State Emergency Response Commission (SERC)

 As a precautionary response to COVID-19, Ohio EPA is currently operating with most staff working remotely. If you are working with our staff on a current project and you know the name of the employee you are working with, email them at firstname.lastname@epa.ohio.gov or call them directly. The Agency website has contact information for every district, division, and office. In order to reach us, please contact Ohio EPA’s main phone line at (614) 644-3020 or the main line for the division or office you are trying to reach.

After March 23, our district offices and Central Office will be temporarily closed and will have increasingly limited ability to receive deliveries, plans, etc. All entities are encouraged to submit plans, permit applications, etc., electronically where there are existing avenues to do so, such as the eBusiness Center (eBiz). Please refer to the list of available services on the main eBiz webpage. We encourage you to make use of all that apply, even if you have not used eBiz in the past. Plans under 25 MB can be emailed. For large plans over 25 MB, entities should work with the reviewer/division to upload via LiquidFiles. Directions for submitting docs via LiquidFiles is available on YouTube. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you in advance for your understanding. If you wish to send hard copies of documents to any of Ohio EPA’s district offices, the best method to ensure we receive these documents is to send them via U.S. Mail. Since all offices are closed, deliveries outside of U.S. Mail (FedEx, UPS) will likely be returned because the offices are closed and deliveries cannot be made.

To report a spill or environmental emergency, contact the spill hotline (800) 282-9378 or (614) 224-0946. 

In 1988, the Ohio General Assembly passed Substitute Senate Bill 367. This law, Chapter 3750 of the Ohio Revised Code (ORC), provides for implementation of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) in Ohio. The administrative body for the implementation of Chapter 3750 is the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC). 

SERC Training & Education Committee State Emergency Response Commission

Meeting Date and Time:
Wednesday, June 10, 2020, 10:30 a.m.
 

To Access the webinar:
Join Microsoft Teams Meeting
 

To access by phone:
+1 614-721-2972 United States, Columbus (Toll)
Conference ID: 370 020 631#

Meeting Date and Time:
Wednesday, June 10, 2020, 1:15 p.m.
 

To Access the webinar:
Join Microsoft Teams Meeting
 

To access by phone:
+1 614-721-2972 United States, Columbus (Toll)
Conference ID: 267 455 895#
   

The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) was passed by Congress in 1986. EPCRA was included as Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) and is sometimes referred to as SARA Title III. EPCRA provides for the collection and availability of information regarding the use, storage, production and release of hazardous chemicals to the public and emergency responders in your community. The law promotes a working relationship among government at all levels, business and community leaders, environmental and other public interest organizations, and individual citizens to improve hazard communications and emergency planning.

In 1988, the Ohio General Assembly passed Substitute Senate Bill 367. This law, Chapter 3750 of the Ohio Revised Code (ORC), provides for the implementation of EPCRA in Ohio. The administrative body for the implementation of Chapter 3750 is the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC).

SERC is made up of nine state agencies: Ohio Environmental Protection Agency; Emergency Management Agency; Attorney General's Office; Health; Transportation; Natural Resources; State Fire Marshal; State Highway Patrol; and Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. Additionally, SERC has 10 voting members: two representing environmental advocacy; two representing industry trade association; three representing firefighting; and three representing local government/municipalities. Two members of the legislature serve as non-voting members.

SERC appoints members of the Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPC) of each emergency planning district. In Ohio, each county has been designated as its own emergency planning district, with the exception of Montgomery and Greene counties, which combine their planning efforts. LEPC members include representatives from each of the following groups or organizations: elected state and local officials; law enforcement; emergency management; fire fighting; first aid, hospitals and health; local environmental authorities; transportation; broadcast and/or print media; community groups; and owners and operators of subject facilities.

SERC appoints LEPC members to two two-year terms of office. LEPCs use Ohio EPA's inventory information to develop and exercise their local planning district's emergency response plan(s).

