Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
•
Do not store near ignition sources such as electrical sparks, flames,
or heated surfaces.
•
Do not use, pour, spill, or store near heat or open flame. Do not cut
or weld container.
REGULATORY COMPLIANCE
Some pesticide applicators, application businesses, and dealers may be affected
by Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986
(SARA Title III), administered by the Environmental Protection Agency.
SARA Title III has three sections that relate to the storage of to pesticides:
Emergency Planning and Notification
Under certain conditions, the law requires you to notify State and local offi-
cials about the location and amount of hazardous chemicals at your site. EPA
has assigned a Threshold Planning Quantity (TPQ) for a number of active ingre-
dients (not total weight of formulated product). When the product in storage
is at or above the TPQ, you must notify the State Emergency Response
Commission (SERC) in writing. Each facility must designate a coordinator
to work with the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC). The State
will notify the LEPC that your operation is covered under SARA. This is a
one-time notification.
Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) Reporting
Employers are required to obtain and keep material safety data sheets. They
must submit copies of each MSDS (or a listing of MSDSs that must be
maintained) to their local fire department, the LEPC, and the SERC. There is
one exclusion: if a chemical is used solely used for household, consumer, or agri-
cultural purposes, notification is not required. However, under OSHA regula-
tions, pesticide users (except homeowners) must have an MSDS for each pes-
ticide they handle.
Annual Inventory Reporting
All regulated facilities must submit an annual chemical inventory to the local
fire department, LEPC, and SERC. This inventory must include:
•
all hazardous chemicals stored at the facility in quantities of 10,000
pounds or more
•
all extremely hazardous chemicals stored in quantities of 500 pounds (or
55 gallons) or more, or in a quantity that exceeds the TPQ, whichever is less.
Agricultural producers are exempt from this section.
