Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA)
The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 (EPCRA) establishes requirements for Federal, State, local governments, Indian Tribes, and industry regarding emergency planning and "Community Right-to-Know" reporting on hazardous and toxic chemicals.
The act requires the establishment of a State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) and Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs). In Iowa the SERC is made up of the Iowa Homeland Security & Emergency Management (IHSEM) with support from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
EPCRA provisions help increase the public's knowledge and access to information on chemicals stored at individual facilities, their uses, and releases into the environment. States and communities, working with facilities, can use the information to improve chemical safety and protect public health and the environment.
You can find what facilities are located in your neighborhood from the US EPA website, EnviroFacts or the state of Iowa's website, Facility Explorer.
EPCRA's Four Major Provisions
Section 301-303, Emergency Planning
The emergency planning section of the law is designed to help communities prepare for and respond to emergencies involving hazardous substances. Every community in the United States must be part of a comprehensive plan. Iowa IHSEM is responsible for implementing Section 301-303 and can be contacted at 515-725-3231.
Section 304, Emergency Release Notification (Spill Reporting)
Facilities must provide an emergency notification and a written follow-up notice to the local LEPC and the Iowa DNR if there is a release into the environment of a hazardous substance that is equal to or exceeds the minimum reportable quantity set in the regulations. Contact the DNR at 515-725-8694 to make a required report. If the release meets federal reporting requirements, notification must be made to the EPA within 15 minutes.
Section 311-312 Hazardous Chemical Storage Reporting (Tier II)
Section 311 and 312 (Tier 2 reporting) of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act (EPCRA) applies to facilities that must prepare or have available a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for hazardous chemicals and those chemicals are over the reporting threshold quantity. Section 311 requires facilities with hazardous chemicals over the reporting threshold to provide an initial notification of the hazardous chemicals they have on site and a notification whenever a new hazardous chemical becomes reportable at their location. Tier 2 (section 312) reporting is an annual inventory due March 1st of the hazardous chemicals a facility had at any point over reporting thresholds in the previous year.
Section 313 Toxic Chemical Release Inventory Reporting (TRI)
EPCRA section 313 requires facilities meeting regulatory requirements to complete a Toxic Chemical Release Inventory (TRI) Form annually for controlled release or disposal of specified chemicals. The form must be submitted annually to EPA and the DNR by July 1. The form covers releases and disposal of toxic materials that occurred during the preceding calendar year.