Other Helpful Websites

The April 15, 2020 SERC meeting has been cancelled. The next meeting will be held on June 10, 2020. Details, including the meeting location or call-in information, if the meeting is held by teleconference, will be posted on the SERC website at https://epa.ohio.gov/dapc/serc​

New Release Notification Procedure for Oil and Gas Well Owners/Operators

Owners and operators of oil and gas well sites regulated by ODNR, which are subject to the Division of Oil and Gas Resource Management new release/spill incident notification requirements are no longer required to make a separate call to Ohio EPA’s Emergency Response hotline. ODNR’s Division of Oil and Gas Resources and Ohio EPA are coordinating efforts and the Division of Oil and Gas Resources Management will be sharing the incident notification information with Ohio EPA.

Ohio EPA Director Craig Butler has officially designated the Chief of the Division of Oil and Gas Resources Management as his state agency designee for the immediate verbal notifications for reportable releases/spills from activities regulated under Ohio Revised Code Section 1509, which are subject to the incident reporting requirements adopted under division 1501:9 of the Administrative Code.

Because of the federal requirements of EPCRA and Ohio Revised Code Section 3750.06(C), this designation does not eliminate the requirement for the initial notification of reportable releases/spills to be made to the LEPC emergency coordinator or the local fire department, or the written 30-day follow-up report to be submitted to the LEPC.

The owner or operator of an oil and gas well site regulated by ORC 1509 Division of Oil and Gas Resource Management-Oil and Gas) must make the verbal notification within 30 minutes upon having knowledge or discovery of a release/spill of hazardous substance, extremely hazardous substance, or discharge of oil that exceeded the reportable quantity to:

  • the LEPC emergency coordinator of each emergency planning district that contains an area likely to be affected by the release;
  • the fire department having jurisdiction where the release occurred; and
  • the Chief of the Division of Oil and Gas Resources Management

The written follow-up emergency notice of the reportable release from a facility is required to be submitted within 30 days to the local emergency planning committee of the district in which the release occurred and to the Chief of the Division of Oil and Gas Resources Management.

Responsible parties under this new initiative shall maintain compliance with the release/spill reporting requirements under both the federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3750, Emergency Planning.

Voluntary Audit Disclosure (VAD); SERC Protocol

SERC Audit Disclosure Response Protocol Ohio’s amended audit privilege and immunity law became effective on Sept. 30, 1998. The purpose of this law is to enhance protection of human health and the environment by encouraging regulated entities to voluntarily discover, promptly disclose and expeditiously correct violations of environmental laws. Under the law, the owner or operator of a facility may perform a voluntary self-evaluation (audit) designed to improve compliance or identify, correct, or prevent noncompliance with environmental laws. In return for performing a proper audit, the owner or operator can qualify for immunity from the gravity portion of any civil penalty for the violations disclosed. Also, the audit and documents used to conduct the audit are privileged.

Because a company ultimately has the burden of proving in court that it is entitled to immunity, it is not the SERC’s role or even ability to grant or deny immunity. Rather, it is ultimately a question for a court to answer. Accordingly, in our communication, we will only be issuing an opinion as to whether the submittal contains all of the information required by ORC 3745.72.

ORC 3745.72(C) requires that all disclosures must be in writing, dated, and hand delivered or sent by certified mail to the director of the state agency that has jurisdiction over the alleged violation. For violations, disclosures must be sent to the Director of Ohio EPA and the Director of Department of Public Safety who serve as the SERC Co-Chairs. The disclosure must contain all of the information identified in the protocol document.

Petroleum Crude Oil Railroad Carriers

U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)

Emergency Order (Docket No. DOT-OST-2014-0067)

The U.S. Department of Transportation issued an Emergency Order on May 7, 2014, requiring all railroads operating trains carrying more than 1 million gallons of Bakken crude oil, or approximately 35 tank cars, to notify State Emergency Response Commissions about the expected weekly train movements through their respective state.

