Distribution of Offsite Consequence Analysis Information under Section 112(r)(7)(H) of the Clean Air Act (CAA), As Amended (Renewal)
Extension without change of a currently approved collection
No
Regular
11/27/2025
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
05/31/2026
495
548
610
663
42
81
The Clean Air Act Section 112(r)(7) requires EPA to promulgate reasonable regulations and appropriate guidance to provide for the prevention and detection of accidental releases and for responses to such releases. The regulations include requirements for submitting a risk management plan (RMP) to EPA. The RMP includes information on off-site consequence analysis (OCA) as well as other elements of the Risk Management Program. On August 5, 1999, the President signed the Chemical Safety Information, Site Security, and Fuels Regulatory Relief Act (CSISSFRRA), which required the President to promulgate regulations on the distribution of OCA information (CAA section 112(r)(7)(H)(ii)) to the public. The President delegated to EPA and the Department of Justice (DOJ) the responsibility to promulgate regulations to govern public dissemination of OCA information. The final rule was published on August 8, 2000 (65 FR 48108) and imposed minimal information collection and record keeping requirements. The Federal government established 55 reading rooms at Federal facilities geographically distributed across the United States and its territories. At a reading room the public can read, but not mechanically copy or remove, paper copies of OCA information for up to 10 stationary sources per calendar month. The public also has access to OCA information that the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) in the requestorâs local area (where the individual lives or works), is authorized to provide. State agencies are permitted to provide the same public access to paper copies of OCA information that a person would receive at their local agency. EPA also established a Vulnerable Zone Indicator System (VZIS) which indicates whether an address in any state is within the vulnerable zone of one or more stationary sources, according to the data reported in RMPs. The VZIS is available on the internet, which is the method used by all requestors of the data.
There is a decrease of 53 hours annually in the total estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently approved by OMB. The currently approved ICR estimates 663 hours of annual burden of which 337 hours is on the public and 326 hours are on state and local governments. The estimated annual burden hours on the public has increased by two hours up to 339 hours due to two additional visits to Federal reading rooms per year. The estimated annual burden hours on state and local governments has decreased by 55 hours down to 271 hours due to fewer requests for OCA data by state and local governments. Additionally the estimated annualized capital costs have decreased from $81 in the currently approved ICR down to $42 due to fewer requests.
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.
1981ss09.docx
State and Local Governments (SERCs & LPECs)