EPCRA Sections 301-303 focus on chemical emergency preparedness and involve state and tribal emergency response commissions and local and tribal emergency planning committees. Emergency plans created under these sections are generally intended to be accessible to the public, with some exceptions for sensitive or classified information. The act’s primary goal is to inform the public about hazardous chemicals in their communities and ensure that emergency response plans are in place. Despite the emphasis on transparency, there is a balance between the public’s right to know and protecting sensitive information that could pose security risks. Therefore, while the overarching emergency response framework and certain details are shared, specific operational or security-related information might be restricted to prevent misuse.
Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) Sections 301-303
Airman 1st Class Cameron Butler, 4th Civil Engineer Squadron emergency management hazardous material team technician, examines a drum during a Hazardous Material Spill Response exercise, Dec. 9, 2019, in Goldsboro, N.C. The HAZMAT exercise tested the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Emergency Management team’s response procedures (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Victoria Boyton).
Posted on December 21, 2023 | Completed on December 7, 2023
What EPCRA Sections 301-303 plans are publicly available, and what are the homeland security risks to making them public?
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