Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
facilities that handle, store, transport, and/or dispose of hazardous materials:
emergency planning notification, emergency release notification, community
right-to-know, and toxic chemical release forms. Each reporting provision has
different requirements for the chemicals and facilities covered.
1.
Emergency Planning Notification
This law was designed to identify all facilities (including farms) that have
in inventory any of more than 400 extremely hazardous substances present in
excess of its threshold planning quantity (TPQ). The TPQ is based on the
amount of any one of the hazardous substances that could, upon release,
present human health hazards that warrant emergency planning. The TPQ
emergency planning requirement is based on these public health concerns
rather than the type of facility where the chemical might be located. The type
of facility and degree of hazard presented at any particular site are relevant
factors considered by the local emergency planning committees (LEPCs).
If one or more of the extremely hazardous substances is present in excess
of its TPQ, the facility must notify its state emergency response commission,
which will in turn notify the appropriate local planning committee and other
relevant local agencies and departments.
2.
Emergency Release Notification
Releases (spills) of any of the extremely hazardous chemicals including
pesticides in excess of their reportable quantity (RQ) must be reported to the
National Response Center, state and local emergency planning committees,
and other agencies requiring notification. The reportable quantity of a
substance can be found in 40 CFR 355.40 Appendix A or B. (The CERCLA
list of hazardous substances is found in 40 CFR 302.4 and has similar
reporting requirements).
The release (other than spills or other accidents) of a pesticide registered
under FIFRA when used generally in accordance with its intended purpose
(during routine agricultural applications according to approved product label
instructions) is exempted from this reporting requirement.
3.
Community-Right-to-Know
Community-right-to-know reporting pertains to the material safety data
sheets (MSDS) for hazardous chemicals from facilities (mainly manufacturers
and importers) that are required to report and make MSDSs available to
wholesale and retail outlets.
4.
Toxic Chemical Release Forms
The chemical release reporting is limited to facilities that are manufactur-
ing or importing hazardous chemicals. A complete listing of hazardous pesti-
cides with their TPQs is available from the county offices of the USDA Natu-
