 permitted discharges under the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act; 

 permitted injection of fluids under the Underground Injection Control (UIC) program in 

accordance with the Safe Drinking Water Act; 

 air emissions subject to permit or control regulations under the Clean Air Act; 

 permitted or allowed injection of fluids to develop crude oil or natural gas supplies; 

 discharges of contaminants to Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) if in compliance 

with pretreatment requirements under the Clean Water Act; 

 releases of certain nuclear materials if in compliance with a license, permit, regulation or 

order issued in accordance with the Atomic Energy Act. 

Registered Pesticides 

The normal application of a pesticide product registered under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide 

and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) is exempt from CERCLA and EPCRA reporting. This exemption 

includes the handling and storage of the product by an agricultural producer, but does not include 

6 
Reporting Environmental Releases in Colorado January 2009 

any spills of the pesticide. Pesticide spills are reportable if the amount spilled meets or exceeds the 

reportable quantity. 

Continuous Releases 

A continuous release is a release that occurs without interruption or abatement or that is routine, 

anticipated, intermittent, and incidental to normal operations or treatment processes. When a 

release of this type occurs, officials do not have to be notified each time. Instead, the facility can 

report it as a continuous release to the National Response Center, the Colorado Emergency Planning 

Commission and the Local Emergency Planning Committee(s) by telephone. This should be 

followed by a written report submitted to EPA Region 8, the Colorado Department of Public Health 

and Environment and the Local Emergency Planning Committee within 30 days of the initial 

telephone call. The written report should provide information about the source, composition, and 

normal range of the release. Periodic follow-up reports may also be required. Any release that 

exceeds the normal range (called a “statistically significant increase”) must be reported immediately 

to the National Response Center, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and 

the Local Emergency Planning Committee as if they were new release events. The normal range is 

determined by the amount of a hazardous substance released over any 24-hour period under normal 

operating conditions during the preceding year. Only releases that are both continuous and stable in 

quantity and rate can be included in the normal range. 

 

Continuous release of an extremely hazardous substance that is not a CERCLA hazardous substance 

need only be reported to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Local 

Emergency Planning Committee. A written report should also be sent to these two agencies within 

30 days and any statistically significant increases in the release should be reported to both agencies. 

Periodic follow-up reports may also be required. 

C. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) 

All Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) listed and characteristic hazardous wastes 

are designated as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, 

Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA). For more information on listed and characteristic 

hazardous wastes, please review the Hazardous Waste Identification Guidance Document from the 

Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division (http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/hm/hwid.pfd). 

The reportable quantity for F- and K-listed hazardous wastes is based on the hazardous waste code. 

If the composition and concentrations of all included constituents is not known, the reportable 

quantity would be as listed for the waste code in 40 CFR Section 302.4. If the waste is analyzed 

and the concentrations of ALL of its hazardous constituents are identified, then reportable quantities 

of the specific constituents can be used to determine when reporting is required. For example, if a 

release of an F005 listed hazardous waste occurred and the concentrations of the constituents 

making up the waste were unknown, the reportable quantity would be 100 pounds. If it were known 

that the F005 waste was comprised of 50% toluene (reportable quantity 1000 pounds) and 50% 

methyl ethyl ketone (reportable quantity 5000 pounds), then the release would be reported when 

2000 pounds of the mixture were released. [Since the reportable quantity for toluene is less than 

that for methyl ethyl ketone, the amount of toluene released will determine when the release must 

be reported. Since the mixture is 50% toluene, it would take 2000 pounds of the mixture to meet 

the reportable quantity of 1000 pounds for toluene.] 

7 
Reporting Environmental Releases in Colorado January 2009 

P- and U-listed hazardous wastes are reported based on the reportable quantity for the hazardous 

substance that the waste is listed for. For example, the reportable quantity for hazardous waste code 

U122 (formaldehyde) is 100 pounds. For the purposes of release reporting, it doesn't matter if the 

formaldehyde is used or unused or is the "sole active ingredient" in order to be reportable. (Related 

note: Colorado's hazardous waste regulations (6 CCR 1007-3) do not include the footnote regarding 

sole active ingredients. In Colorado, chemicals may have more than one active ingredient and still 

meet the listing description.) 

