United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Solid Waste
and Emergency Response
(OS-120)
July 1993
EPA-550-B-93-002
&EPA Opportunities and Challenges for
Local Emergency Planning Committees:
Bestsellers in EPCRA
Chemical Emergency Preparedness
and Prevention Office (CEPPO)
Technical Assistance Bulletin
What's Inside This Bulletin...
In the course of focus group meetings,
you told us that you were not aware of the
many publications and resources developed by
the federal government. To address this need,
we are sending you the second edition of our
"Opportunities and Challenges" series, which
contains a list of documents, computer data
bases, and programs to help you implement
SARA Title III, also known as the Emergency
Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act
(EPCRA).
Specifically, this "bibliography" may be
used to identify resources that can enhance
your knowledge of key planning and
preparedness issues, improve your relations
with facilities and the public, and help you get
a head start on planning for the future.
Most of the documents referenced here
may be obtained by contacting the EPCRA
Hotline at (800) 535-0202; additional ordering
information appears in the text for those
resources not available through the EPCRA
Hotline.
We hope this "Opportunities and
Challenges" bulletin will show you where to
turn whenever a question arises. In addition,
it is a great resource for new LEPC members
trying to get up to speed. Keep "Bestsellers in
EPCRA" on your bookshelf.
JL his document is organized by category. Within
each category, there is a list of resources, which were
selected because of their potential applicability to
LEPC activities. The categories are:
• Getting Started: What Every LEPC Member
Should Know
• Building Relations with Facilities and the
Community
• Tools to Assist in Planning and Preparedness
• Increasing Compliance Through Awareness
• Who's Doing What?
• Technical Corner
Getting Started: What Every LEPC
Member Should Know
"Chemicals in Your Community: A Citizen's Guide to
the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-
Know Act" (OSWER-90-002), September 1988.
This booklet provides a general overview of the
requirements and benefits for all audiences of the
Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know
Act, or EPCRA as it will be referred to throughout this
document. Part I of the booklet describes the
provisions of EPCRA, and Part II describes more fully
the authorities and responsibilities of the groups of
people affected by the law.
(continued on next page)
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Getting Started:
What Every LEPC Member Should Know
(continued from previous page)
"It's Not Over in October! A Guide for Local
Emergency Planning Committees: Implementing the
Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know
Act of 1986" (OSWER-90-004), September 1988.
The purpose of this booklet is to offer suggestions
to LEPCs to help them implement EPCRA. The
booklet describes the functions of LEPCs and provides
ideas and examples based on he experience of EPA,
the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and other
LEPCs.
"Title III on Indian Lands: A Guide to the Emergency
Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act"
(OSWER-92-009), April 1992.
This bulletin was prepared to familiarize Indian
leaders with EPCRA requirements and provide
guidance for complying with EPCRA. The bulletin is
divided into three parts: (1) How Title m Works; (2)
Resources Available to TERCs and LEPCs
Implementing Title III; and (3) Everyone is Involved in
Title III.
"Bibliography of Materials on The Emergency Planning
And Community Right-To-Know Act (Title TTT of
SARA)" (OSWER 91-002), August 1991.
This booklet contains a selected bibliography of
materials that address planning, preparedness, response,
and public participation issues of EPCRA.
Building Relations With Facilities and
the Community
"Risk Communication About Chemicals In Your
Community: A Manual for Local Officials" (EPA
230/09-89-066), EPA/FEMA/DOT/ATSDR, December
L989.
This manual will help local officials learn how to
respond to public questions about chemical risks. The
manual contains assistance and information about
hazardous materials. A facilitator's manual and guide
for conducting workshops are also available.
Tools to Assist in Planning and
Preparedness
"Hazardous Materials Emergency Planning Guide"
(NRT-1), National Response Team, March 1987.
The purpose of this guide is to assist communities
in planning for hazardous materials incidents. It
provides the NRTs framework for doing emergency
response plans for chemical incidents. The guide also
outlines the importance of planning teams and the
critical components of hazardous materials emergency
plans and addresses approaches to plan review and
ongoing planning efforts.
"Criteria for Review of Hazardous Materials Emergency
Plans" (NRT-1A), National Response Team, May 1988.
This document contains a set of criteria that may
be used by the Regional Response Teams under the
provisions of section 303(g) of EPCRA to review LEPC
plans.
"Developing a Hazardous Materials Exercise Program:
A Handbook for State and Local Officials" (NRT-2),
National Response .Team, September 1990.
This handbook was prepared to provide state and
local governments with practical advice for developing a
comprehensive hazardous materials exercise program.
The handbook explains the value of exercises in testing
and improving emergency plans and training emergency
response personnel, provides pointers for selecting the
appropriate exercise type and exercise objectives,
applies lessons learned from other exercises and actual
incidents, and describes available federal and private
sector support and assistance.
