Regulations last checked for updates: Jun 02, 2024

Title 40 - Protection of Environment last revised: May 30, 2024
§ 68.150 - Submission.

(a) The owner or operator shall submit a single RMP that includes the information required by §§ 68.155 through 68.185 for all covered processes. The RMP shall be submitted in the method and format to the central point specified by EPA as of the date of submission.

(b) The owner or operator shall submit the first RMP no later than the latest of the following dates:

(1) June 21, 1999;

(2) Three years after the date on which a regulated substance is first listed under § 68.130; or

(3) The date on which a regulated substance is first present above a threshold quantity in a process.

(c) The owner or operator of any stationary source for which an RMP was submitted before June 21, 2004, shall revise the RMP to include the information required by § 68.160(b)(6) and (14) by June 21, 2004 in the manner specified by EPA prior to that date. Any such submission shall also include the information required by § 68.160(b)(20) (indicating that the submission is a correction to include the information required by § 68.160(b)(6) and (14) or an update under § 68.190).

(d) RMPs submitted under this section shall be updated and corrected in accordance with §§ 68.190 and 68.195.

(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of §§ 68.155 to 68.190, the RMP shall exclude classified information. Subject to appropriate procedures to protect such information from public disclosure, classified data or information excluded from the RMP may be made available in a classified annex to the RMP for review by Federal and state representatives who have received the appropriate security clearances.

(f) Procedures for asserting that information submitted in the RMP is entitled to protection as confidential business information are set forth in §§ 68.151 and 68.152.

[61 FR 31726, June 20, 1996, as amended at 64 FR 979, Jan. 6, 1999; 69 FR 18831, Apr. 9, 2004]
§ 68.151 - Assertion of claims of confidential business information.

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, an owner or operator of a stationary source required to report or otherwise provide information under this part may make a claim of confidential business information for any such information that meets the criteria set forth in 40 CFR 2.301.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of 40 CFR part 2, an owner or operator of a stationary source subject to this part may not claim as confidential business information the following information:

(1) Registration data required by § 68.160(b)(1) through (6), (8), (10) through (13), and (21), and NAICS code and Program level of the process set forth in § 68.160(b)(7);

(2) Offsite consequence analysis data required by § 68.165(b)(4), (b)(9), (b)(10), (b)(11), and (b)(12).

(3) Accident history data required by § 68.168;

(4) Prevention program data required by § 68.170(b), (d), (e)(1), (f) through (k);

(5) Prevention program data required by § 68.175(b), (d), (e)(1), (f) through (p); and

(6) Emergency response program data required by § 68.180.

(c) Notwithstanding the procedures specified in 40 CFR part 2, an owner or operator asserting a claim of CBI with respect to information contained in its RMP, shall submit to EPA at the time it submits the RMP the following:

(1) The information claimed confidential, provided in a format to be specified by EPA;

(2) A sanitized (redacted) copy of the RMP, with the notation “CBI” substituted for the information claimed confidential, except that a generic category or class name shall be substituted for any chemical name or identity claimed confidential; and

(3) The document or documents substantiating each claim of confidential business information, as described in § 68.152.

[64 FR 979, Jan. 6, 1999, as amended at 84 FR 69915, Dec. 10, 2019]
§ 68.152 - Substantiating claims of confidential business information.

(a) An owner or operator claiming that information is confidential business information must substantiate that claim by providing documentation that demonstrates that the claim meets the substantive criteria set forth in 40 CFR 2.301.

(b) Information that is submitted as part of the substantiation may be claimed confidential by marking it as confidential business information. Information not so marked will be treated as public and may be disclosed without notice to the submitter. If information that is submitted as part of the substantiation is claimed confidential, the owner or operator must provide a sanitized and unsanitized version of the substantiation.

(c) The owner, operator, or senior official with management responsibility of the stationary source shall sign a certification that the signer has personally examined the information submitted and that based on inquiry of the persons who compiled the information, the information is true, accurate, and complete, and that those portions of the substantiation claimed as confidential business information would, if disclosed, reveal trade secrets or other confidential business information.

[64 FR 980, Jan. 6, 1999]
§ 68.155 - Executive summary.

The owner or operator shall provide in the RMP an executive summary that includes a brief description of the following elements:

(a) The accidental release prevention and emergency response policies at the stationary source;

(b) The stationary source and regulated substances handled;

(c) The general accidental release prevention program and chemical-specific prevention steps;

(d) The five-year accident history;

(e) The emergency response program; and

(f) Planned changes to improve safety.