All RCRA listed and characteristic 

hazardous wastes are designated 

as hazardous substances under 

CERCLA. 

Unlisted hazardous wastes exhibiting the characteristics of 

ignitability, corrosivity and/or reactivity have a reportable 

quantity of 100 pounds unless the concentrations of all the 

constituents in the waste are known. If the waste is analyzed 

and the concentrations of ALL its hazardous constituents are 

identified, the reportable quantities of the specific constituents should be used to determine when 

reporting is required. For example, a corrosive-only waste of unknown composition has a 

reportable quantity of 100 pounds. If the waste is analyzed to determine that it was a 50% solution 

of hydrochloric acid in water, then the reportable quantity of the solution would be 10,000 pounds. 

[The reportable quantity for hydrochloric acid is 5000 pounds. Therefore it would take 10,000 

pounds of the 50% solution to meet the reportable quantity for hydrochloric acid.] 

Unlisted hazardous wastes that exhibit toxicity have reportable quantities specific to the constituent 

on which the characteristic of toxicity is based. The reportable quantity applies to the waste itself, 

not just to the toxic contaminant. If an unlisted hazardous waste exhibits toxicity on the basis of 

more than one contaminant, the reportable quantity for the waste is the lowest of the reportable 

quantities for those contaminants. For example, if a waste exhibits toxicity characteristics for the 

heavy metals lead (D008) and selenium (D010), with reportable quantities of 10 and 100 pounds 

respectively, the reportable quantity would be 10 pounds of the waste, or the lower of the two 

reportable quantities. If a waste exhibits a toxicity characteristic and one or more other hazardous 

waste characteristics, the reportable quantity for that waste is the lowest of the applicable reportable 

quantities. 

These notification and reporting requirements are included in 40 CFR Part 302. 

Permitted and Interim Status Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facilities and Large 

Quantity Generators of Hazardous Waste 

Large quantity generators of hazardous waste and hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal 

facilities (TSDF) are required to have and implement a contingency plan that describes the actions 

facility personnel must take in response to fires, explosions, or any unplanned sudden or nonsudden release of hazardous waste or hazardous waste constituents to air, soil, surface water or 

groundwater at the facility. Whenever there is an imminent or actual emergency situation, 

appropriate State and local agencies with designated response roles as described in the contingency 

plan must be notified immediately. Appropriate local authorities and the National Response Center 

or government official designated as the regional on-scene coordinator must be notified 

immediately if the facility's emergency coordinator determines that the facility has had a release, 

fire, or explosion that could threaten human health or the environment outside the facility. A 

treatment, storage, and disposal facility's permit generally requires reporting to the Colorado 

Department of Public Health and Environment – Hazardous Materials and Waste Management 

Division of any release, fire or explosion, even if the amount of the release is less than an otherwise 

reportable quantity. 

8 
Reporting Environmental Releases in Colorado January 2009 

The Department and local authorities must be notified when the facility is back in compliance and 

ready to resume operations. In addition, the facility must send a written report to both the EPA 

Regional Administrator and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment within 15 

days of any incident that requires implementation of the facility contingency plan. 

In the case of a release of hazardous waste stored in tanks, the facility must notify the Hazardous 

Materials and Waste Management Division within 24 hours of a release to the environment of more 

than one pound. A leak or spill of hazardous waste that is less than or equal to one pound from a 

tank or tank system does not need to be reported if the release is immediately contained and cleaned 

up. Within 30 days of the release, a written report must be submitted to the Division. 

These notification and reporting requirements are included in 6 CCR 1007-3 Sections 264.56 and 

265.56 and Sections 264.196(d) and 265.196(d). 

D. Radiation Control 

Releases of radionuclides are 

reportable under CERCLA. 

The state of Colorado has specific reporting requirements for stolen, lost or missing licensed or 

registered sources of radiation. Each licensee or registrant must report to the Colorado Department 

of Public Health and Environment by telephone in the event of lost, stolen or missing licensed or 

registered radioactive materials, a lost, stolen, or missing radiation machine, releases of radioactive 

materials, contamination events, and fires or explosions involving radioactive materials. Incidents 

should be reported to the Radiation Incident Reporting Line. Based on the severity of the event, 

notification may be required immediately, within 24 hours or within 30 days. A follow-up written 

report must also be submitted to the Department within 30 

days of initial notification. The licensee must also report any 

additional substantive information regarding a loss or theft 

incident within 30 days after learning of such information. 

