AEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5101)
September 1994
LIST OF SUBSTANCES FOR
ACCIDENTAL RELEASE
PREVENTION
CLEAN AIR ACT section 112(r)
The purpose of the
CAA provisions
. for accident prevention
is to ensure that facili-
ties reduce the likeli-'
hood and severity of
accidental chemical
releases that could
harm the public and
the environment. These
provisions will also
ensure that the public 7
and state and local governments receive facility-
specific information on potential hazards and the
steps being taken to prevent accidents.
REGULATORY BACKGROUND
In 1986 the Emergency Planning and Community
Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) was a landmark in
federal actions to improve the ability of .
communities to prepare for and respond to •:
chemical accidents. Under EPCRA, communities
must develop emergency response plans, based on
information that facilities must provide on the
hazardous chemicals they handle. In 1990,
Congress included requirements for accidental
release prevention regulations in CAA section
112(r). Congress also mandated that the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) adopt a process safety management
standard to protect workers from the workplace
effects of chemical accidents; the standard was
issued on February 24,1992. ;
On January 31, 1994, EPA promulgated a final rule under provisions of the Clean
Air Act (CAA) Amendments section 112(r) for the prevention of accidental releases
of hazardous substances. The rule establishes a list of chemicals and threshold
quantities that identify facilities subject to subsequent accident prevention
regulations. These are the substances that have the potential to pose the greatest
hazard to public health and the environment in the event of an accidental release.
The list constitutes the first of two necessary elements for the prevention of
chemical accidents under EPA's CAA mandate. The second element is the
requirement for risk management planning. A facility that handles more than a
threshold quantity of a listed substance will be subject to the risk management
planning requirements of CAA section 112{r).
CHARACTERISTICS OF
THE FINAL RULE
Under the CAA, EPA must develop an initial
list of at least 100 substances that, in the event
of an accidental release, could cause death, injury,
or serious adverse effects to human health or the
environment. The CAA mandates the inclusion of
16 substances:
Chlorine
Ammonia
Anhydrous ammonia
Methyl chloride
Ethylene oxide
Vinyl chloride
.Methyl isocyanate
Hydrogen cyanide
Hydrogen sulfide
Toluene diisocyanate
Phosgene
Bromine
Anhydrous hydrogen
chloride
Hydrogen fluoride
Anhydrous sulfur
dioxide
Sulfur trioxide
Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Office
i Printed on recycled paper
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List of Substances for Accidental Release Prevention
September 1994
The criteria EPA considered in selecting other
substances include severity of acute adverse
health effects, likelihood of release, and potential
magnitude of human exposure. EPA is required
to set threshold quantities for each regulated
substance listed considering its toxicity,
reactivity, volatility, dispersibility, and
flammability, as well as amounts known or
anticipated to cause effects of concern.
EPA selected, commercially produced, acutely
toxic and volatile substances for this list mostly
from the EPCRA section 302 extremely
hazardous substances (EHS) list. EPA chose
volatile substances because they are more likely
to become airborne and impact the public. EPA
also considered the accident history associated
with a substance. One substance, oleum, was
listed because it has a history of accidents that
have impacted the public. Since vapor cloud
explosions and blast waves from detonations of
high explosives have caused injuries to the '
public and damage to the environment, EPA also
included highly flammable gases and liquids and
high explosives on the list.
EPA has promulgated a list that includes 77
acutely toxic chemicals, 63 flammable gases and
volatile flammable liquids, and Division 1.1 high
explosive substances as listed by DOT in 49 CFR
172.101. The final rule establishes threshold
quantities for toxic substances ranging from 500
to 20,000 pounds. For all listed flammable
substances, the threshold quantity is 10,000
pounds, while all explosive substances have a
threshold quantity of 5,000 pounds. The rule sets
forth the procedures for determining whether a
threshold quantity of a regulated substance is
present at a stationary source. Specific
exemptions to the threshold determination are
also included for mixtures, articles, and certain
uses and activities. The rule also specifies the
requirements for petitions to the Agency to add
substances to, or delete substances from, the list.
EFFECT OF RULE
If a facility has more than a threshold quantity
of these substances in a process, then it must
develop and implement a risk management
program. That program must include a hazard
assessment, prevention program, and an
emergency response program. Summary risk
management plans will be submitted to state
and local emergency planning and response
authorities, as well as the Chemical Safety and
Hazard Investigation Board, and will be available
to the public. Facilities covered by the rule must
register with EPA or a state agency implementing
the program. These requirements are spelled out
in the proposed rule for risk management
planning, under section 112(r) of the CAA and
published on October 20,1993. The Agency
expects the final rule to be published in 1996.
AFFECTED UNIVERSE
EPA estimates that approximately 115,500
facilities are potentially affected by these
two rules. The facilities include manufacturers in
most manufacturing sectors, oil and gas
production facilities, cold storage facilities with
ammonia refrigeration systems including food
processors and distributors and refrigerated
warehouses, public water treatment systems,
wholesalers and distributors of these chemicals,
utilities, propane retailers, certain smalt
businesses, and some service industries (such as
janitorial services and commercial laundries).
Trade associations representing these facilities
are also affected by these rules, as are state and
local governments, EPA regional offices, public
interest groups, and'the Chemical Safety and
Hazard Investigation Board.
CONCLUSION
According to the risk management planning
requirements of the Clean Air Act, facilities
that handle certain hazardous substances must
act to prevent chemical accidents.They must also
share information about their prevention efforts
with the public, workers, and government. These
new partnerships among stakeholders in pre-
vention activity will prove a dynamic force in
reducing the number and severity of chemical
accidents. . ,
For more information...
Emergency Planning and Community Right-
to-Know Information Hotline
(800)535-0202 (voice)
(800) 535-7672 (TTD)
Monday through Friday
8:30 am to 7:30 pm, eastern time
'Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Office
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