The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act was passed in response to concerns regarding the environmental and safety hazards posed by the storage and handling of toxic chemicals.
Emergency response plans contain information that community officials can use at the time of a chemical incident. Local Emergency Planning Commissions (LEPCs) are required to update plans annually, which includes identification of facilities and transportation routes that store extremely hazardous substances.
Facilities must immediately notify the local, state, and tribal Emergency Planning Commissions if there is a release into the environment of a hazardous substance that is equal to or exceeds the minimum reportable quantity.
Facilities that have certain hazardous chemicals on-site must submit an annual Tier II form to their Emergency Planning Commissions. This provides state and local officials with specific information on potential hazards including storage locations and amounts of hazardous chemicals present at a facility during the previous calendar year.
EPCRA established the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) which tracks toxic chemicals that pose a threat to human health and the environment. Facilities with quantities of toxic chemicals over thresholds must annually report each chemical and address questions regarding environmental releases, recycling, energy recovery, and treatment activities. Form R and A reports must be submitted to the EPA and the appropriate state or tribe by July 1 of each year.