These release and notification requirements are contained in 6 CCR 1007-1 Sections 4.51 - 4.53. 

E. Clean Water Act 

The Clean Water Act (CWA) requires the person in charge of a facility or vessel to make an 

immediate report to the National Response Center of discharges of harmful quantities of oil to 

navigable waters as soon as they have knowledge of the release. In this case, oil means oil of any 

kind or in any form including, but not limited to, petroleum, fuel oil, sludge, oil refuse, and oil 

mixed with wastes other than dredged spoil. Discharges of oil that violate applicable water quality 

standards and those that cause a film, sheen or discoloration of the surface of the water or adjoining 

shorelines, or cause a sludge or emulsion to be deposited beneath the surface of the water or on 

adjoining shorelines must be reported. In effect, this means that any discharge of oil to waters of 

the United States must be reported to the National Response Center. These release and notification 

requirements are contained in 40 CFR Part 110. 

The Clean Water Act (CWA) also requires the person in charge of a facility or vessel to report to 

the National Response Center the discharge of a designated hazardous substance from the vessel or 

facility to waters of the United States in quantities that equal or exceed the reportable quantity as 

soon as they have knowledge of the release. Under the Act, the US EPA was directed to establish 

reporting quantities for all hazardous substances listed in Table 116.4 A and B (40 CFR Part 116), 

which were designated as hazardous substances in accordance with Section 311(b)(2)(A) of the 

9 
Reporting Environmental Releases in Colorado January 2009 

Clean Water Act. This designation includes any isomers and hydrates as well as any solutions and 

mixtures containing these substances. Each of these substances is included in the CERCLA list of 

hazardous substances (40 CFR Part 302 Table 302.4) and is assigned the reportable quantity listed 

in Table 302.4 for that substance. These release and notification requirements are contained in 40 

CFR Parts 116 and 117. 

Under the Clean Water Act, anyone that has a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System 

(NPDES) permit must report to the National Response Center within 24 hours of becoming aware 

of any unanticipated bypasses or upsets that cause an exceedance of the effluent limits in their 

permit and any violation of their maximum daily discharge limits for any pollutant listed in the 

permit. A written report must be provided within five days. Other instances of noncompliance 

must be reported when monitoring reports are submitted. 

The Clean Water Act also requires all industrial users of Publicly Owned Treatment Works 

(POTWs) to notify their treatment plant immediately if they have a discharge that could cause 

problems at the treatment plant. 

These notification and reporting requirements are included in 40 CFR Parts 122 and 403. 

State Requirements 

A spill of any chemical, oil, petroleum product, sewage, etc., which may enter waters of the state of 

Colorado (which include surface water, ground water, and dry gullies and storm sewers leading to 

surface water) must be reported immediately to the Colorado Department of Public Health and 

Environment. Any accidental discharge to the sanitary sewer system must be reported immediately 

to the local sewer authority and the affected wastewater treatment plant. If a release occurs at a 

mining operation, the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety should also be notified. 

For more information regarding State reporting requirements under 25-8-601(2) CRS, please refer 

to the “Guidance for Reporting Spills under the Colorado Water Quality Control Act and Colorado 

Discharge Permits” adopted by the Water Quality Control Division. This policy is available at 

http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/op/wqcc/Resources/Guidance/spillguidance.pdf. 

F. Safe Drinking Water Act 

The owner or operator of a public water system (community water systems, non-transient noncommunity water systems, and transient non-community water systems) must immediately report 

any credible threat to the water supply system to the Colorado Environmental Release and Incident 

Reporting Line and to the local emergency manager. The local emergency manager may be the 

county sheriff or a member of the fire department. A list of local emergency managers is available 

from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs. 

