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) and Section 103 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).

On this page:

Overview Documents

Guide to EPCRA (pdf) (838.15 KB, Fall 2020)

EPCRA Quick Reference Fact Sheet (pdf) (182.99 KB, Fall 2020)

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

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)

Fact Sheet: Safety Data Sheets with New OSHA Physical and Health Hazard Classes and Tier II Reporting (pdf) (93.99 KB, December 2018)

Cross Walk for Old and New Physical and Health Hazards for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) (pdf) (52.8 KB, December 2018, 550-F-12-001)

Fact Sheet: Revisions to The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) (pdf) (41.36 KB, August 2012, 550-F-12-001)

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 I Reporting Forms and Instructions

Tier II Reporting Forms and Instructions

Hazardous Chemical Reporting: Revisions to the Emergency and Hazardous Chemical Inventory Forms (Tier I and Tier II) (pdf) (29.29 KB, July 2012)

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

Hazard Chemical Reporting: Community Right-to-Know; Revisions to Hazard Categories and Minor Corrections (pdf) (66.64 KB, June 2016)

Hazardous Chemical Reporting: Revisions to the Emergency and Hazardous Chemical Inventory Forms (Tier I and Tier II) (pdf) (29.29 KB, July 2012)

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

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

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Last updated on April 1, 2025