Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

    • Environmental Topics
    • Air
    • Bed Bugs
    • Cancer
    • Chemicals, Toxics, and Pesticide
    • Emergency Response
    • Environmental Information by Location
    • Health
    • Land, Waste, and Cleanup
    • Lead
    • Mold
    • Radon
    • Research
    • Science Topics
    • Water Topics
    • A-Z Topic Index
    • Laws & Regulations
    • By Business Sector
    • By Topic
    • Compliance
    • Enforcement
    • Laws and Executive Orders
    • Regulations
    • Report a Violation
    • Environmental Violations
    • Fraud, Waste or Abuse
    • About EPA
    • Our Mission and What We Do
    • Headquarters Offices
    • Regional Offices
    • Labs and Research Centers
    • Planning, Budget, and Results
    • Organization Chart
    • EPA History

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA)

Is there a concentration cutoff below which it is not necessary to report a release?

Is there a concentration cutoff below which it is not necessary to report a release, even though a Reportable Quantity (RQ) might have been exceeded over a 24-hour period?

No. There are no concentration cutoffs for the RQs (i.e., a lower-bound concentration below which reporting would not be required). Unless it is one of the releases permitted under other federal programs or qualifies for one of the reporting exemptions for hazardous substance releases, the release of an RQ or more of a hazardous substance must be reported, regardless of the concentration of the substance released. Notification of releases of hazardous substances that equal or exceed an RQ, even those with relatively low concentrations, is mandated by CERCLA and EPA believes that such reports are essential to allow government personnel to decide whether a response action is necessary to protect public health or welfare or the environment.

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

  • About EPCRA
    • Statute and Regulations
    • Frequent Questions
    • Guidance
    • Training Resources
    • Newsletter
  • Emergency Planning
    • State Emergency Response Commissions
    • Local Emergency Planning Committees
  • Emergency Release Notifications
    • CERCLA Notifications
    • EPCRA Notifications
    • Continuous Release Reporting
    • Animal Waste Air Emissions
  • Hazardous Chemical Inventory Reporting
    • State Reporting Requirements
    • Tier II Forms
    • Tier2 Submit Software
  • EPCRA Trade Secrets
  • EPCRA Site Map
Contact Us about the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA)
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on April 18, 2025
  • Assistance
  • Spanish
  • Arabic
  • Chinese (simplified)
  • Chinese (traditional)
  • French
  • Haitian Creole
  • Korean
  • Portuguese
  • Russian
  • Tagalog
  • Vietnamese
United States Environmental Protection Agency

Discover.

  • Accessibility Statement
  • Budget & Performance
  • Contracting
  • EPA www Web Snapshot
  • Grants
  • No FEAR Act Data
  • Plain Writing
  • Privacy
  • Privacy and Security Notice

Connect.

  • Data
  • Inspector General
  • Jobs
  • Newsroom
  • Regulations.gov
  • Subscribe
  • USA.gov
  • White House

Ask.

  • Contact EPA
  • EPA Disclaimers
  • Hotlines
  • FOIA Requests
  • Frequent Questions
  • Site Feedback

Follow.