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Changes to the EPA Information Center for EPCRA, RMP, and Oil Regulations
The EPA’s Information Center which answers questions for CERCLA Release Reporting, CWA Hazardous Substance Facility Response Plan Regulations, EPCRA (SARA Title III), RMP, and Oil Spill Prevention and Preparedness Regulations is no longer operational. EPA is providing support via email (infocenter-chemical-oil@epa.gov). The phone numbers that may be listed on the Contact Us websites and have been distributed in published resources have been disconnected.
EPA Discontinues TRI Information Center
The Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Program no longer provides the TRI information center/hotline that regulated facilities could previously call to get guidance on EPCRA Section 313 (TRI) reporting. Facilities should now refer to GuideME, the consolidated library of TRI guidance materials, or contact the TRI Program at tri.help@epa.gov.
CERCLA Continuous Release Reporting (CRR) Submission Address
The U.S. EPA would like to provide a reminder that CERCLA Continuous Release Reports (CRRs), which are submitted by facilities pursuant to 40 CFR 302.8, should be sent to the below address and not to the EPA Regional Offices. For more information please visit: www.epa.gov/epcra/cercla-and-epcra-continuous-release-reporting
U.S. Postal Service (USPS)
Office of Emergency Management
1200 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20460
Mail Code 5104A
Attn: Continuous Release Report
FedEx/United Parcel Service (UPS)
Office of Emergency Management
1200 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20460
Room 1309
Attn: Continuous Release Report
Chemical Preparedness Planning Handbook
The National Association of City and County Health Officials (NACCHO) in partnership with Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) developed a Chemical Preparedness Handbook designed to assist local health departments (LHDs) in developing effective public health emergency preparedness and response plans for low-probability, high-risk chemical incidents. The handbook contains information on chemical incident planning and mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. It also contains several planning checklists with recommended steps and actions for LHDs to consider when developing preparedness plans tailored to their community. This Handbook has been published and is available on the NACCHO website
U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) Releases New Safety Video on 2020 Fatal Propylene Release and Explosion at the Watson Grinding Facility in Houston, Texas
The CSB released a new safety video on its investigation into the January 24, 2020, fatal propylene release and explosion at the Watson Grinding and Manufacturing Company facility in Houston, Texas. The massive explosion resulted in the death of two workers and a nearby resident and damaged hundreds of neighboring homes.
U.S. CSB Issues Final Report into 2023 Fire at the Marathon Renewables Facility in Martinez, California
The CSB released its final investigation report into the November 19, 2023, fire at the Marathon Martinez Renewables facility in Martinez, CA. The incident seriously injured one employee, who suffered third-degree burns over most of his face and body, and resulted in approximately $350 million in property damage to the facility.
U.S. CSB Releases Second Update into Fatal Hydrogen Sulfide Release at PEMEX Refinery in Deer Park, Texas
The CSB released a second update on its ongoing investigation into the fatal hydrogen sulfide release that occurred on October 10, 2024, at the PEMEX Deer Park Refinery in Deer Park, Texas. Two contract workers died during the incident, and over 27,000 pounds of toxic hydrogen sulfide gas were released. Local authorities issued shelter-in-place orders lasting several hours for the neighboring cities of Deer Park and Pasadena.
U.S. CSB Releases New Report to Mark the 20th Anniversary of Fatal BP Texas City Refinery Disaster
The CSB marked the 20th anniversary of the fatal explosions and fires at BP America Texas City Refinery in Texas City, TX, that occurred on March 23, 2005. To remember this event, the CSB released a new report entitled “The 20th Anniversary of the 2005 Fatal BP America Refinery Explosion in Texas City, TX - Lessons Learned and Improvements Implemented by Industry.” This new report, called an “investigation digest”, summarizes the recommendations made by the CSB as a result of its investigation of the BP Texas City disaster and some of the steps that have been taken by the chemical industry since 2005 to improve safety at refineries and other chemical facilities.
U.S. CSB Releases Volume 2 of Chemical Incident Reports
The CSB announced that it has released Volume 2 of its Incident Reports. Volume 2 covers 25 serious chemical incidents in 14 states: Arkansas, Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma and Texas. These serious incidents resulted in 7 fatalities, 23 serious injuries, and approximately $1 billion in property damage.
For more information on CSB updates and news releases please visit www.csb.gov or contact Communications Manager Hillary Cohen at Hillary.Cohen@csb.gov.
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