The notification must include estimated volumes of Bakken crude oil being transported, the frequency of expected train traffic and the route through which Bakken crude oil will be transported. In addition, the order requires each railroad to provide contact information for at least one individual responsible for responding to emergency responders about the shipments.

On June 11, 2014, Ohio's State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) passed a resolution at its meeting designating the State of Ohio Fusion Center as the repository for notifications and revisions/updates to the notifications. The Ohio Fusion Center will maintain the notifications and distribute the notifications to state and local emergency responders. A copy of the resolution can be found here: 2014 SERC USDOT Emergency Order Resolution.

The SERC is transferring the notifications received from any rail carrier to the Ohio Fusion Center. 

Notifications and revisions/updates should be submitted to the Ohio Fusion Center at the following address:

Ohio Homeland Security
c/o Strategic Analysis and Information Center Commander
1970 W. Broad St.
Columbus, OH 43223
Email: homelandsec@dps.ohio.gov

E-Plan

Effective Oct. 9, 2013, the Ohio SERC voted to rescind using the E-Plan reporting system and it is no longer a reporting option for the statewide regulated facilities.

High-Hazard Flammable Train (HHFT) Shipments; Information Sharing to Local Emergency Responders and Planners

The U.S. Department of Transportation- Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued a final rule on February 28, 2019, requiring railroads defined as High Hazard Flammable Liquid Trains (HHFT) to make notifications to states) regarding their transportation of these Class 3 flammables.

PHMSA defines HHFT as trains that have a continuous block of twenty (20) or more tank cars loaded with a flammable liquid or thirty-five (35) or more cars loaded with a flammable liquid dispersed through a train, to notify State Emergency Response Commissions about the expected weekly train movements through their respective state.

The notification must include at a minimum:

  1. a reasonable estimate of the number of HHFTs that the railroad expects to operate each week through each county within the state;
  2. the routes over which the affected trains will be transported; 
  3. a description of the material being transported with all applicable emergency response information; and 
  4. At least one point of contact at the railroad (including name or email address, title, phone number, and address) for the SERC and relevant emergency responders related to the railroad’s transportation of affected trains.

Updates to the notifications are required for changes in volume greater than twenty-five (25) percent.

On August 14, 2019, the Ohio State Emergency Response Commission passed a resolution at its meeting designating the Ohio Homeland Security within the Ohio Department of Public Safety as the repository for these HHFT notifications and revisions/updates to the notifications. Ohio Homeland Security will maintain the notifications and has an established mechanism in place to distribute the notifications to state and local emergency responders. A copy of the resolution can be found here.

Notifications and revisions/updates should be submitted to the Ohio Homeland Security at the following address:

Ohio Homeland Security
Critical Infrastructure Section
1970 West Broad Street
Columbus, Ohio 43223

Email: saicip@dps.ohio.gov
Subject: High-Hazard Flammable Train (HHFT) Shipments
Phone: 844-647-2467

Tier 2 Submit Electronic Reporting Information and Links

Oct. 17, 2013

In the April 26, 2013, response to the petition, U.S. EPA determined that the alternative reporting in Ohio law does not supersede the reporting requirements of EPCRA.  As a result, U.S. EPA concluded that Ohio oil and gas well owners or operators must separately meet the reporting obligations of EPCRA to ensure compliance with federal law.

Many oil and gas well owners submitted hazardous chemical inventory reports, required under section 312 of EPCRA, in the fall of 2013, following the notice by the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) dated Sept. 11, 2013. After receiving requests from the oil and gas industry, the SERC explored options to provide oil and gas well owners flexibility for the submission of their 2013 annual chemical inventory reports, due March 1, 2014. Please be advised that the reporting instructions contained in a memorandum sent to oil and gas well owners/operators on or around Jan. 23, 2014, have been revised to make it easier to report, as outlined below.