G. Clean Air Act 

Hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) listed in Section 112(b) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) are designated 

as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and 

Liability Act (CERCLA). Hazardous air pollutants are known or suspected to cause cancer or other 

serious health effects or adverse environmental effects. Health effects can include immunological, 

neurological, reproductive, developmental, and respiratory problems. In some cases, hazardous air 

10 
Reporting Environmental Releases in Colorado January 2009 

pollutants can be deposited onto soils or other surfaces, where they are taken in by plants and 

animals and can accumulate in organic tissue or pass up the food chain due to the inability of 

organisms to process the substance. 

The release (or air emission) of a hazardous air pollutant that is allowed and less than any limit 

specified in a facility's air permit is considered to be a federally permitted release. If the facility 

releases more than is allowed under its air permit within a 24 hour period, the facility must report 

the release if the quantity released exceeded the facility's permitted level by a reportable quantity or 

more. For example, if a facility has an air permit that allows the release of 30 pounds of a 

hazardous substance and that substance has a reportable quantity of 100 pounds, the facility would 

have to report all releases of 130 pounds or more of that substance. Releases of less than 130 

pounds would not need to be reported under CERCLA or EPCRA because even though the facility 

exceeded its permit limit, the amount released did not exceed the permitted level by its reportable 

quantity (in this case, 100 pounds) or more. If the air permit does not allow or does not specify the 

release of a hazardous air pollutant, then releases in excess of the CERCLA / EPCRA reportable 

quantity for that substance must be reported. Please be aware that other reporting requirements are 

triggered, however, based on the facility's air permit. The Clean Air Act (CAA) requires that 

permits for stationary air sources have language requiring prompt reporting of any emergencies, 

upsets and deviations from what is allowed in the permit. Releases must be reported to the National 

Response Center and to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Contact the 

Air Pollution Control Division for details on additional air-related requirements that may also apply. 

Hazardous air pollutants are included in the CERCLA list of hazardous substances in 40 CFR Part 

302 and are assigned the reportable quantity listed in Table 302.4 for each substance. 

State Requirements 

In the case of excess emissions during an emergency or malfunction, the owner or operator must 

notify the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment as soon as possible, but no later 

than noon of the next working day, and provide a written follow-up report to the Air Pollution 

Control Division by the end of the facility’s next reporting period. 

These notification and reporting requirements are included in 5 CCR 1001-2 Section II.E and 5 

CCR 1001-5, Regulation 3 Part C, Section VII.C. 

H. Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) and Aboveground Storage Tanks 

(ASTs) 

The reportable quantity for petroleum 

from a regulated storage tank system 

is 25 gallons. 

Owners and operators of regulated storage tank systems 

must report a release or suspected release of regulated 

substances to the Division of Oil and Public Safety at the 

Colorado Department of Labor and Employment within 24 

hours by telephone or facsimile. If outside normal working hours or on a weekend or holiday and 

emergency assistance is needed, the release can be reported to the Colorado Environmental Release 

and Incident Reporting line at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Any 

suspected release or release of unknown quantity is a reportable quantity unless the owner/operator 

can conclusively show the release is less than the reportable quantity for the released substance. 

11 
Reporting Environmental Releases in Colorado January 2009 

Under this program, the reportable quantity for petroleum releases is 25 gallons or more from 

regulated aboveground and underground storage tank systems, or any amount that causes a sheen on 

nearby surface water. This is interpreted to include releases from fuel pumps and fuel delivery 

trucks while connected to the petroleum storage tank system. Releases of less than 25 gallons from 

regulated petroleum storage tank systems, or a release of a hazardous substance that is less than the 

CERCLA reportable quantity, do not need to be reported to the Division of Oil and Public Safety if 

they are immediately contained and cleaned up. If cleanup cannot be accomplished within 24 

hours, the Division of Oil and Public Safety must be notified immediately. 

Spills or releases of hazardous substances in excess of the CERCLA reportable quantity from 

regulated underground storage tanks must also be reported to the National Response Center and the 

local fire authority immediately. Any release, regardless of quantity, that has or may impact waters 

of the state (including surface water, groundwater, dry gullies leading to surface water or storm 

sewers) must also be reported to the Colorado Environmental Release and Incident Reporting line 

immediately. 

These notification and reporting requirements are included in 7 CCR 1101-14 Article 4, 8-20.5-208 

CRS and 25-8-601 CRS. 

