SARA Title III Emergency Release Reporting
In the event of a hazardous substance release equal to or exceeding the minimum reportable quantity set in the regulation, Section 304 of the Federal Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA) requires facilities to:
- Provide an immediate emergency notification to the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) and the Local Emergency Planning Committee(s) (LEPCs) for any area likely affected by the release.
- Provide a 304 Follow-up Form to the SERC and LEPC(s).
For more information on this requirement, read more here.
The EPCRA requires facilities to provide emergency notifications and a written report if there is a release into the environment of a hazardous substance that is equal to or exceeds the minimum reportable quantity set in the regulations.
You may need to call 9-1-1 if the spill of release is in progress.
Overview
Notification and written follow-up reports must be provided to the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) and the Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) for any area likely to be impacted by the release.
Requirements for notification to the SERC can be made by calling the Oregon Emergency Response System (OERS) at 800-452-0311 or 503378-6377. The contact information for the LEPCs can be found here.
Required Section 304 Notification
Check EPA's consolidated list of Extremely Hazardous Substances (EHS) and Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) substances to determine if the substance and amount released require notification. The full list of chemicals subject to Section 304 notification can be found here.
If you are still unable to identify whether the substance released is an EHS or CERCLA substance and/or an amount requiring notification, contact the EPA's EPCRA Hotline at 800-424-9346.
What must be included in the initial notification:
- The substance name.
- An indication of whether the substance is an EPA EHS or CERCLA substance.
- An estimate of the quantity released into the environment.
- The time and duration of the release.
- Whether the release occurred into air, water, and/or on land
- Any known and anticipated acute or chronic health risks associated with the emergency, and where necessary, advice regarding medical attention for exposed individuals.
- Proper precautions, such as evacuation of sheltering in place.
- The name and telephone number of the contact person.
How to make the required initial notification:
- Notify the SERC by calling the OERS at 800-452-0311 or 503-378-6377. Advise the OERS duty officer that you are making a 304 release notification. Provide all the required information listed above.
- Notify all LEPCs whose planning district could be impacted by the release by calling the phone number for the appropriate LEPC, which can be found here.
- If a LEPC does not exist in the area of the release, only the SERC notification and any bordering LEPC(s) notification are required to be made.
- If the release occurs in an area bordering more than one state, notification may be required for the SERC and any LEPC(s) in the adjacent state.
You may also be required to notify the local 911 dispatch center and the National Response Center (NRC) at 800-424-8802.
Submit Follow-up Report
A written follow-up notice must be submitted to the SERC and LEPC within 30 days of the release. Complete the written follow-up form and attach supporting documentation. Please mail to both addresses or email the three email addresses listed below.
Mail to:
Oregon State Emergency Response Commission
c/o Community Right to Know
3991 Fairview Industrial Drive SE
Salem, OR 97302
Erin Williams
US EPA-Region 10, M/S OCE-201
1200 6th Avenue, Suite 155
Seattle, WA 98101
Email to:
osfm.serc@osfm.oregon.gov
osfm.cr2k@osfm.oregon.gov
Williams.Erin@epa.gov
Additional Resources