EPA has announced several potential revisions to the Clean Air Act Risk Management Program (RMP) regulations after a recent slew of industrial incidents. The RMP program Request for Information–or the 2014 RMP RFI–describes several potential changes that could increase the number of regulated substances like ammonium nitrate, increase the costs of sources currently regulated through third-party audits and by regulating the installation of automated detecting and monitoring systems to provide early warning of chemical releases.
Some changes include mandatory root-cause investigations, site requirements and the disclosure of chemicals and accident history for facilities. While the proposal is not technically formal, it is believed that momentum is headed in that direction.
EPA is also requesting comment on a variety of topics, including mandating stop work authority and third-party audits akin to those conducted after the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. It is also asking whether specific timeframes should be established for the completion of post-incident investigations, as well as a variety of other questions.
The comment submission deadline is Oct. 29, 2014, and companies already subject to the RMP regulations should have their review completed and comments in by that date. Submit comments and additional materials by following the online instructions here. Use docket EPA-HQ-OEM-2014-0328.