I. Hazardous Materials Transportation 

Highway, Aircraft, Rail and Vessel 

Federal hazardous materials transportation regulations cover the transportation of hazardous 

materials by highway, aircraft, rail, and vessel. Transportation includes activities related to 

transportation like loading, unloading, and temporary storage. "Hazardous material" includes 

hazardous substances, hazardous wastes, marine pollutants, elevated temperature materials as 

defined in 49 CFR Section 171.8, materials designated as hazardous in the Hazardous Materials 

Table in 49 CFR Section 172.101 and materials that meet the criteria for hazardous classes and 

division in 49 CFR Part 173. 

The person in physical possession of the hazardous material during transportation must notify the 

National Response Center as soon as practical, but not more than 12 hours after an incident, if as a 

direct result of a hazardous material: 

 a person is killed or is injured and requires hospitalization, 

 there is an evacuation of the general public that lasts more than an hour, 

 a major transportation artery or facility is shut down for an hour or more, 

 the operational flight pattern or routine of an aircraft is altered, 

 there is fire, breakage, spillage, or suspected contamination involving a radioactive material, 

 there is fire, breakage, spillage, or suspected contamination involving an infectious 

substance other than a regulated medical waste, 

 there is a release of a marine pollutant in a quantity exceeding 119 gallons for liquids or 882 

pounds for solids, 

 or any situation that, in the judgment of the person in possession of the hazardous material, 

should be reported even though it doesn't meet the above criteria. 

Notice of incidents involving an infectious substance may be given to the Director of the Centers 

for Disease Control and Prevention (1-800-232-0124) instead of notifying the National Response 

Center. 

12 
Reporting Environmental Releases in Colorado January 2009 

The person in possession of the hazardous material at the time of the incident must submit a written 

report within 30 days of the incident to the US Department of Transportation. In addition, a written 

report must be submitted if there is an unintentional release of a hazardous material or the discharge 

of any quantity of hazardous waste even though verbal notification may not be required. If the 

incident involves air transportation, a copy of the report must also be submitted to the Federal 

Aviation Administration Security Field Office nearest the location of the incident. 

These notification and reporting requirements are included in 49 CFR Sections 171.15 and 171.16. 

State Requirements 

The State also has specific requirements for reporting incidents involving hazardous materials or 

nuclear materials as cargo during transportation. The driver of a motor vehicle involved in a spill of 

hazardous material from a fuel tank that provides fuel for the vehicle and/or equipment on that 

vehicle must immediately notify the nearest law enforcement agency. The driver of a vehicle 

transporting nuclear or hazardous materials as cargo that is involved in a spill, or an incident which 

may result in a potential spill, must immediately notify the nearest law enforcement agency. As 

soon as possible after the initial notification of the spill or incident to the nearest law enforcement 

agency, the driver or a company representative must notify the Colorado State Patrol and the 24-

hour Colorado Environmental Release and Incident Reporting Line. In addition, the driver of a 

motor vehicle transporting nuclear materials as cargo must immediately notify the Colorado State 

Patrol if the vehicle is involved in a crash, whether or not there is damage to the vehicle. 

 

Report releases along a highway to the 

National Response Center, nearest local 

law enforcement agency, Colorado State 

Patrol, and Colorado Environmental 

Release and Incident Reporting Line. 

If the incident involves the release of hazardous 

waste, the transporter must notify the Colorado 

Department of Public Health and Environment and 

report the ultimate disposition of the waste to the 

Department in addition to the notifications above. In 

the event of a spill of hazardous waste at a transfer 

facility, the transporter must notify the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment 

within 24 hours of a spill exceeding 55 gallons or if there is a fire or explosion. A written report 

must be sent to the Department within 15 days after the incident. 

These notification and reporting requirements are included in 8 CCR 1507-25 Parts I and IV and 6 

CCR 1007-3 Part 263. 

Pipelines 

In Colorado, the US Department of Transportation Office of Pipeline Safety inspects, regulates, and 

enforces interstate gas pipeline safety requirements. They also inspect, regulate, and enforce both 

intra- and interstate liquid pipeline safety requirements in this state. Through certification by the 

Office of Pipeline Safety, the Gas Pipeline Safety Division of the Colorado Public Utilities 

Commission regulates, inspects, and enforces intrastate gas pipeline safety requirements. Pipeline 

facilities include transmission, distribution, regulated gathering, master metered, liquefied natural 

gas, and propane gas systems. Be aware that these regulations are primarily for pipeline safety. Be 

sure to review other environmental release reporting requirements. 