Specifically, the SERC is making the following two changes to its previous instructions to provide flexibility to oil and gas well owners who filed chemical inventory reports in the fall of 2013, and are also required to submit annual chemical inventory reports for calendar year 2013, due March 1, 2014: (1) submission of the facility map is optional, and (2) the chemical inventory report may be completed using the abbreviated “CY2013 Short Form.” If your previous inventory report filed in 2013 for calendar year 2012 has not changed, you may submit a “short form,” which would contain only the additional or modified items added to the reporting form by U.S. EPA, along with a certification that the previously submitted forms are still accurate.

SERC Instructional Booklet, Inventory Forms and Fee Worksheet for Oil & Gas

To increase the efficiency and quality of the fee process, the State Emergency Response Commission's (SERC) fiscal agent incorporated a color coding system for filing fee invoices and worksheets processed during the course of the State Fiscal Year (SFY). As a result, this year's SERC filing fee worksheet will be printed on green paper.

In the first few weeks of January 2018, Ohio EPA's Right-to-Know Program will send each regulated facility a cover letter and green pre-printed SERC filing fee worksheet with an assigned Revenue ID number. To reduce costs, Ohio EPA limits the number of SERC compliance manuals printed and encourages facilities to use the Tier 2 Submit software to electronically report their chemical inventory.

A free version of the Tier 2 Submit software can be downloaded from the U.S. EPA Tier II Chemical Inventory Reports /Tier 2 Submit webpage. Facilities opting to file using Tier 2 Submit may submit their report on a CD to both the SERC and the LEPC.

If you elect not to submit your information electronically, or do not receive information in the mail, you may download the SERC compliance manual and forms from the website. You may also request a printed copy of the manual and forms by sending an email to jeffrey.beattie@epa.ohio.gov or by calling 1-888-644-2260.

If you have any questions concerning the SERC, please call (614) 644-2260.

Ohio Revised Code Laws

The State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) was established by Senate Bill 367 of the 117th Legislature to implement, administer and enforce, in conjunction with U.S. EPA, Ohio EPA and local fire departments, the federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act of 1986 in Ohio. SB 367 and its subsequent amendments are codified in Chapter 3750 of the Ohio Revised Code.

Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3750 can also be found at Ohio Online Docs website. (click on "TITLE XXXVII HEALTH - SAFETY - MORALS" and then click on "CHAPTER 3750 EMERGENCY PLANNING")

Ohio Administrative Code Rules

  • Availability of Draft Rules for Comment - State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) Program Rules
    March 10, 2020:On behalf of the director of the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC), the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Division of Air Pollution Control (DAPC) is making available a draft amended rules in Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) Agency 3750 for comment. The rules in OAC Agency 3750 establish the framework of the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) and Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) and establishes emergency planning and release reporting reporting requirements to facilities that store hazardous chemicals or extremely hazardous substances or have a spill or release of extremely hazardous substances, CERLA hazardous substances or oil as defined. The list of rules being considered for amendment is included below. DAPC is also recommending certain SERC rules remain necessary, but are without need of change. The list of No-Change rules can be found in the public notice, linked below.

    The Division of Air Pollution Control (DAPC) is requesting comments on the draft rules and the draft business impact analysis (BIA) document before DAPC proposes the rules to the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR). DAPC will be accepting comments through Friday, April 10, 2020. Please see the public notice, draft business impact analysis, and synopsis of changes(linked below) for information on the rule review and how to submit comments.

Complete SERC Regulations Document

The SERC regulations are located in Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) chapters 3750-1, 3750-10, 3750-15, 3750-20, 3750-25, 3750-30, 3750-50, 3750-60, 3750-75, 3750-80, 3750-85. These rules define and amplify chapter 3750 of the Ohio Revised Code. Additional chapters are added as needed to address new laws and requirements.


