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  • Why does EPA recommend submitting a list for EPCRA 311?

    Why does EPA recommend submitting a list rather than Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) to meet the requirements of Section 311? Lists will minimize the paperwork burden for state and local governments and local fire departments. In addition, the list can be used as an index to inventory forms required…

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  • Facilities that close during a reporting year

    A facility storing hazardous chemicals on site permanently ceases operations and notifies the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC). Since the facility will no longer be in operation on March 1 of the following year, must the owner/operator of the closed facility submit a Tier I or Tier II hazardous chemical…

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  • Recommended approach for reporting lead acid batteries when complying with Tier II reporting

    Does EPA have a standard or recommended reporting approach for lead acid batteries when complying with EPCRA Section 312 Chemical Inventory Reporting (i.e., Tier II reporting)? EPA suggests that facilities report for lead acid batteries in the same manner they used when complying with EPCRA Section 311 MSDS reporting requirements…

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  • Purchases but never receives or stores a hazardous chemical over threshold amount

    If a facility purchases more than 10,000 pounds of a hazardous chemical for which OSHA requires an MSDS in a calendar year but never actually receives or stores more than the 10,000 pound threshold at one time, must the facility report under EPCRA Sections 311 and 312? The MSDS and…

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  • How are mixtures handled for Sections 311 and 312 reporting?

    The owner or operator of a facility may meet the requirements of Sections 311 and 312 by choosing one of two options: • Providing the required information on each component that is a hazardous chemical within the mixture. In this case, the concentration of the hazardous chemical in weight percent…

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  • Underground Storage Tanks in SPCC Plans

    If a gas station that has less than 42,000 gallons completely buried oil storage capacity and no aboveground oil storage capacity installs a new aboveground tank with a capacity greater than 1,320 gallons, must the facility’s Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plan address the underground storage tanks (USTs) in…

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  • Container capacity less than 55 gallons

    Do facilities need to consider containers that are less than 55 gallons for applicability under 40 CFR Part 112? No. The third column of page 47066 of the July 17, 2002 Preamble states that "You need only count containers of 55 gallons or greater in the calculation of the regulatory…

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  • Oil-filled equipment capacity

    When counting against the 1,320 aboveground storage capacity threshold, would operational storage of oil (such as in a hydraulic press) be used? Oil which is contained in equipment is required to be factored into the storage capacity for the facility even though the oil may be only used for ancillary…

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  • If your farm does not have fuel storage that will flow into US waters by a ditch, river, stream, or lake, do you have to prepare a SPCC Plan?

    No. EPA suggests you use a common sense approach. If one of your oil storage tanks leaks, and the spilled oil would not flow into navigable waters or adjoining shorelines, you do not have to prepare a Plan. Remember that you still have the responsibility to clean up any spilled…

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  • Ground water pathways related to reasonably expected to discharge

    The SPCC Rule applies to facilities that could reasonably be expected to discharge into navigable waters (40 CFR §112.2(a)). Does a facility need to consider ground water pathways when determining if a discharge of oil could reasonably be expected to reach navigable waters? Owners and operators should consider whether on-site…

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  • EPCRA 312 Back Reporting for Previous Years

    Facilities subject to EPCRA section 312 (40 CFR part 370) must submit an inventory form annually to the state emergency response commission (SERC), local emergency planning committee (LEPC), and local fire department. Do facilities have to report for previous years if they were subject to hazardous chemical inventory reporting but…

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  • EPCRA 311 / 312 Applicability to Brine / Salt Solutions

    Are facilities required to prepare or have available a material safety data sheet/safety data sheet (MSDS/SDS) for brine/salt solutions under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) ( 29 CFR 1910.1200 )? Yes, facilities are required to prepare or have available an MSDS/SDS for brine/salt solutions…

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  • Definition of Ambient Temperature for EPCRA 312 Reporting

    The Tier II Hazardous Chemical Inventory form, used to meet annual EPCRA section 312 reporting requirements, requires facility owners or operators to note whether reported hazardous chemicals are present at, above, or below ambient temperature. What is meant by ambient temperature? Ambient temperature means that the material is stored in…

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  • Electronic Submission of Tier II Inventory Information

    Pursuant to the Emergency Planning and Community Act (EPCRA) Section 312, facilities must submit by March 1st every year Tier II inventory information regarding any hazardous chemical present at their facility at any time during the previous calendar year in an amount equal to or in excess of its threshold…

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  • SPCC responsibility for tanks on leased property

    What if I leased some parcels, and there are tanks already present? Am I responsible for these tanks? You could be. If you plan to use these tanks, make sure in your lease agreement, it states who is responsible for these tanks. If the lease does not state who is…

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