Hazardous Liquids and Carbon Dioxide 

13 
Reporting Environmental Releases in Colorado January 2009 

Federal hazardous materials transportation regulations cover the transportation of hazardous liquids 

and carbon dioxide by pipeline. In this case, hazardous liquid is limited to petroleum, petroleum 

products, and anhydrous ammonia in a non-gaseous state. Petroleum includes crude oil, 

condensate, natural gasoline, natural gas liquids, and liquefied petroleum gas. Petroleum product 

includes flammable, toxic or corrosive products obtained from distilling and processing of crude oil, 

unfinished oils, natural gas liquids, blend stocks, and other miscellaneous hydrocarbon compounds. 

As early as practicable following discovery of a release of a hazardous liquid or carbon dioxide 

from a pipeline system, the operator must notify the National Response Center by telephone if: 

 a person is killed or is injured and requires hospitalization, 

 there is a fire or explosion not intentionally set by the operator, 

 there is estimated property damage (including cost of cleanup and recovery, value of lost 

product, and damage to property) exceeding $50,000, 

 there is pollution of any stream, river, reservoir, or other body of water that violated 

applicable water quality standards, caused a discoloration of the surface of the water or 

adjoining shoreline, or deposited a sludge or emulsion beneath the surface of the water or 

adjoining shoreline, or 

 there is any situation that, in the judgment of the operator, should be reported even though it 

doesn't meet the above criteria. 

A written accident report must be submitted to the US Department of Transportation Office of 

Pipeline Safety as soon as practicable, but not later than 30 days after discovery of a release. A 

supplemental report must be submitted within 30 days if the operator receives any updates or 

additions to the information originally reported. 

These notification and reporting requirements are included in 49 CFR Part 195. 

Natural Gas and Liquefied Natural Gas 

Federal hazardous materials transportation regulations also cover the transportation of natural gas 

by pipeline and activities occurring at a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility where natural and 

synthetic gas are liquefied, transferred or stored. 

As early as practicable following discovery of a release of gas from a pipeline or of liquefied natural 

gas or gas from a liquefied natural gas facility, but generally not to exceed two hours after 

discovery, the operator must notify the National Response Center and the Colorado Public Utilities 

Commission Gas Pipeline Safety Section by telephone if: 

 a person is killed or is injured and requires hospitalization, 

 there is estimated property damage (including value of lost product and damage to property) 

of $50,000 or more, 

 there is an event that results in an emergency shutdown of a liquefied natural gas facility, or 

 there is any situation that, in the judgment of the operator, should be reported even though it 

doesn't meet the above criteria. 

As early as practicable, but not later than 30 days after discovery and verbal report of a release, the 

operator must submit a written report to the US Department of Transportation Office of Pipeline 

Safety. A supplemental report must be submitted within 30 days if the operator receives relevant 

updates or additions to the information originally reported. 

14 
Reporting Environmental Releases in Colorado January 2009 

These notification and reporting requirements are included in 49 CFR Part 191 and 4 CCR 723-4 

Sections 4900 - 4914. 

State Requirements 

If there is a leak on a gas pipeline, a liquefied natural gas system, a master meter system, or a 

propane system that results in the evacuation of 50 or more people from a normally occupied 

building or results in the closure of a roadway, the operator must contact the Colorado Public 

Utilities Commission Gas Pipeline Safety Section by telephone within two hours of discovery. 

This notification requirement is contained in 4 CCR 723-4 Section 4911. 

J. Oil and Gas Exploration and Production 

Federal oil and gas lease surface operations are managed by the US Department of the Interior 

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in cooperation with the appropriate Federal surface 

management agency or non-Federal surface owner. On National Forest System lands, the Forest 

Service has approval authority for the surface use portion of Federal oil and gas operations and for 

appeals related to Forest Service decisions and approvals. The BLM considers the Bureau of Indian 

Affairs to be the surface management agency for all Indian lands unless a Tribe has contracted the 

Bureau of Indian Affairs realty function for its lands. 