[61 FR 31726, June 20, 1996, as amended at 69 FR 18831, Apr. 9, 2004]
§ 68.160 - Registration.

(a) The owner or operator shall complete a single registration form and include it in the RMP. The form shall cover all regulated substances handled in covered processes.

(b) The registration shall include the following data:

(1) Stationary source name, street, city, county, state, zip code, latitude and longitude, method for obtaining latitude and longitude, and description of location that latitude and longitude represent.

(2) The stationary source Dun and Bradstreet number.

(3) Name and Dun and Bradstreet number of the corporate parent company.

(4) The name, telephone number, and mailing address of the owner or operator.

(5) The name and title of the person or position with overall responsibility for RMP elements and implementation, and (optional) the e-mail address for that person or position.

(6) The name, title, telephone number, 24-hour telephone number, and, as of June 21, 2004, the e-mail address (if an e-mail address exists) of the emergency contact.

(7) For each covered process, the name and CAS number of each regulated substance held above the threshold quantity in the process, the maximum quantity of each regulated substance or mixture in the process (in pounds) to two significant digits, the five- or six-digit NAICS code that most closely corresponds to the process, and the Program level of the process.

(8) The stationary source EPA identifier.

(9) The number of full-time employees at the stationary source.

(10) Whether the stationary source is subject to 29 CFR 1910.119.

(11) Whether the stationary source is subject to 40 CFR part 355.

(12) If the stationary source has a CAA Title V operating permit, the permit number.

(13) The date of the last safety inspection of the stationary source by a Federal, state, or local government agency and the identity of the inspecting entity.

(14) As of June 21, 2004, the name, the mailing address, and the telephone number of the contractor who prepared the RMP (if any).

(15) Source or Parent Company E-Mail Address (Optional).

(16) Source Homepage address (Optional).

(17) Phone number at the source for public inquiries (Optional).

(18) Local Emergency Planning Committee (Optional).

(19) OSHA Voluntary Protection Program status (Optional).

(20) As of June 21, 2004, the type of and reason for any changes being made to a previously submitted RMP; the types of changes to RMP are categorized as follows:

(i) Updates and re-submissions required under § 68.190(b);

(ii) Corrections under § 68.195 or for purposes of correcting minor clerical errors, updating administrative information, providing missing data elements or reflecting facility ownership changes, and which do not require an update and re-submission as specified in § 68.190(b);

(iii) De-registrations required under § 68.190(c); and

(iv) Withdrawals of an RMP for any facility that was erroneously considered subject to this part 68.

(21) Whether a public meeting has been held following an RMP reportable accident, pursuant to § 68.210(b).

(22) Method of communication and location of the notification that chemical hazard information is available to the public residing, working, or spending significant time within 6 miles of the stationary source, pursuant to § 68.210(d).

[61 FR 31726, June 20, 1996, as amended at 64 FR 980, Jan. 6, 1999; 69 FR 18831, Apr. 9, 2004; 82 FR 4703, Jan. 13, 2017; 84 FR 69915, Dec. 19, 2019; 89 FR 17692, Mar. 11, 2024]
§ 68.165 - Offsite consequence analysis.

(a) The owner or operator shall submit in the RMP information:

(1) One worst-case release scenario for each Program 1 process; and

(2) For Program 2 and 3 processes, one worst-case release scenario to represent all regulated toxic substances held above the threshold quantity and one worst-case release scenario to represent all regulated flammable substances held above the threshold quantity. If additional worst-case scenarios for toxics or flammables are required by § 68.25(a)(2)(iii), the owner or operator shall submit the same information on the additional scenario(s). The owner or operator of Program 2 and 3 processes shall also submit information on one alternative release scenario for each regulated toxic substance held above the threshold quantity and one alternative release scenario to represent all regulated flammable substances held above the threshold quantity.

(b) The owner or operator shall submit the following data:

(1) Chemical name;

(2) Percentage weight of the chemical in a liquid mixture (toxics only);

(3) Physical state (toxics only);

(4) Basis of results (give model name if used);

(5) Scenario (explosion, fire, toxic gas release, or liquid spill and evaporation);

(6) Quantity released in pounds;

(7) Release rate;

(8) Release duration;

(9) Wind speed and atmospheric stability class (toxics only);

(10) Topography (toxics only);

(11) Distance to endpoint;

(12) Public and environmental receptors within the distance;

(13) Passive mitigation considered; and

(14) Active mitigation considered (alternative releases only);

[61 FR 31726, June 20, 1996, as amended at 64 FR 980, Jan. 6, 1999]
§ 68.168 - Five-year accident history.

