The discouraging aspect of this is more than 35 years after SARA regulations went into force, municipalities across this country (think West, TX, for example) still are not aware of/using the power of the Community Right to Know rules. I live in a state where the state really has pushed these rules down to the smallest community. While some may complain about the "nanny state" the leadership out of Sacramento has helped every community know what chemicals and to a large degree, what chemical processes, are present in the community.
For me, this is a real plus.
NL
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Stay healthy and prosper
NEAL LANGERMAN, Ph.D.
ADVANCED CHEMICAL SAFETY, Inc. (Retired)
5340 Caminito Cachorro
SAN DIEGO CA 92105
+1 (619) 990-4908
www.chemical-safety.com
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU> On Behalf Of Eugene Ngai
Sent: Friday, February 4, 2022 7:50 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] [External] [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines (10 articles)
Under SARA Title III if you handle or store above the threshold quantities of certain hazardous substances it would have to be reported to the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC). This is then to be used to coordinate a response between the company and the local ER agencies. This is a public forum. Ammonia for example has a threshold of 500 lbs. This information is searchable by state
https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/summary-emergency-planning-community-right-know-act
I have had to prepare these for a number of sites around the US as well as plan a response to an emergency at the site
Eugene Ngai
Chemically Speaking LLC
www.chemicallyspeakingllc.com
On 2/4/2022 6:57 AM, Ralph Stuart wrote:
As for how and if people are supposed to know hazardous materials are stored near where they live, local elected leaders say their hands are tied.
The city can't force a business to disclose what materials are on hand, and businesses aren't required to disclose that information.
???? What am I not understanding????
Local Emergency Planning Committees
Under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) must develop an emergency response plan, review the plan at least annually, and provide information about chemicals in the community to citizens. Plans are developed by LEPCs with stakeholder participation. There is one LEPC for each of the more than 3,000 designated local emergency planning districts. The LEPC membership must include (at a minimum):
- Elected state and local officials
- Police, fire, civil defense, and public health professionals
- Environment, transportation, and hospital officials
- Facility representatives
- Representatives from community groups and the media
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