“... All spills or leakages of oil, gas, salt water, toxic liquids or waste materials, blowouts, fires, 

personal injuries, and fatalities shall be reported by the operator to the BLM and the surface 

management agency in accordance with the requirements of Notice to Lessees NTL-3A; Reporting 

of Undesirable Events, and in accordance with any applicable local requirements. 

The BLM requires immediate reporting of all Class I major events, such as spills of more than 100 

barrels of fluid/500 MCF of gas released; fires that consume 100 bbl or more oil or 500 MCF gas; 

life threatening or fatal injury/loss of well control; release of reportable quantities of hazardous 

substances; spill, venting, or fire in sensitive areas, such as parks, recreation sites, wildlife refuges, 

lakes, reservoirs, streams, and urban or suburban areas” ... “Volumes discharged during any of the 

above incidents will be estimated as necessary. Operators must take immediate action to prevent 

and control spills and the BLM, the surface management agency, and other applicable regulatory 

authorities must be consulted prior to treating or disposing of wastes and spills. Operators should 

become familiar with local surface management agency requirements for reporting and managing 

spills and leaks. ...” (BLM “The Gold Book,” Fourth Edition, Revised 2007) 

State Requirements 

Spills and releases of Exploration and Production (E&P) waste and produced fluids should be 

controlled and contained immediately upon discovery. Impacts resulting from spills and releases 

should be investigated and cleaned up as soon as practicable. 

If there is a spill or release of more than 20 barrels of 

E&P waste, it must be verbally reported to the Colorado 

Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) as soon 

as practicable, but not more than 24 hours after discovery. 

If there is a spill or release of any size that impacts or 

The rules and regulations for oil and 

gas exploration and production have 

recently been revised. Most of these 

changes become effective May 1, 

2009 on federal land and April 1, 2009 

on all other land. 

15 
Reporting Environmental Releases in Colorado January 2009 

16 

could impact waters of the state, a residence or an occupied structure, livestock or a public byway, it 

must be verbally reported to the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission as soon as 

practicable, but not more than 24 hours after discovery. Spills or releases of any size that impact or 

threaten to impact any surface water supply area must be reported to the Colorado Oil and Gas 

Conservation Commission and to the Colorado Environmental Release and Incident Reporting Line. 

If the release impacts or threatens to impact a surface water intake, it must be verbally reported to 

the emergency contact for that facility immediately after discovery. The operator must notify the 

affected surface owner or their appointed tenant of all reportable spills as soon as practicable, but 

not more than 24 hours after discovery. 

Chemical spills and releases must be reported in accordance with all applicable state and federal 

laws, including the Emergency Planning and community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), the 

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), the Oil 

Pollution Act, and the Clean Water Act. 

Releases of more than 5 barrels of E&P waste, and all other reportable releases, must also be 

reported on COGCC Form 19 and submitted to the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation 

Commission within 10 days after discovery of the release. 

These notification requirements are contained in the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation 

Commission 900-Series Rules. 

K. Polychlorinated Biphenyls 

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are managed under the Toxic Substances Control Act. 

Substances with concentrations greater than or equal to 50 parts per million PCBs are regulated 

under 40 CFR Part 761, which is implemented by the US Environmental Protection Agency. If a 

spill of the substance directly contaminates surface water, sewers, drinking water supplies, grazing 

lands, or vegetable gardens and/or the spill exceeds 10 pounds of PCBs by weight, the responsible 

party must notify the EPA within 24 hours. In Colorado, contact the Region 8 Emergency Response 

Spill Report Line. If the spill involves 10 pounds or less of PCBs and does not involve any of these 

resources, the spill must still be cleaned up, but notification to EPA isn't required. Unless 

commingled with a hazardous waste, releases of substances containing less than 50 parts per million 

PCBs are regulated under Colorado's solid waste regulations 6 CCR 1007-2. The solid waste 

regulations do not have specific release reporting requirements at this time. 