Chapters

Individual rule chapters are presented below. PDF copies of currently effective rules can be obtained by following the chapter link (OAC 3750-xx, where "xx" is the desired chapter number) in the chapter title line. For information regarding a specific chapter, please contact Jeff Beattie at (614) 644-2269. Chapters under review or development are noted and information on draft or proposed rule language and how to submit comments is posted in the dated notices under the "Rule Changes" heading.

 

OAC Chapter 3750-1 - Emergency Response Commission

Emergency Response Commission


OAC Chapter 3750-10 - Commission Management Rules

Commission Management Rules

  • 3750-10-01 Establishment of State Emergency Response Commission, Executive Committee and Committees [PDF]
  • 3750-10-03 General Management Rules [PDF]
  • 3750-10-05 Internal Operating Rules [PDF]
  • 3750-10-07 Executive Committee: Issuance of Orders: Persons Who May Request Enforcement Order Procedure [PDF]
  • 3750-10-08 Issuance of Oders to Facilities [PDF]
  • 3750-10-09 Public Testimony [PDF]

OAC Chapter 3750-15 - Procedural Rules

Procedural Rules

OAC Chapter 3750-20- Emergency Planning

Emergency Planning

  • 3750-20-01 Facilities Subject to Emergency Planning Requirements [PDF]
  • 3750-20-05 Emergency Planning Requirements of Subject Facilities [PDF]
  • 3750-20-10 Calculation of Quantities for Comparison with Threshold Planning Quantities for Solids and Mixtures [PDF]
  • 3750-20-30 List of Extremely Hazardous Substances and Their Threshold Planning Quantities [PDF]
  • 3750-20-50 List of Hazardous Substances and Their Applicable Reportable Quantities [PDF]
  • 3750-20-60 Addition of Hazardous Chemicals, Extremely Hazardous Substances and Hazardous Substances [PDF]
  • 3750-20-70 Exercise Definitions [PDF]
  • 3750-20-72 Chemical Emergency Response Plans [PDF]
  • 3750-20-74 Review of Plans [PDF]
  • 3750-20-76 Types of Exercises [PDF]
  • 3750-20-78 Execution of Exercises [PDF]
  • 3750-20-80 Review of Exercises [PDF]
  • 3750-20-82 Issuance of Exercise Order by Commission [PDF]
  • 3750-20-84 Public Review of Plan Exercises [PDF]

OAC Chapter 3750-25- Emergency Release Notification

Emergency Release Notification

  • 3750-25-01 Facilities Subject to Emergency Release Notification Requirements [PDF]
  • 3750-25-05 Designation of Hazardous Substances [PDF]
  • 3750-25-10 Determination of Reportable Quantities for Hazardous Substances [PDF]
  • 3750-25-12 Determining Notification Requirements of Mixtures or Solutions [PDF]
  • 3750-25-13 Release Notification Requirements for Radionuclides and Solid Particles [PDF]
  • 3750-25-15 Calculations for Reportable Quantities of Continuous Releases [PDF]
  • 3750-25-20 Reportable Quantities for Oil Including Crude Oil [PDF]
  • 3750-25-25 Release Notification Requirements [PDF]

OAC Chapter 3750-30 - Hazardous Chemical Reporting

Hazardous Chemical Reporting

  • 3750-30-01 Facilities Subject to Hazardous Chemical Reporting Requirements [PDF]
  • 3750-30-15 List or Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) Reporting Requirements for Subject Facilities [PDF]
  • 3750-30-20 Facility Emergency and Hazardous Chemical Inventory Form [PDF]
  • 3750-30-25 Identification of Hazardous Chemicals [PDF]
  • 3750-30-27 Threshold Quantities for Hazardous Chemical Reporting [PDF]

