MISSION

To promote measures to prevent accidental chemical releases and reduce the impact of releases on the environment and public health through safety programs, emergency preparedness, and public access to chemical information.

BACKGROUND

We all benefit from facilities that produce goods and services.  Some of these facilities must use hazardous chemicals.  If mismanaged, some of these hazardous chemicals have the potential to be released into the air, posing an imminent danger to the public and the environment.

In response, Congress established provisions in Section 112(r) of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments (CAAA) for the prevention of accidental chemical releases.  As mandated by Section 112(r), EPA published their final regulation under Title 40 Part 68 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), titled “Chemical Accident Prevention Provisions”.  In North Carolina, authority to implement this regulation was delegated to the State.  The North Carolina Division of Air Quality (DAQ) incorporated the federal regulation as amended under 15A NCAC 2D. 2100,“Risk Management Program”.

Facilities that have more than a threshold quantity of a regulated substance in a single process must develop a risk management program that includes a hazard assessment, an accident prevention program and an emergency response program.  They also must submit a summary detailing these program elements to EPA called a Risk Management Plan (RMP).

For More Information 

Chemical Accidental Release Prevention Program Brochure  [PDF]

Visit EPA’s Risk Management Plan webpage: http://www.epa.gov/oem/content/rmp/index.htm

Section 112(r) of the Clean Air Act: http://epa.gov/oar/caa/title1.html

15A NCAC 2D .2100, Risk Management Program: http://daq.state.nc.us/rules/rules/Sec2100.shtml

40 CFR Part 68, Chemical Accident Prevention Provisions:

http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text- idx?c=ecfr&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title40/40cfr68_main_02.tpl