The authority for the emergency planning and emergency release notification requirements is sections 302, 303, and 304 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) 1986 (42 U.S.C. §11002, 11003, and 11004). EPCRA established broad emergency planning and facility reporting requirements. Section 302 requires facilities to notify their state emergency response commission (SERC) and the local emergency planning committee (LEPC) that the facility is subject to emergency planning. This activity is completed soon after the law was passed. Only new facilities that may become subject to these requirements must notify the SERC and the LEPC. Currently covered facilities are required to notify the LEPC of any changes that occur at the facility which would be relevant to emergency planning. Section 303 requires the LEPC to prepare local emergency response plans for their planning district using the information provided by facilities under Section 302. LEPC may request any information from facilities necessary to develop emergency response plans. Emergency response plans were developed within few months after the law was passed. LEPCs are required to review and update the plan atleast annually or more frequently as changes occur in the community. Section 304 requires facilities to report to SERCs and LEPCs releases in excess of the reportable quantities listed for each extremely hazardous substance (EHS). This ICR also covers the notification and the written follow-up required under Section 304. The implementing regulations are codified in 40 CFR part 355.
The number of facilities subject to section 302 is 95,000, which is the same as in the previous ICR. There is an increase of 4,500 hours in the total estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently approved by OMB. This increase is due to an adjustment to the estimate, which corrected for a math error in the previous ICR renewal.
$0
No
No
No
No
No
No
Uncollected
Wendy Hoffman 202 564-8794
No
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.