UN I TED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTE C TION A G ENC Y W A S H ING T O N , D.C. 20460

William J. Erny Senior Director American Chemistry Council 700 2nd Street NE 

### ' Washington , DC 20002 Dear Mr. Erny: 

### MAR 2 4 2016 OFF I CE OF SOLID WASTE A ND EMERGENCY R E SPONSE NOW THE OFFICE OF LAND AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

Thank you for your letter of March 15, 2016 , to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) , requesting an extension of the comment deadline for the Accidental Release Prevention Requirements: Risk Management Programs under the Clean Air Act proposed rule and the related Information Collection Request (ICR). After considering your request , the EPA is unable to grant your request to extend the comment deadline on both the proposed rule and the I CR. Executive Order (EO) 13650 , 

### Improving Chemical Facilit y Safety and Security , focuses on reducing risks associated with hazardous chemical incidents. The EO Working Group , led by the EPA , the Department of Homeland Security , and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration , held multiple listening sessions , webinars, and meetings with stakeholder groups to solicit feedback on issues related to chemical faci l ity safety and security. I n addition , the Working Group published a preliminary list of options for improving chemical facility safety and security for stakeholde r comment. In the EO 13650 Report for the President entitled 

### Actions to Improve Chemical Facility Safety and Security - A S hared Commitment , modernizing the Risk Management Program (RMP) rule was identified as one of the top priorities to improve chemical facility safety and security . The report committed the EPA to conduct a request for information (RFI) to gather input and begin the regulatory process to modernize the RMP . On July 31 , 2014 , EPA issued an RFI , seeking comment on potential revisions to modernize its regulations, guidance , and policies. Since the publication of the RF I , we have held numerous outreach meetings with industry groups and collected information through the Small Business Advocacy Rev i ew (SBAR) Panel. Thus , EPA's RMP proposal reflects substantial input from stakeholders on the elements of the proposed rule to improve chemical process safety, assist local emergency authorities in planning for and responding to accidents , and improve public awareness of chemica l hazards at regulated facilities. In addition to the proposed rule ' s 60-day comment period , the EPA made available a pre-publication version on our website two weeks prior to publication. Also via the web, we made available many critical supporting documents , including the regulatory impact analysis , the technical background document , and the SBAR Panel final report and executive summary. Additionally , the pre-publication version of the proposed rule contained numerous footnote references to supporting documents that are otherwise available , including reports of the Chemical Safety Board , EPA accident investigation reports , I nternet Address (UAL) • http J/ www . epa.gov Recycl e d/Re c yclable • Printed w i th Vegetable O i l Based Inks on 100 % Postconsumer. Process Chlorine Free Recyc l ed Paper

### specific public conunents on the RFI, technical reports and journal articles. In li ght of the significant outreach efforts described above, as well as the substa nti a l amount of supporting material in the public doma in prior to publication of the proposed rule , we believe that the comme nt period's c urrent c l os in g date allows s u ffic i ent time fo r a ll interested parties to d evelop and s ubmit comments o n t h e proposal. We t ru st t hi s timely r espo n se i s helpful. We look forward to receivin g yo ur co mm e nt s on the proposal and the cont inu ed co ll abo r ation with yo u and ot h er s t akeho ld ers on this important effort. 

### If you have any questions, please fee l free to co n tact me. S in cere l y ,

# ~ R egg i e C h ea tham , Dir ec tor Office of Emergency Man age m e n t

### 3 EPA sent to the following organizations a n identical response dated March 24, 2 016 (same response sent to ACC ) regarding their request s for extension of the comment period deadline for both the RMP rule and the RMP ICR. The organizations’ request letters can be found in docket EPA - HQ OEM - 2015 - 0725 with the following document IDs:

