Requirements
The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 establishes requirements for Federal, State and local governments and industry regarding emergency planning and "Community Right-to- Know" reporting on hazardous and toxic chemicals. This law builds upon EPA's Chemical Emergency Preparedness Program (CEPP) and numerous State and local programs aimed at helping communities to better meet their responsibilities in regard to potential chemical emergencies.
The Community Right-to-Know provisions will help increase the public's knowledge and access to information on the presence of hazardous chemicals in their communities and releases of these chemicals into the environment. States and communities, working with facilities, will be better able to improve chemical safety and protect public health and the environment.
Sections
The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (also known as SARA Title III or EPCRA) provisions has four major sections:
- Community Right-to-Know Reporting Requirements (Sections 311-312)
- Emergency Release Notification (Section 304)
- Toxic Chemical Release Inventory (Section 313)
- Emergency Planning (Section 301-303)
Information from these four reporting requirements will help States and communities develop a broad perspective of chemical hazards for the entire community as well as for individual facilities.