The owner or operator shall submit in the RMP the information provided in § 68.42(b) on each accident covered by § 68.42(a).

§ 68.170 - Prevention program/Program 2.

(a) For each Program 2 process, the owner or operator shall provide in the RMP the information indicated in paragraphs (b) through (k) of this section. If the same information applies to more than one covered process, the owner or operator may provide the information only once, but shall indicate to which processes the information applies.

(b) The five- or six-digit NAICS code that most closely corresponds to the process.

(c) The name(s) of the chemical(s) covered.

(d) The date of the most recent review or revision of the safety information and a list of Federal or state regulations or industry-specific design codes and standards used to demonstrate compliance with the safety information requirement.

(e) The date of completion of the most recent hazard review or update.

(1) The expected date of completion of any changes resulting from the hazard review;

(2) Major hazards identified;

(3) Process controls in use;

(4) Mitigation systems in use;

(5) Monitoring and detection systems in use;

(6) Changes since the last hazard review; and

(7) Recommendations declined from natural hazard, power loss, and siting hazard evaluations and justifications.

(f) The date of the most recent review or revision of operating procedures.

(g) The date of the most recent review or revision of training programs;

(1) The type of training provided—classroom, classroom plus on the job, on the job; and

(2) The type of competency testing used.

(h) The date of the most recent review or revision of maintenance procedures and the date of the most recent equipment inspection or test and the equipment inspected or tested.

(i) The date of the most recent compliance audit; the expected date of completion of any changes resulting from the compliance audit and identification of whether the most recent compliance audit was a third-party audit, pursuant to §§ 68.58 and 68.59; and findings declined from third-party compliance audits and justifications.

(j) The completion date of the most recent incident investigation and the expected date of completion of any changes resulting from the investigation.

(k) The date of the most recent change that triggered a review or revision of safety information, the hazard review, operating or maintenance procedures, or training.

[61 FR 31726, June 20, 1996, as amended at 64 FR 980, Jan. 6, 1999; 82 FR 4704, Jan. 13, 2017; 84 FR 69915, Dec. 19, 2019; 89 FR 17692, Mar. 11, 2024]
§ 68.175 - Prevention program/Program 3.

(a) For each Program 3 process, the owner or operator shall provide the information indicated in paragraphs (b) through (p) of this section. If the same information applies to more than one covered process, the owner or operator may provide the information only once, but shall indicate to which processes the information applies.

(b) The five- or six-digit NAICS code that most closely corresponds to the process.

(c) The name(s) of the substance(s) covered.

(d) The date on which the safety information was last reviewed or revised.

(e) The date of completion of the most recent PHA or update and the technique used;

(1) The expected date of completion of any changes resulting from the PHA;

(2) Major hazards identified;

(3) Process controls in use;

(4) Mitigation systems in use;

(5) Monitoring and detection systems in use;

(6) Changes since the last PHA;

(7) Inherently safer technology or design measures implemented since the last PHA, if any, and the technology category (substitution, minimization, simplification and/or moderation);

(8) Recommendations declined from natural hazard, power loss, and siting hazard evaluations and justifications; and

(9) Recommendations declined from safety gaps between codes, standards, or practices to which the process was designed and constructed and the most current version of applicable codes, standards, or practices.

(f) The date of the most recent review or revision of operating procedures.

(g) The date of the most recent review or revision of training programs;

(1) The type of training provided—classroom, classroom plus on the job, on the job; and

(2) The type of competency testing used.

(h) The date of the most recent review or revision of maintenance procedures and the date of the most recent equipment inspection or test and the equipment inspected or tested.

(i) The date of the most recent change that triggered management of change procedures and the date of the most recent review or revision of management of change procedures.

(j) The date of the most recent pre-startup review.

(k) The date of the most recent compliance audit; the expected date of completion of any changes resulting from the compliance audit and identification of whether the most recent compliance audit was a third-party audit, pursuant to §§ 68.79 and 68.80; and findings declined from third-party compliance audits and justifications.

(l) The completion date of the most recent incident investigation and the expected date of completion of any changes resulting from the investigation.

(m) The date of the most recent review or revision of employee participation plans;

(n) The date of the most recent review or revision of hot work permit procedures;

(o) The date of the most recent review or revision of contractor safety procedures; and

(p) The date of the most recent evaluation of contractor safety performance.