Addressees Date of Request Letter Document ID William J. Erny Senior Director American Chemistry Council (ACC) 700 2nd Street NE Washington, DC 20002 March 15, 2016 EPA - HQ - OEM - 2 015 - 0725 - 0288 David C. Ailor, P.E. President American Coke and Coal Chemicals Institute 25 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Suite 800 Washington, DC 20001 March 14, 2016 EPA - HQ - OEM - 2015 - 0725 - 0289 David C. Ailor, P.E. Regulatory Affairs Advisor National Oilseed Processors Association 1300 L Street NW, Suite 1020 Washington, DC 20005 - 4168 March 15, 2106 EPA - HQ - OEM - 2015 - 0725 - 0290 Robyn Brooks Director, Health, Environmental, Safety and Security The Chlorine Institute 1300 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 525 Arlington, VA 22209 March 15, 2016 EPA - HQ - OEM - 2015 - 0725 - 0291 G. Tracy Mehan III Executive Director, Government Affairs American Water Works Association 1300 Eye St. NW #701 Washington, DC 20005 March 15, 2016 EPA - HQ - OEM - 2015 - 0725 - 0307

Javeneh Nekoomaram Counsel, Government Affairs American Coatings Association 1500 Rhode Island Ave., NW Washington, DC 20005 March 15, 2016 EPA - HQ - OEM - 2015 - 0725 - 0305 Andrew T. O' Hare, CAE VP, Public Policy The Fertilizer Institute 425 Third Street, SW, Suite 950 Washington, DC 20024 March 18, 2016 EPA - HQ - OEM - 2015 - 0725 - 0308

Sharon S. Broome Counsel for the Chemical Safety Advocacy Group Katten Muchin Rosenman 2900 K Street NW, North Tower, Suite 200 Washington, DC 20007 - 5118 March 17, 2016 EPA - HQ - OEM - 2015 - 0725 - 0298 EPA - HQ - OEM - 20 15 - 0725 - 0295

### 4 Ron Chittim American Petroleum Institute 1220 L St., NW, # 900 Washington, DC 20005 March 21, 2016 EPA - HQ - OEM - 2015 - 0725 - 0306 Daniel L. Chartier Vice President, Government Affairs Com Refiners Association 1701 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Suite 950 Washington, DC 20006 - 5805 March 17, 2016 EPA - HQ - OEM - 2015 - 0725 - 0309 Kathy G. Beckett Chair, Environmental Committee West Virginia Chamber of Commerce 1624 Kanawha Boulevard East Charleston, WV 25311 March 21, 2016 EPA - HQ - OEM - 2015 - 0725 - 0296

Keith Robson Manager Corporate Security, Security, and Emergency Preparedness Marathon Petroleum Company 539 South Main St Findlay, OH 45840 March 21, 2016 EPA - HQ - OEM - 2015 - 0725 - 0301 Ross E. Eisenberg VP, Energy & Resources Policy National Association of Manufac turers 733 10th Street, NW, Suite 700 Washington, DC 20001 March 22, 2016 EPA - HQ - OEM - 2015 - 0725 - 0303

Peter Lidiak VP, Government Affairs International Liquid Terminals Association 1005 North Glebe Road, Suite 600 Arlington, VA 22201 March 22, 2016 EPA - HQ - OEM - 2015 - 0725 - 0304

Anne M. Beauchesne Senior VP, National Security and Emergency Preparedness U.S. Chamber of Commerce 1615 H Street, NW Washington, DC 20062 March 22, 2016 EPA - HQ - OEM - 2015 - 0725 - 0310 Richard D. Gupton Senior Vice President, Public Policy & Counsel Agricultural Retailers Association 1156 15111 St., NW, Suite 500 Washington, DC 20005 March 22, 2 01 6 EPA - HQ - OEM - 2015 - 0725 - 0305

Jennifer C. Gibson VP, Regulatory Affairs National Association of Chemical Distributors 1560 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1100 Arlington, VA 22209 March 23, 2016 EPA - HQ - OEM - 2015 - 0725 - 0306