April 5, 2002—Thousands of US companies face a June 2002 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) deadline to conduct an audit of their accidental release prevention programs for hazardous chemicals stored at their facilities. Approximately 15,000 facilities nationwide, ranging from those using one chemical such as chlorine or ammonia to highly complex chemical plants and refineries are subject to EPA’s chemical accident prevention requirements under the Clean Air Act. These facilities are required to prepare and implement a Risk Management Plan (RMP) designed to help prevent and minimize the consequences of sudden releases of hazardous chemicals to the public and the environment. The majority of the same facilities are also required to comply with OSHA’s Process Safety Management (PSM) standard.
ENSR International, an environmental and energy services firm, has noted recent interest in the company’s risk management planning services by facilities subject to the EPA requirements. A number of these facilities are contracting ENSR’s services to conduct third-party audits of their chemical accident prevention programs.
EPA plans to issue a rulemaking later this year to encourage voluntary third-party RMP audits. ENSR International will participate in ongoing meetings, to discuss revisions to the RMP regulations.
According to ENSR, since the September 11 attacks, industries using quantities of hazardous substances have developed increased concerns regarding safe practices and the minimization of potential threats.
ENSR’s chemical accident prevention program services include ongoing RMP/PSM prevention program development, off-site consequence modeling, RMP program review, process engineering support, training, and related safety consulting services. ENSR has assisted a number of multi-facility clients in developing their original RMP programs, including those in the chemical, petroleum refining, pulp & paper, and manufacturing industries.
As part of the RMP Initiative, ENSR has created an RMP audit checklist that will focus on common environmental and process safety issues facing industries nationwide. To obtain a copy of ENSR’s “RMP Audit Checklist,” please call Linda Spellmon at 770/381-1836 x254. For more information, contact ENSR International.