[61 FR 31726, June 20, 1996, as amended at 64 FR 980, Jan. 6, 1999; 82 FR 4704, Jan. 13, 2017; 84 FR 69915, Dec. 19, 2019; 89 FR 17692, Mar. 11, 2024]
§ 68.180 - Emergency response program and exercises.

(a) The owner or operator shall provide in the RMP:

(1) Name, phone number and email address of local emergency planning and response organizations with which the stationary source last coordinated emergency response efforts, pursuant to § 68.10(g)(3) or § 68.93.

(2) The date of the most recent coordination with the local emergency response organizations, pursuant to § 68.93 and

(3) A list of Federal or state emergency plan requirements to which the stationary source is subject.

(b) The owner or operator shall identify in the RMP whether the facility is a responding stationary source or a non-responding stationary source, pursuant to § 68.90.

(1) For non-responding stationary sources, the owner or operator shall identify:

(i) For stationary sources with any regulated toxic substance held in a process above the threshold quantity, whether the stationary source is included in the community emergency response plan developed under 42 U.S.C. 11003,pursuant.90(b)(1);

(ii) For stationary sources with only regulated flammable substances held in a process above the threshold quantity, the date of the most recent coordination with the local fire department, pursuant to § 68.90(b)(2);

(iii) What mechanisms are in place to notify the public and emergency responders when there is a need for emergency response; and

(iv) The date of the most recent notification exercise, as required in § 68.96(a).

(2) For responding stationary sources, the owner or operator shall identify:

(i) The date of the most recent review and update of the emergency response plan, pursuant to § 68.95(a)(4);

(ii) The date of the most recent notification exercise, as required in § 68.96(a);

(iii) The date of the most recent field exercise, as required in § 68.96(b)(1); and

(iv) The date of the most recent tabletop exercise, as required in § 68.96(b)(2).

[82 FR 4704, Jan. 13, 2017, as amended at 84 FR 69915, Dec. 19, 2019]
§ 68.185 - Certification.

(a) For Program 1 processes, the owner or operator shall submit in the RMP the certification statement provided in § 68.12(b)(4).

(b) For all other covered processes, the owner or operator shall submit in the RMP a single certification that, to the best of the signer's knowledge, information, and belief formed after reasonable inquiry, the information submitted is true, accurate, and complete.

§ 68.190 - Updates.

(a) The owner or operator shall review and update the RMP as specified in paragraph (b) of this section and submit it in the method and format to the central point specified by EPA as of the date of submission.

(b) The owner or operator of a stationary source shall revise and update the RMP submitted under § 68.150 as follows:

(1) At least once every five years from the date of its initial submission or most recent update required by paragraphs (b)(2) through (b)(7) of this section, whichever is later. For purposes of determining the date of initial submissions, RMPs submitted before June 21, 1999 are considered to have been submitted on that date.

(2) No later than three years after a newly regulated substance is first listed by EPA;

(3) No later than the date on which a new regulated substance is first present in an already covered process above a threshold quantity;

(4) No later than the date on which a regulated substance is first present above a threshold quantity in a new process;

(5) Within six months of a change that requires a revised PHA or hazard review;

(6) Within six months of a change that requires a revised offsite consequence analysis as provided in § 68.36; and

(7) Within six months of a change that alters the Program level that applied to any covered process.

(c) If a stationary source is no longer subject to this part, the owner or operator shall submit a de-registration to EPA within six months indicating that the stationary source is no longer covered.

[61 FR 31726, June 20, 1996, as amended at 69 FR 18832, Apr. 9, 2004; 82 FR 4704, Jan. 13, 2017; 84 FR 69915, Dec. 19, 2019]
§ 68.195 - Required corrections.

The owner or operator of a stationary source for which a RMP was submitted shall correct the RMP as follows:

(a) New accident history information—For any accidental release meeting the five-year accident history reporting criteria of § 68.42 and occurring after April 9, 2004, the owner or operator shall submit the data required under §§ 68.168, 68.170(j), and 68.175(l) with respect to that accident within six months of the release or by the time the RMP is updated under § 68.190, whichever is earlier.

(b) Emergency contact information—Beginning June 21, 2004, within one month of any change in the emergency contact information required under § 68.160(b)(6), the owner or operator shall submit a correction of that information.

[69 FR 18832, Apr. 9, 2004]
authority: 42 U.S.C. 7412(r), 7601(a)(1), 7661-7661f
source: 59 FR 4493, Jan. 31, 1994, unless otherwise noted.
cite as: 40 CFR 68.185