The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) is proposing to amend the Accidental Release Prevention Requirements of Risk Management Programs (RMP)1 under the Clean Air Act, Section 112(r)(7), codified under 40 CFR Part 68 (docket EPA-HQ-OEM-2015-0725). These proposed amendments seek to improve chemical process safety, assist local emergency authorities in planning for, and responding to accidents, and enhance public awareness of chemical hazards at regulated sources.
Regulated sources include many different industrial facilities (e.g., chemical manufacturing, oil & gas refineries, cement manufacturing, fertilizer manufacturing etc.) where chemicals are stored at quantities above threshold limits. The RMP changes are in response to the Executive Order (EO) 13650 directing the federal government to prevent further chemical tragedies, such as the one in West, Texas where a fertilizer explosion of April 17, 2013 led to massive property destruction and loss of human life. The keys areas of emphasis under the EO were: a.) strengthening community planning and preparedness, b.) enhancing federal operational coordination, c.) improving data management, and d.) modernizing policies and regulations.
Accordingly, some of the key changes in the Proposed Rule 6560-50-P are:
- Developing safer technologies and alternatives by incorporating Inherently Safer Technologies and Designs in the Process Hazard Assessment;
- Performing third-party audits and root cause analysis to identify process safety improvements for accident prevention;
- Enhancing emergency planning and preparedness requirements to help ensure coordination between facilities and local communities;
- Implementing emergency response planning to ensure that emergency response capabilities are available to mitigate the effect of a chemical accident;
- Improving the ability of LEPCs (Local Emergency Planning Committees) and local emergency response officials to better prepare for emergencies; and
- Improving access to information to help the public understand the risks at RMP facilities.
A public hearing will be held on March 29, 2016 in Washington, DC and commenting period will be open for 60 days. GHD will keep track of rule developments and keep you posted.
How can GHD help?
For more information on the RMP or assistance with its implementation, contact our team.
E: GHD | T: +1 800 265 6102
1 https://www.epa.gov/rmp/proposed-changes-risk-management-program-rmp-rule