EPA has finalized amendments to the Risk Management Program (RMP) chemical emergency preparedness requirements. The rule will be published alongside a query tool allowing people to access information for RMPs in nearby communities.
Final amendments to the rule include:
Requiring a safer technologies and alternatives analysis and, in some cases, the implementation of reliable safeguard measures for certain facilities in industry sectors with high accident rates.
Advancing employee participation, training, and opportunities for employee decision-making in facility accident prevention, for example:
Reiterating the allowance of a partial or complete process shutdown in the event of a potential catastrophic release.
Implementing a process to allow employees and their representatives to anonymously report specific unaddressed hazards.
Requiring third-party compliance audits and root cause analysis incident investigation for facilities that have had a prior accident.
Enhancing facility planning and preparedness efforts to strengthen emergency response by ensuring chemical release information is shared timely with local responders and a community notification system is in place to warn the community of any impending release.
Emphasizing the requirement for regulated facilities to evaluate risks of natural hazards and climate change, including any associated loss of power.