OAC Chapter 3750-50 - Fees, Funding and Grants

Fees, Funding and Grants

  • 3750-50-01 Annual Inventory Filing Fees and Form [PDF]
  • 3750-50-03 Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-know Fund [PDF]
  • 3750-50-05 Special Emergency Planning Fund [PDF]
  • 3750-50-07 First-time Filer Grant Awards [PDF]
  • 3750-50-08 Committee Responsibilities for First-time Filer Grant Application [PDF]
  • 3750-50-09 Commission Responsibilities for First-time Filer Grant Awards [PDF]
  • 3750-50-10 Grant Application for Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-know Funds [PDF]
  • 3750-50-15 Reimbursement for Costs Incurred under Chapter 3750. of the Revised Code [PDF]
  • 3750-50-20 Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-know Reserve Fund [PDF]
  • 3750-50-25 Grant Application for Funds in the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-know Reserve Fund [PDF]

OAC Chapter 3750-60 - Trade Secrets

Trade Secrets

  • 3750-60-01 Definitions [PDF]
  • 3750-60-03 Scope [PDF]
  • 3750-60-05 Assertions of Claims of Trade Secrecy Where Claim is Pending Before the Administrator [PDF]
  • 3750-60-07 Assertion of Claims for Trade Secrecy for the Specific Chemical Identity of Those Additional Chemicals Listed or Identified by the Commission [PDF]
  • 3750-60-09 Methods of Asserting Trade Secrecy Claims [PDF]
  • 3750-60-10 Methods of Selecting a Generic Class or Category [PDF]
  • 3750-60-20 Substantiating Claims of Trade Secrecy [PDF]
  • 3750-60-23 Substantiation Form to Accompany Claims of Trade Secrecy, Instructions to Substantiation Form [PDF]
  • 3750-60-25 Claims of Confidentiality in the Substantiation [PDF]
  • 3750-60-27 Supplemental Information [PDF]
  • 3750-60-30 Initial Action by the Commission [PDF]
  • 3750-60-40 Review of Trade Secrecy Claim [PDF]
  • 3750-60-43 Additional Material Submitted for Good Cause [PDF]
  • 3750-60-50 Sufficiency of Assertions [PDF]
  • 3750-60-52 Standards for Sufficiency of Substantiation of a Trade Secret Claim [PDF]
  • 3750-60-60 Public Petitions Requesting Disclosure of Chemical Identity Claimed as Trade Secret [PDF]
  • 3750-60-80 Orders Issued by the Commission [PDF]
  • 3750-60-83 Appeal from Commission's Determination of the Sufficiency of Trade Secrecy Claim [PDF]
  • 3750-60-85 Appeal from Commission's Determination the Validity of Trade Secrecy Claim [PDF]
  • 3750-60-90 Release of Chemical Identity Determined to be a Non-trade Secret; Notice of Intent to Release Chemical Identity [PDF]
  • 3750-60-93 Disclosure of Trade Secret Information [PDF]
  • 3750-60-94 Adverse Health Effects [PDF]
  • 3750-60-95 Address to Send Trade Secret Claims and Petitions Requesting Disclosure [PDF]

OAC Chapter 3750-75 - Emergency Response Lock Box Units

Emergency Response Lock Box Units

  • 3750-75-02 Facilities Subject to the Emergency Response Lock Box Unit Requirements [PDF]
  • 3750-75-03 Criteria for the Construction of an Emergency Response Lock Box Unit [PDF]
  • 3750-75-04 Emergency Response Lock Box Unit Contents and Maintenance [PDF]
  • 3750-75-05 Conditions for the Placement of, and Access to an Emergency Lock Box Unit [PDF]
  • 3750-75-07 Application for Issuance of a Lock Box Order by a Fire Department [PDF]
  • 3750-75-08 Application for Issuance of Lock Box Order by a Local Emergency Planning Committee [PDF]
  • 3750-75-09 Decision by Emergency Response Commission Regarding a Lock Box Application from a Local Emergency Planning Committee [PDF]
  • 3750-75-10 Criteria for Issuing an Order Requiring the Placement of a Lock Box Upon a Request by a Political Subdivision [PDF]

