EPA Required Facility Release/Spill Notifications

 

      Recently, the WV SERC and KPEPC representatives participated in an EPA EPCRA Audit of a local facility incident.  Several of our local release notification practices were challenged as to whether or not they met the EPA reporting regulations.

      The EPA regulations require the facility notify the National Response Center, WV SERC, and KPEPC ”immediately after being knowledgeable” of a listed EPA  Extremely Hazardous Substance release or spill.  Court rulings have determined that “immediately” is “within 15 minutes of event occurring”.

      The auditor agreed that the 15-minute notification limit does not allow time for the facility to verify the EPA chemical listing, reporting quantity, or calculate the released quantity.  Therefore, our combined guidance to all facilities is for prompt notification of all events to the National Response Center (800-424-8802), WV SERC (304-957-8367), and KPEPC (304-414-3600) immediately with whatever facts are known by the caller.  If there is no telephone answer, leave a voice message.  A facility representative should call with more details when they are available.  A written report is then required for submittal to the WV SERC ([email protected]) and the KPEPC ([email protected]) within 30 days of event.

      These reporting requirements do not eliminate any other facility regulatory or corporate requirements such as DEP Spill Hotline, OSHA, or 911 Center.