"Hazardous Materials Exercise Evaluation Methodology
(HM-EEM) and Manual," FEMA, October 1989.
This document was designed to assist state and
local governments in the comprehensive evaluation of
hazardous materials exercises. HM-EEM contains a
series of modules prepared to evaluate major exercise
objectives, so that emergency plans can be amended to
reflect the lessons learned. To obtain a copy, contact
the FEMA Publications Management Office at 500 C
Street, SW, Washington, DC 20472.
(continued on next page)
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Tools to Assist in Planning and Preparedness
(continued from previous page)
"Making it Work" Series:
The "Making it Work" series provides technical
assistance to those responsible for implementing
EPCRA. The three first bulletins are:
1. Title III Compliance (OSWER-91-009.1), September
1991. The first bulletin in the series discusses the right-
to-know concept, how to determine who's covered
under the law, developing an outreach program, and
enforcing EPCRA when voluntary compliance fails.
2. Hazards Analysis (OSWER-92-009.01), September
1992. The second bulletin provides practical
information on hazards analysis, with examples drawn
from successful or unique state and local programs.
There is also information on resources available to help
you conduct hazards analysis.
3. Secrets of Successful SERCs (EPA 550-F-93-002),
January 1993. In this issue, a number of SERCs share
their "secrets" about what makes a Title III program
work at the state level. Topics include providing
assistance to LEPCs, finding sources of funding, and
managing and using Title III information in creative
ways.
"Why Accidents Occur: Insights from the Accidental
Release Information Program" (Technical Assistance
Bulletin 8) (OSWER-89-008.1), July 1989.
This bulletin focuses on the causes of accidents as
documented in the Accidental Release Information
Program. It presents insights on accidents to help
LEPCs communicate accident prevention strategies to
local facilities.
"An Overview of the Emergency Response Program"
(EPA 540/8-91/015), April 1992.
This brochure provides an overview of EPA's
program for emergency response to releases of oil and
hazardous substances. It covers the federal laws and
regulations that authorize emergency response and
discusses the techniques and technologies that the
Agency uses to address the threats posed by
environmental emergencies. To obtain a copy, call
NTIS at (703) 487-4650, or write to NTIS at 5285 Port
Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161. Request a copy by
using reference #PR-913.
Increasing Compliance Through
Awareness
"Title HI List of Lists (Consolidated List of Chemicals
Subject to Reporting under the Emergency Planning
and Community Right-to-Know Act)" (EPA 560/4-91-
011), January 1993 (Revised periodically).
This document contains a consolidated list of
chemicals subject to reporting under EPCRA and
CERCLA. It lists by CAS number the extremely
hazardous substances with their threshold planning
quantities and reportable quantities. A partial listing of
CERCLA hazardous substances with associated
reportable quantities (including the RCRA hazardous
wastes from the P and U lists), and the section 313
toxic chemicals are also provided.
"When All Else Fails! Enforcement of the Emergency
Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act" (OSWER
89010), September 1989.
This 12-page pamphlet provides guidance to state
and local authorities on how to work with facilities to
ensure that those covered by EPCRA are complying
with the law. The material presented outlines the
enforcement authorities granted to citizens, local
governments, LEPCs, states, and EPA.
"Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know
Act of 1986; Questions and Answers" (EPA 560/4-91-
003), January, 1991 (Revised periodically).
This document has been developed to assist
facilities with reporting and to provide explanations of
reporting requirements and nuances of EPCRA.
"The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-
Know Act: Section 313 Release Reporting
Requirements" (EPA 560/4-91-002), December 1990.
This 24-page brochure alerts businesses to their
reporting obligations under section 313 and helps them
determine whether then- facility is required to report.
The brochure contains the section 313 EPA regional
contacts, the section 313 toxics list, and a description of
the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes
subject to section 313.
(continued on next page)
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Increasing Compliance Through Awareness
(continued from previous page)
"Community Right-to-Know and Small Business"
(OSWER-88-005), September 1988.
This illustrated brochure describes the reporting
requirements for small businesses and helps them
determine if they need to comply. Specifically, the
brochure provides background information on the
community right-to-know reporting requirements
(sections 311 and 312).
Who's Doing What?
"Successful Practices in Title HI Implementation"
Series:
The Chemical Emergency Preparedness and
Prevention Office (CEPPO) publishes a series of
technical assistance bulletins known as Successful
Practices in Title III Implementation. These bulletins
describe procedures and strategies that are innovative
and particularly effective in implementing programs
required by EPCRA. By discussing various aspects of
programs from different areas of the country, this series
allows LEPCs, SERCs, fire departments, and other
EPCRA implementing agencies to learn from the
experiences of their colleagues. Each profile describes
the LEPC or SERC, its organizational structure, and
the area in which it functions, as well as the activities
undertaken, the lessons learned from those activities,
and a contact person.
