A business facility must notify state and local authorities responsible for local emergency planning if:
- there is a release at the facility (which includes releases from motor vehicles, rolling stock and aircraft) of an Extremely Hazardous Substance (EHS) or a Hazardous Substance (as listed under the Superfund regulations) in excess of the reportable quantity for that substance, and
- the release could result in exposure of persons outside the boundary of the facility site.
The EPA has identified and listed over 700 Hazardous Substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA or the Superfund Program) and has assigned a reportable quantity to each substance. Chemicals on the EHS list have been assigned reportable quantities. For example, Chlorine is an EHS with a reportable quantity of 10 pounds.
Report chemical releases immediately to any State Emergency Response Commission (SERC), Tribal Emergency Response Commission, and LEPC potentially affected by the release. Verbal notification can be made to the Washington SERC by contacting the Duty Officer at 1.800.258.5990, to the facility’s Local Emergency Planning Committee, and, if appropriate, the National Response Center at 1.800.424.8802. To be safe, we recommend making these calls. If it is determined that the release did not meet or exceed the substance’s reportable quantity, the business will have prudently met its responsibility.
The facility must submit a written follow-up report within fourteen days of the release to the SERC and LEPC. Download the section 304 form here (Electronically fillable PDF).