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) has set 

the reportable quantity for PCBs at one (1) pound. Any release of oil or other substance containing 

greater than or equal to one pound of PCBs must be reported to the National Response Center as 

soon as the release is discovered. In addition, if the release impacts waters of the state of Colorado, 

the release must be reported as per the Water Quality Control Division’s reporting policy (see 

“Guidance for Reporting Spills under the Colorado Water Quality Control Act and Colorado 

Discharge Permits”, http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/op/wqcc/Resources/Guidance/spillguidance.pdf). 
Reporting Environmental Releases in Colorado January 2009 

Abbreviations & Definitions 

CAA – Clean Air Act 

CCR – Code of Colorado Regulations 

CDPHE – Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment 

CEPC – Colorado Emergency Planning Commission 

CERCLA – Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act 

CFR – Code of Federal Regulations 

CRS – Colorado Revised Statues 

CWA – Clean Water Act 

EPA – United States Environmental Protection Agency 

EPCRA – Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act 

LEPC – Local Emergency Planning Committee 

NRC – National Response Center 

RCRA – Resource Conservation and Recovery Act 

SERC – State Emergency Response Commission 

SDWA – Safe Drinking Water Act 

EPA's List of Lists is a compendium of the lists of chemicals subject to reporting requirements 

under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), the Comprehensive 

Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) and chemicals listed under 

section 112(r) of the Clean Air Act (CAA). Lists are also provided of Resource Conservation and 

Recovery Act (RCRA) hazardous wastes and radionuclides reportable under the Comprehensive 

Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act. These lists should be used as reference 

tools, not as a definitive source of compliance information. Reporting requirements for the 

Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act and the Comprehensive Environmental 

Response, Compensation and Liability Act are published in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), 

40 CFR Parts 302 and 355 respectively. Compliance information for the Clean Air Act section 

112(r) is published in 40 CFR Part 68. The List of Lists is available on the Internet at 

http://yosemite.epa.gov/oswer/lol.nsf/homepage. 

Exploration and production (E&P) wastes are associated with operations to locate or remove oil 

or gas from the ground or to remove the impurities from oil or gas. 

Extremely Hazardous Substances (EHS) are chemicals that present the most serious hazards 

during release (in terms of toxicity, reactivity, volatility, combustibility, and flammability) and are 

regulated under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act (EPCRA). The 

extremely hazardous substances list consists of approximately 360 substances and is included in 

EPA’s List of Lists. 

Facility means any building, equipment, structure, installation, containment structure, pipe, other 

stationary feature, motor vehicle, rolling stock, or aircraft. Facility also includes any site where a 

hazardous substance is or has been located. 

Hazardous Materials are chemicals posing a hazard to human health or the environment when 

transported (49 USC 5103). They include hazardous substances, hazardous wastes, marine 

pollutants, elevated temperature materials, all materials in the Hazardous Materials Table (49 CFR 

172.101), and materials meeting the criteria for hazard classes in part 173 of subchapter C of 49 

CFR 172.101. 

17 
Reporting Environmental Releases in Colorado January 2009 

18 

Hazardous Substances are chemicals posing a hazard to human health or the environment and are 

regulated under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act 

(CERCLA). The hazardous substance list is included in EPA’s List of Lists. 

Reportable Quantity (RQ) is a term that applies to the amount of hazardous substances or 

extremely hazardous substances released within a 24-hour period. Note that the 24-hour period is 

the time frame for measuring the quantity released, not the time frame for reporting a release. 

 

Threshold Planning Quantity (TPQ) is a term that applies to the amount of an extremely 

hazardous substance that must be present onsite in concentrations greater than 1% by weight of a 

compound or mixture at which the facility must meet all emergency planning requirements. If not 

also listed as a CERCLA hazardous substance, extremely hazardous substances have a reportable 

quantity equal to the threshold planning quantity for that substance. 

“Waters of the State of Colorado” are any and all surface waters and subsurface waters 

(groundwater) that are contained in or flow in or through the state of Colorado. This includes lakes, 

rivers, streams, creeks, wetlands, irrigation ditches, storm drains, livestock ponds, borrow ditches, 

and dry gullies. This does not include waters in sewage systems, waters in treatment works of 

disposal systems, waters in potable water distribution systems, or water withdrawn for use until use 

and treatment have been completed.