Chemicals and Your Obligations Under the Law
Chemical Reporting and Community Right-to-Know
Did you know that just having certain chemicals on your industrial or commercial
facility site (even if you don't release them to the environment) may subject you
to reporting requirements under an environmental law?
Under Section 312 of that law (known as Superfund Amendments or Reauthorization
Act (SARA) or Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA)), you may
be required to notify the City and the State annually of the presence of any hazardous
chemical present on site in quantities more than 10,000 pounds. In addition, for
more than 300 particularly hazardous chemicals, you may be required to notify these
same agencies even if much smaller quantities (ranging from 1 pound to 5000 pounds)
are present on site.
One example of a chemical that must be reported at much lower levels is ammonia,
which is frequently used in chilling and refrigeration systems. It must be reported
if more than 500 pounds is present at a location. Other examples are chlorine (100
pounds) and sulfuric acid (commonly used as battery acid) at 1000 pounds.
Although the information provided under SARA 313 is primarily used in emergency
planning, the information is also public information. Therefore, it is available
to the public on request.
Discharges to Sewers in Richmond and Surrounding Counties
In addition to SARA reporting, industrial and commercial facilities in the City
of Richmond and surrounding counties may be required to obtain a permit to discharge
wastewater. A permit may be required if the wastewater contains contaminants other
than those found in ordinary household wastewater or in quantities or concentrations
greater than those found in domestic wastewater. Pollutants that might be of concern
include chemicals with local limits (such as heavy metals), oil, and grease.
The potential impact of releases of materials stored on site may be minimized
by various spill prevention techniques and other pollution prevention measures.
One of these methods is diking (also known as berming) of areas in which potential
liquid pollutants such as gasoline or diesel fuel are stored, loaded, and/or unloaded.
Additional Information
If you would like additional information on these subjects, the following web
pages provide additional information on these requirements. Phone numbers for general
information on these subjects are also included.
LEPC's (Local Emergency Planning Committees)
City of Richmond
(804)646-6660
Chesterfield
Henrico County
SARA Information - State and Federal Resources
Wastewater Treatment
City of Richmond The City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities Wastewater
Treatment and Collection page contains additional information on wastewater treatment.
It is at Wastewater treatment and Collection.
Pollution Prevention and Pretreatment One document giving general information
on Pollution Prevention and its applications in pretreatment is located at http://www.epa.gov
Tier II Reporting
