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  • Identifying public receptors and property with restricted access

    Does public receptor cover only buildings on a property or the entire property? If the owner of the land next to my site restricts access to the land, is it still a public receptor? Public receptors are not limited to buildings. For example, if there are houses near your property…

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  • When to Revise OCA

    The risk management program in 40 CFR Part 68 requires facilities to conduct an off-site consequence analysis (OCA) to provide information to state, local, and federal governments and the public about the potential consequences of an accidental chemical release. When does a facility need to revise its OCA? The owner…

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  • No trespassing signs restricted access onsite or offsite public receptor

    The definition of public receptor is "offsite residences, institutions (e.g., schools, hospitals), industrial, commercial, and office buildings, parks, or recreational areas inhabited or occupied by the public at any time without restriction by the stationary source ..." Offsite is further defined to include "areas within the property boundary [of the…

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  • Quantity of a regulated substance in an aqueous solution

    When using RMP*Comp to conduct an offsite consequence analysis (OCA), a facility must specify the quantity released. What quantity should be entered for a regulated toxic substance in an aqueous solution, the total quantity of the aqueous solution or just the quantity of the toxic substance? The entire quantity of…

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  • Must I anticipate a specific cause for the worst-case scenario for a toxic substance?

    When analyzing the worst-case scenario for regulated toxic substances, must I anticipate a specific cause (e.g., fire, explosion, etc.) of the scenario? No. The worst-case analysis for a release of regulated toxic substances must conform to specific assumptions as identified in § 68.25(c) and (d). Anticipated causes of the release…

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  • Flammable event with different time duration

    What if a flammable event has a different time duration than the 5 kw/m2 for 40 seconds? EPA recognizes that flammable events may occur for a different amount of exposure time. Therefore, the owner or operator should determine the distance to an equivalent exposure - e.g. if the flammable event…

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  • Definition and data sources of "environmental receptor"

    The Risk Management Program rule requires owners or operators of covered processes to define in the risk management plan (RMP) the potential offsite public and environmental receptors within the impact range of identified worst case and alternative release scenarios. What is the definition of "environmental receptor"? What data sources are…

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  • Worst-case Release Scenario for Separate, Interconnected Vessels

    Pursuant to the risk management program regulations, facilities must perform an offsite consequence analysis for the worst-case release scenario. Do the quantities of two separate vessels that are interconnected with a closed valve need to be aggregated for the worst-case release scenario analysis? No. Worst-case release is defined as the…

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  • Worst-case release scenarios for toxics and flammables represented by Program 2 or 3 processes

    A stationary source subject to the risk management program regulations at 40 CFR Part 68 comprises multiple Program 2 and Program 3 covered processes. The owner or operator must do a single worst-case release analysis to represent toxic regulated substances and a single worst-case release analysis to represent flammable regulated…

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  • Non-residential population in off-site consequence analyses

    Must an owner or operator include in their risk management plan (RMP) estimates of the non-residential population when defining off-site impacts for the off-site consequence analysis? Owners or operators are required to note in the RMP the presence of any major institutions (i.e., schools, hospitals, or prisons), public recreational areas…

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  • Statutory authority and regulatory source for the risk management program

    What is the statutory authority and the regulatory source for the risk management program regulations that are codified in 40 CFR Part 68? The risk management program regulations were promulgated pursuant to the §112(r) accidental release prevention provisions of the Clean Air Act, as amended in 1990. The regulatory sources…

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  • RMP Information Center

    If I have additional questions regarding the RMP regulations, who can I contact via telephone for further assistance? You may contact the EPCRA, RMP & Oil Information Center, a publicly accessible service that provides up-to-date information on the regulatory requirements of the RMP program, including the applicability, program levels, off-site…

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  • Are barracks and family housing units on military bases considered public receptors?

    Barracks are not considered public receptors, family housing units are. Public receptors include any "offsite residences ... inhabited or occupied by the public at any time without restriction by the stationary source where members of the public could be exposed to toxic concentrations, radiant heat, or overpressure, as a result…

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  • Are on-site areas with unrestricted access considered public receptors?

    A process covered under 40 CFR Part 68 is eligible for Program 1 requirements if it meets all of the criteria listed at 40 CFR §68.10(b). One of those criteria is that the distance to a toxic or flammable endpoint for a worst-case release assessment is less than the distance…

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  • Are areas occupied solely by employees considered public receptors?

    When analyzing off-site consequences for the purpose of a worst-case or alternative release scenario under the risk management program regulations (40 CFR Part 68), are areas occupied solely by employees at the source considered to be public receptors? No. Such areas at the stationary source are not to be included…

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