Accidental Release Prevention Requirements of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established a list of regulated substances and thresholds and issued Risk Management Program regulations under section 112(r) of the Clean Air Act. The goals of the regulations are to prevent accidental releases of chemicals that could cause serious harm to human health or the environment and to reduce the severity of releases that do occur.

A central element of this program is providing state and local governments and the public with information about the risk of chemical accidents and what facilities are doing to prevent such accidents. Covered facilities must implement a risk management program and submit a summary of that program, the Risk Management Plan (RMP), to EPA. In turn, EPA has made the RMP available to the public in federal public reading rooms, intending that the RMP will stimulate dialogue between industry and the public to improve accident prevention and emergency response practices

The first RMPs were due in June 1999. Facilities were required to provide an updated RMP by June 21, 2004. (Minnesota has not been delegated authority for this program. EPA is the delegating authority.)

Where Can I Obtain More Information on RMPs and Hazardous Materials in General?

• General Information on Risk Management Plans

  Contact:

  • EPA Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Office
    EPA Call Center: 1-800-424-9346
    
    
  • Steve Tomlyanovich, Minnesota Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act Program (EPCRA)
    651-282-5396
    
    
• Enforcement of the Accidental Release Prevention (Risk Management Plans) Program

  Contact:

  • Greg Chomycia, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Chicago
    312-353-8217
    
    
  • Bob Mayhugh, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Chicago
    312-886-5929
    
    
• General Information on Hazardous Materials and the Role of the State Agencies in an Emergency
  • Request a Hazardous Materials Information Packet from the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management at 651-296-2233.
    
    
• Hazardous Materials Regional Response Team Program, MIMS, Minnesota Duty Officer, and the State's Level of Preparedness for Emergencies

  Contact:

  • Gary Hendrickson , Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
    651-215-6946
    
    
  • Dave Berrisford, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
    651-296-0532
    
    
• Chemical Related Response and Clean-up Activities to Ensure that the Environment and Public Health and Safety are Protected

  Contact:

  • Steve Lee, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
    651-757-2160
    1-800-657-3864
    
    
• Chemical Related Response and Clean-up Activities to Ensure that the Environment and Public Health and Safety are Protected as it Relates to Agricultural Chemicals (Pesticides and Fertilizers)

Contact:

•  
  • Ed Kaiser (anhydrous ammonia) Minnesota Department of Agriculture
    651-297-7275
  • Patrick Kelly (pesticides), Minnesota Department of Agriculture
    651-297-538