OAC Chapter 3750-80 - Variance to Local Emergency Planning Committees

Variances to Local Emergency Planning Committees

  • 3750-80-01 Application for Variance by Local Emergency Planning Committee [PDF]
  • 3750-80-02 Criteria for Granting a Variance to a Local Emergency Planning Committee [PDF]
  • 3750-80-03 Decision by Emergency Response Commission [PDF]

OAC Chapter 3750-85 - Variances to Political Subdivisions

Variances to Political Subdivisions

  • 3750-85-01 Application for Variance by Political Subdivision [PDF]
  • 3750-85-02 Criteria for Granting a Variance to a Political Subdivision [PDF]
  • 3750-85-03 Decision by Local Emergency Planning Committee [PDF]

OAC Chapter 3750-90 - Applying for Access to Information

Applying for Access to Information

  • 3750-90-01 Applying for Access to Information [PDF]
IMPORTANT

As of the end of October 2017, animal waste farms are subject to the air release reporting requirements under CERCLA, but not EPCRA.

U.S. EPA interprets the statute to exclude farms that use substances in “routine agricultural operations” from reporting under EPCRA section 304. Therefore, if a farm only uses substances in “routine agricultural operations”, the farm would not be a facility that produces, uses or stores “hazardous chemicals,” and would therefore not be within the universe of facilities which are subject to EPCRA section 304 release reporting. Because such farms fall outside of EPCRA section 304, they are not required to report any releases of EPCRA extremely hazardous substances or CERCLA hazardous substances, including any releases from animals or animal waste.

U.S. EPA intends to conduct a rulemaking on the interpretation of “used in routine agricultural operations” as it pertains to EPCRA reporting requirements.

For additional information, please see:
https://www.epa.gov/epcra/cercla-and-epcra-reporting-requirements-air-releases-hazardous-substances-animal-waste-farms

CERCLA and EPCRA Reporting Requirements for Air Releases of Hazardous Substances from Animal Waste at Farms

On December 18, 2008, U.S. EPA published a final rule that exempted all farms from reporting air releases of hazardous substances from animal waste. This final rule applied to:

  • Section 103 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA); and
  • Section 304 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), if the farms stable or confine fewer than a certain number of animals.

On April 11, 2017, the DC Circuit Court vacated this final rule.

To assist farmers in meeting CERCLA and EPCRA reporting requirements, U.S. EPA is currently developing guidance to comply with the reporting requirement.

EPCRA Reporting: U.S. EPA interprets the statute to exclude farms that use substances in “routine agricultural operations” from reporting under EPCRA section 304.

CERCLA Reporting: If a farm has air releases of hazardous substances from animal wastes that are equal to or greater than their reportable quantities (RQs) within any 24-hour period, farm owners/operators must comply with CERCLA Section 103 reporting requirements for air releases of hazardous substances from animal waste at their farms. For additional information on the CERCLA requirements and US EPA’s guidance on calculating emissions, please see:
https://www.epa.gov/epcra/cercla-and-epcra-reporting-requirements-air-releases-hazardous-substances-animal-waste-farms

On behalf of the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC), the Ohio EPA maintains information submitted to the SERC and is responsible for the receiving and fulfilling requests from the public for access to that information. A person who requests to receive a copy of information submitted under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3750, Emergency Planning shall submit a separate application for each facility for which information is being requested.

SERC developed “SERC Information Request Form” (PDF) (Word)

Contact:
Sharon Stills
sharon.stills@epa.ohio.gov

Release/Spill Information ONLY:

If the request regards release/spill information under ORC Section 3750.06, please contact the Ohio EPA, Rich Bouder, Richard.bouder@epa.ohio.gov

State Emergency Response Commission- June 10, 2020 Meeting

The State Emergency Response Commission will be meeting on June 10, 2020, through a teleconference/webinar at 1:15 p.m. The Training and Education Committee will be meeting on June 10, 2020 at 10:30. See the table to the left for details.

 
 800-282-9378