EPA has released a training video reviewing the 2021 Joint Safety Advisory (EPA, OSHA, and DHS-CISA) for Chemical Warehouses and Distribution Facilities. The video address the types of operations in the chemical warehousing industry that are of concern, provides a summary of the applicable federal chemical safety regulations, and defines common issues related to chemical management and safety. This video and other Chemical Accident Prevention Publications are available here: https://www.epa.gov/rmp/chemical-accident-prevention-publications. 

Check out the new Toxics Release Inventory webinar archive for webinar recordings on topics including real-world applications of TRI data, what tribal communities should know about TRI, EPA’s TRI/risk-screening tool, and more.

the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) released its final report into the November 2020 hydrogen chloride (HCl) release that occurred during maintenance activities at the Wacker Polysilicon North American facility in Charleston, Tennessee. A worker was fatally injured in the incident. The CSB found that at the time of the incident there were multiple contract workers present on the fifth-floor of an equipment access platform at the facility. The contract workers were from two different firms, conducting different work, and were wearing different levels of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). One of the workers applied excessive torque to flange bolts on a heat exchanger outlet pipe containing HCl, causing the pipe to crack and release the hazardous chemical in the vicinity of the workers. For more information, contact Communications Manager Hillary Cohen at Hillary.Cohen@csb.gov.

CSB released a new safety video on its investigation into the April 2018 explosion and fire at the Husky Superior Refinery in Superior, Wisconsin. The incident injured 36 workers, caused roughly $550 million in damage to the facility and released 39,000 pounds of flammable hydrocarbon vapor into the air. Over 2,500 residents of the City of Superior were evacuated from their homes, and the City of Duluth, Minnesota, issued a shelter in place order. For more information, contact Communications Manager Hillary Cohen at Hillary.Cohen@csb.gov.

CFATS Operational Updates

EPA Region V is sponsoring two web-based training programs in 2023 for water and wastewater plant operators, and other facilities that have chlorine in a process. These free webinars will provide participants with the information and tools necessary to comply with EPA’s emergency planning, notification, and reporting requirements for chlorine. For more information and to register visit:

For questions, contact Monika Chrzaszcz.

This course provides an introduction to identifying, assessing, evaluating, and mitigating chemical security risks. This easy-to-understand overview identifies key components and best practices of chemical security awareness and planning to help kickstart chemical security discussions at a facility. This course runs 1-2 hours in length and is appropriate for all personnel regardless of their level of involvement with dangerous chemicals.

This course walks through how to create a tailored, scalable security plan that meets the business model and unique circumstances of a facility. Participants will learn the key elements of a chemical security plan and benefit from examples, lessons learned, and best practices. The course runs 2-3 hours in length and is designed to help leadership, facility security personnel, and other applicable personnel understand, develop, and implement a facility security plan.

Please share this course information with relevant chemical security stakeholders in your area. To request a special offering of either course for a facility or organization, please fill out the ChemLock Services Request Form. If you have questions about the ChemLock program, please email ChemLock@cisa.dhs.gov.

This is the thirteenth annual forum for environmental professionals from Tribes, USEPA, State/Local/Federal agencies, community organizations, and other interested parties to meet, share knowledge, and learn from one another how to improve management, protection, and restoration of Tribal lands for us and all our relations. Registration is open! Visit the 2023 TLEF website to learn more about this year’s forum.

Registration, provisional agenda, and further information will be available in the coming weeks at the Chemical Security Summit webpage. For more information, please email ChemicalSummitReg@hq.dhs.gov.

The Toxics Release Inventory National Conference is back! Join EPA on October 24 & 25, 2023, in Arlington, Virginia, for conference sessions related to the theme ‘TRI: Transforming Data into Action.’ Watch the conference webpage for a call for presentation abstracts and more details, coming soon.

Understand the hazardous material threat in your jurisdiction. Experienced instructors will train you how to use the CAMEO® Suite software to facilitate planning for hazardous material incidents. This training includes CAMEO Data Manager (DM). This month-long class includes: online classroom with 24/7 access to weekly lessons, videos & activities; weekly, scheduled live Q&A webinars; 1-hour Zoom call on the first day of class; and four, 2-hour webinars on the remaining 4 days. One remaining session in 2023:

Click here for more information and to register.