Learn the Issues
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If a facility changes owners, but the manufacturing operations have not changed, are they REQUIRED to update their RMP?
Yes. If the owner of a facility changes, the RMP on record with EPA should reflect the current owner by the date ownership changes or responsibility for operation of the facility is transferred. You do not have to update each section of your RMP if the only thing that has…
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EPA identification of facilities failing to submit RMPs
What does EPA do to identify facilities that did not file an initial or updated RMP but were required to do so? EPA examines a number of existing databases to identify potential non-filers. If anyone has any information about any facility that may be subject to the Risk Management Program…
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Minnesota Title V Operating Permit Program Approval History
Title V operating permit program approval history in Minnesota.
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Determining a facility's latitude and longitude
A facility subject to the risk management program requirements in 40 CFR Part 68 must specify its latitude and longitude coordinates in Section 1.5 of the risk management plan (RMP). What tools are available to accurately determine a facility’s latitude and longitude? The owner or operator of a regulated facility…
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Will an Integrated Contingency Plan satisfy RMP requirements?
The National Response Team's Integrated Contingency Plan guidance, or "One Plan," provides a format for consolidating multiple emergency response plans required under RCRA, OPA, SPCC, DOT, OSHA, and CAA §112(r). Will an Integrated Contingency Plan satisfy all of the risk management program requirements under 40 CFR Part 68? No. An…
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Inclusion of release scenarios in executive summary
Do I have to include a description of my worst-case and alternative release scenario in my executive summary? I'm concerned that the description contains sensitive information, which if included in the executive summary will be available to the public without restriction. No, facilities are not required to include a description…
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Are facilities required to use an Integrated Contingency Plan?
A number of federal statutes and regulations require emergency response planning (e.g., risk management planning under the Clean Air Act Section 112(r), contingency planning under RCRA, and facility response planning under the Oil Pollution Act). On June 5, 1996, the National Response Team (NRT), published the Integrated Contingency Plan ("One…
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Certification Statement for Correction
Does the certifying official have to sign a certification statement for a correction to a Risk Management Plan? If so, does that certification apply to the entire RMP or just for the correction being made? Yes, the certifying official must sign a digital certification statement in RMP*eSubmit, and it will…
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RMPs for stationary source with multiple program levels
If a stationary source comprises some covered processes that meet the eligibility requirements for one of the three programs (i.e., Program 1, 2, or 3) and some processes that are subject to a different program, must the owner or operator of the source submit multiple risk management plans (RMPs)? No…
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If a facility changes owners and significant changes have been made to plant operations is the facility required to update all sections of the RMP and resubmit it to EPA?
Yes. If the facility has new ownership and plant operations have changed significantly, the new facility owner/operator needs to do a resubmission. For details on how to resubmit, see the Web page for RMP*eSubmit .
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How must an owner estimate the population when defining off-site impacts?
How must an owner or operator estimate the population when defining off-site impacts as part of the facility’s risk management plan (RMP)? The owner or operator must estimate the residential population within a circle with its center at the point of the release and a radius determined by the distance…
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Double wall tanks and "passive mitigation"
Performance of the hazard assessment required under 40 CFR Part 68, Subpart B, includes analysis of both worst-case release scenarios (40 CFR §68.25) and alternative release scenarios (40 CFR §68.28). In each of these analyses, passive mitigation systems may be taken into consideration. If a tank has a "double wall,"…
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Methods to identify affected populations
As part of the risk management program, a facility owner or operator must prepare an off-site consequence analysis (OCA) and estimate in the risk management plan (RMP) the residential population within the geographical area that could be affected by the hypothetical worst-case or alternative releases that the facility has analyzed…
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Atmospheric conditions used for off-site consequence analyses
What atmospheric conditions must a source assume when performing the offsite consequence analyses required under 40 CFR Part 68, Subpart B? For the worst-case release analysis, 1.5 meters per second wind speed and F atmospheric stability class must be assumed, unless the stationary source owner or operator can demonstrate that…
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Program levels and the difference in worst-case release analysis requirements
The preamble to the Risk Management Program Rule ( 61 FR 31668; June 20, 1996 ) states that "one worst-case release scenario will be defined to represent all toxics, and one worst-case release scenario will be defined to represent all flammables held above the threshold at the source" ( 61…
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Differences between the risk management program and EPCRA
How do the Clean Air Act (CAA) risk management program requirements differ from the hazardous chemical reporting requirements under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA)? The hazardous chemical reporting requirements under EPCRA §§311 and 312 (40 CFR Part 370) are separate and distinct from those under CAA §112(r)…
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Will we be audited if a member of the public requests an audit of our facility?
The implementing agency will have to decide whether to respond to such public requests. EPA’s intention is that part 68 implementation reflect that hazards are primarily a local concern.
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What are the anticipated uses of risk management plans?
What are some of the anticipated uses for the Risk Management Plans (RMPs)? RMPs will be used by many different audiences in many different ways. Industry and trade associations will use RMPs to understand common industry practice and identify practices that could be utilized to reduce risks at facilities. The…
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Will risk management plan (RMP) submissions be subject to audits?
Will risk management plan (RMP) submissions be subject to audits? If so, who will conduct the audits? Yes. According to 40 CFR §68.220(a), the implementing agency will periodically audit RMPs in order to review their adequacy, and may require revisions of RMPs as necessary to ensure compliance. The implementing agency…
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What are the responsibilities of the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board?
Section 112(r)(6) of the CAA as amended in 1990 required the President to establish a Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board. Has the Board been established? What are the responsibilities of this Board? The Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board has been established. The Board's responsibilities include investigating chemical accidents…