Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA)

The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) of 1986 was created to help communities plan for chemical emergencies. It also requires industry to report on the storage, use and releases of hazardous substances to federal, state, and local governments. EPCRA requires state and local governments, and Indian tribes to use this information to prepare for and protect their communities from potential risks.

Learn about EPCRA

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Tier I and II Reporting
Forms and Instructions

Emergency Planning
in My Area

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Emergency Release Notification

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EPCRA Training

Trade Secrecy under EPCRA

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Trade Secret Forms and Instructions

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CERCLA and EPCRA Reporting Requirements

On June 4, 2019, EPA Administrator Wheeler signed a final rule to amend the emergency release notification regulations under EPCRA. This amendment adds a reporting exemption for air emissions from animal waste at farms. For more information, please see: CERCLA and EPCRA Reporting Requirements for Air Releases of Hazardous Substances from Animal Waste at Farms.

EPCRA Trade Secrecy Claims Amendment

On July 24, 2020, EPA published a technical amendment to remove the outdated substantiation form for trade secrecy claims from the Code of Federal Regulations. The most current substantiation form is posted on EPA program websites. The Agency is also including clarification within a note in 40 CFR 355.41 to make regulated entities aware that SERCs and/or LEPCs may have a specific format for the follow-up report of the emergency release notification information. For more information, please see: EPCRA (Non-Section 313) Regulatory Amendments.