Overview

If you handle, manufacture, use, or store toxic and flammable substances above the specified threshold quantities in a process, you are required to develop and implement a risk management program rule issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This rule, "Chemical Accident Prevention Provisions" (part 68 of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)), applies to a wide variety of facilities that handle, manufacture, store, or use toxic substances, including chlorine and ammonia and highly flammable substances such as propane; flammable substances used solely as fuels are not covered. This document provides guidance for chemical distributors on how to determine if you are subject to part 68 and how to comply with part 68. If you are subject to part 68, you must be in compliance no later than June 21, 1999, or the date on which you first have more than a threshold quantity in a process, whichever is later. The goal of part 68 - the risk management program - is to prevent accidental releases of substances that can cause serious harm to the public and the environment from short-term exposures and to mitigate the severity of releases that do occur. The 1990 Amendments to the Clean Air Act (CAA) require EPA to issue a rule specifying the type of actions to be taken by facilities (referred to in the law as stationary sources) to prevent accidental releases of such hazardous chemicals into the atmosphere and reduce their potential impact on the public and the environment. Part 68 is that rule.