Nine bulletins have been published to date. At the
end of the September 1992 edition (OSWER-92-006.1),
an index is provided that lists subjects and the bulletins
in which those subjects are discussed. This may be the
best place for you to begin looking for the successful
practices you would like to know more about.
ICMA's Peer Exchange Program: Assisting
Communities with Solid Waste Management,
Superfund, and SARA Title HI.
Thanks to a grant provided by EPA, the Peer
Exchange Program of the International City
Management Association coordinates and sponsors
meetings for local managers in need of advice from
their experienced counterparts. The program makes
the matches and arranges face-to-face meetings where
participants discuss contracts, project finance, technical
alternatives, public relations, compliance with federal
and state mandates, and managerial and political
considerations. Making LEPCs work is one of the
primary areas of information exchange. For more
information, call ICMA at (202) 962-3672, or write to
ICMA at 777 N. Capitol Street, NE, Suite 500,
Washington, DC 20002-4201.
NGA's Peer Exchange Program.
Through support provided by EPA, the National
Governors' Association peer exchange program is
focusing on coordinating the exchange of information
among state peers. It is also useful to LEPCs because
they can access the information obtained by their SERC
on hazardous material accident preparedness and
prevention programs. NGA facilitates telephone and
written communication between SERCs and provides'
for face-to-face meetings. NGA plans to compile a list
of state officials with expertise in specific fields who are
willing to meet with peers in other states. LEPCs
should contact their SERC to keep abreast of NGA
programs. For more information, contact Sarah Bauer at
EPA Headquarters, 401 M Street, SW, (OS-120),
Washington, D.C. 20460.
Technical Corner
"Technical Guidance for Hazards Analysis: Emergency
Planning for Extremely Hazardous Substances"
(OSWER-88-001), December 1987.
The purpose of the document is to assist LEPCs in
assessing the lethal hazards related to airborne releases
of extremely hazardous substances. This guide
describes how LEPCs can use readily available
information and several worst case assumptions to
screen all local chemical hazards, set priorities, and
then develop more detailed scenarios for planning
purposes.
"Handbook of Chemical Hazard Analysis,"
FEMA/EPA/DOT.
This handbook expands on "NRT-1" and "Technical
Guidance for Hazards Analysis" by including
information on explosive, flammable, reactive, and
otherwise dangerous substances. These additional
methodologies on how to plan for these and other
dangerous chemicals serve as a stepping stone to a
more comprehensive approach to emergency planning.
To obtain a copy, contact the FEMA Publications
Management Office at 500 C Street, SW, Washington,
DC 20472.
(continued on next page)
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Technical Corner
(continued from previous page)
"1990 Emergency Response Guidebook," DOT P 5800.5.
This guidebook lists over 1,000 hazardous
materials by name and DOT number. General hazards
and isolation distances for these materials are also
listed. This document is available by telephoning the
Hazardous Materials Information Exchange at
(800) 752-6367. In Illinois, call (800) 367-9592.
CAMEO (Computer-Aided Management of Emergency
Operations).
This is a software package designed to provide
state and local managers with a tool to manage
information about hazardous materials, and to help
planners, first responders, and emergency teams plan
for a safe response to chemical accidents. The database
in CAMEO contains over 3000 chemicals and includes
fire and explosion hazards, firefighting techniques, first
aid, health effects, and spill cleanup procedures.
CAMEO is a tool for managing information in facility
reports and for conducting hazards analysis. CAMEO
can also be used to retrieve information in response to
information requests and emergencies. CAMEO
contains a mapping program that makes use of the
Bureau of the Census Tiger files. For more information,
call (202) 293-2270, or write to the Environmental Health
Center, National Safety Council, 1050 17th Street, NW,
Washington, DC 20006.
"Roadmaps to Sources of Information on Chemicals
Listed in the Emergency Planning and Community
Right-to-Know Act; Section 313 (for microcomputers)"
U.S. EPA, July 14, 1989.
The ROADMAPS data base is a PC-based index to
sources within and outside EPA and contains
information on chemical toxicity and major regulations
related to the SARA section 313 chemicals (5 1/4 inch
diskettes, double density, 360k, IBM compatible,
dBASE III clipper compiler format). To obtain a copy,
call NTIS at (703) 487-4650, or write to NTIS at 5285
Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161. For a
complete package use PB92-501972, $195. For
documentation only use PB92-169523, $19.50 hardcopy,
$9.00 microfiche.
EPA HOTLINE NUMBERS
EPCRA
(800) 535-0202
RCRA/Superfund/UST
(800) 424-9346
SPCC/OPA Information
(202) 260-2342
Solid Waste Disposal/Recycling
(800) 677-9424
Solid Waste
(800) 424-9346
Wastewater Programs
(800) 624-8301
Safe Drinking Water Act
(800) 426-4791
Wetlands Protection
(800) 832-7828
TSCA Assistance
(202) 554-1404
Storm Water
(703) 821-4823
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