EPCRA Guidance Documents and Fact Sheets

This page contains guidance documents and fact sheets for the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), also known as Title II of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA Title III) [42 U.S.C. Chapter 116 (301 KB); 40 CFR part 355 and part 370] and Section 103 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), which is also known as "Superfund" [42 U.S.C. 9603 (pdf)(152 KB); 40 CFR part 302].

For outdated rule guidance documents, visit the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (Non-Section 313) Regulations and Amendments webpage.

On this page:

• Overview Documents
• Chemical Accident Prevention Publications
• Emergency Planning (Sections 301, 302, and 303)
• Emergency Release Notifications (EPCRA Section 304 and CERCLA Section 103)
• Hazardous Chemical Inventory Reporting (Sections 311 and 312)
• EPCRA Amendments
• Local and Tribal Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC and TEPC) Resources
• Tribal Resources
• State Resources
• Industry Resources
• Survey Results

Overview Documents

Guide to EPCRA (pdf) (1.07 MB, Fall 2025) .

EPCRA Quick Reference Fact Sheet (pdf) (438.1 KB, Fall 2025) .

EPCRA, CERCLA, Clean Air Act Section 112(r) Consolidated List of Lists.

CERCLA Hazardous Substance Reportable Quantity (RQ) Adjustment Methodology.

How to Better Prepare Your Community for a Chemical Emergency: A Guide for State, Tribal and Local Agencies (pdf) (126.84 KB, November 2017) .

Chemicals in Your Community (pdf) (913.12 KB, December 1999) .

Chemical Accident Prevention Publications

• Chemical Safety Alerts.
• Oil and Gas Storage Safety Alerts.
• Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Advisories.
• Topical Backgrounders.
• Additional Documents.

Emergency Planning (Sections 301, 302, and 303)

Technical Guidance for Hazard Analysis (pdf) (4.25 MB, December 1987) .

NRT-1: Hazardous Materials Emergency Planning Guide (pdf) (1.75 MB, 2001) .

Emergency Release Notifications (EPCRA Section 304 and CERCLA Section 103)

Frequently Asked Questions: America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) Section 2018 (pdf) (582.24 KB, December 2018) .

Questions and Answers on Release Notification Requirements and Reportable Quantity Adjustments (pdf) (1.1 MB, January 1996, 540-R-94-005) .

Animal Waste at Farms

CERCLA and EPCRA Reporting Requirements for Air Releases of Hazardous Substances from Animal Waste At Farms.

Fact Sheet: CERCLA and EPCRA Reporting Requirements for Air Releases of Hazardous Substances from Animal Waste at Farms (pdf) (224.52 KB, February 2018, 520-F-18-001) .

Letter from the National Association of SARA Title III Program Officials on CAFOs and Emergency Release Reporting (pdf) (225.29 KB, June 2017) .

Continuous Release Reporting

Guidance for Facilities for Reporting Requirements for Continuous Releases of Hazardous Substances.

Emergency Response

Letter on Decontamination and First Responder Liability (pdf) (191.74 KB, September 1999) .

Hazardous Chemical Inventory Reporting (Sections 311 and 312)

Revised Hazard Categories for EPCRA Sections 311 and 312 Reporting.

2027 EPCRA Hazard Categories and OSHA Hazard Categories Crosswalk (xlsx) (29.74 KB, June 2026) .

Guidance on Reporting Options for Sections 311 and 312 and Some Interpretation (pdf) (36.64 KB, June 2010, 500-F-10001) and 75 FR 39852; July 13, 2010.

Guidance on Calculation of Reporting Thresholds for Lead Acid Batteries for Sections 311 and 312 (pdf) (381.17 KB, April 2007) .

Guidance on Electronic Reporting and Signature under EPCRA Section 312 (pdf) (501.92 KB, July 2009) .

Tier I & II Reporting

Tier II Forms with Regulatory Guidance and Instructions.

Tier I Form with Regulatory Guidance and Instructions (generally not to be used).

EPCRA Amendments

America's Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA)

Guidance on the 2018 America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA), Amendments to EPCRA (pdf) (227.82 KB, December 2019) .

Frequently Asked Questions: America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) Section 2018 (pdf) (582.24 KB, December 2018) .

List of state drinking water primary agencies.

State Drinking Water Information Systems.

EPCRA Regulatory Amendments

EPCRA Hazardous Chemical Inventory Reporting - Revisions to Hazard Categories and Reporting Guidance.

Fact Sheet: Final Rule for Extremely Hazardous Substances (EHS) and Threshold Planning Quantities (TPQs) for Solids in Solutions (pdf) (113.88 KB, March 2012, 540-F-12-001) .

Fact Sheet: Amendments to Emergency Release Notification and Hazardous Chemical Reporting (pdf) (82.71 KB, October 2008, 550-F-08-001) .

Local and Tribal Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC and TEPC) Resources

National LEPC-TEPC Handbook (January 2022, 550-K-22-001).

Energize Your Local Emergency Planning Committee (pdf) (515.63 KB, February 2009) .

LEPCs and Deliberate Releases: Addressing Terrorist Activities in the Local Emergency Plan (pdf) (266.45 KB, August 2001, 550-F-01-005) .

Hazards Analysis on the Move: SARA Title III (EPCRA) and Conducting a Commodity Flow Study (pdf) (233.49 KB, October 1993, 550-F-93-004) .

Sample Commodity Flow Studies.

Measuring Progress in Chemical Safety: A Guide for Local Emergency Planning Committees and Similar Groups (pdf) (346.84 KB) .

Sample Emergency Operations Plans.

Tribal Resources

Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention on Tribal Lands (pdf) (187.6 KB, April 2020, 550-F-20-003) .

State Resources

Letter from EPA to All State Emergency Response Commissions (pdf) (2.11 MB, 2009) .

Industry Resources

Trade Secret Forms and Instructions.

Guidance: Ice Rinks EPCRA Reporting Guidance (pdf) (850.71 KB, November 2019, 901-F-19-001) .

Fact Sheet: EPCRA Hazardous Chemical Reporting Advisory, Facilities Operating in the Plastics Industry (pdf) (67.39 KB, August 2016) .

Fact Sheet: An Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) Guide for Oil and Gas Operations (pdf) (436.07 KB) .

Fact Sheet: EPCRA Reporting Requirements for Fertilizer Retailers (pdf) (603.33 KB, November 2022) .

Survey Results

Nationwide Survey of Local Emergency Planning Committees.