What is the Community Right-to-Know Act?
The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, commonly known as the Community Right-to-Know Act, was enacted by Congress to help local communities protect public health, safety, and the environment from chemical hazards. It was enacted in reaction to the 1984 disaster in Bhopal, India, in which a toxic chemical cloud was released from a manufacturing plant resulting in thousands of deaths and injuries. The act has four major provisions: Emergency planning. Every community in the United States must be part of a comprehensive plan to handle chemical emergencies. Each plan lays out potential local hazards, response capabilities, and procedures to follow in an emergency situation. Emergency release notification. If a chemical accident occurs at a commercial, municipal, or other facility, or on a transportation route, and the accident results in the release of a hazardous substance, the facility must notify the local community and the state immediately. Hazardous chemical reportin
Related Questions
- Under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), who is responsible for reporting releases and when must the report be made?
- Who must be notified of a release under Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA)?
- Does the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) regulate air emissions?
