Dive Brief:
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued a cautionary advisory to facility operators, urging them to be ready for hazardous weather occurrences.
- The advisory pointed to the rising incidence and intensity of storms, and reminded operators that they are obligated to report chemical releases or oil spills and discharges in a timely manner.
- The government agency said it is working with Gulf Coast states, including Texas and Louisiana, to secure their operations in the event of hurricanes and hazardous weather conditions before, during and after storms.
Dive Insight:
The EPA says that unlike other natural disasters, hurricanes and tropical storms are predictable, so they usually enable facilities to prepare for potential impacts.
One of the basic steps to prepare for hazardous weather involves reviewing procedures for shutting down processes and securing facilities appropriately, particularly those used for hazardous chemical storage. The EPA also recommended reviewing updated state and federal guidelines for flooding preparedness, and making sure that all employees are familiar with requirements and procedures.
The EPA reminds operators to review local response contacts, including Local Emergency Planning Committees and State Emergency Response Commissions. A list of these contacts can be found here.
Facility managers and operators are obliged to not only maintain safety and minimize the occurrence of chemical releases and spills, but report these incidents, as required under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, emergency provisions of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, and the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan.
If a spill or release does occur, the EPA says that operators and employees should be ready to contact the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802.
EPA regional administrator Dr. Earthea Nance pointed to the reliance that communities living near industrial facilities on the Gulf Coast place on owners and operators to prepare for chemical releases, spills and discharges that could result from severe weather and the frequency of intense storms.
“EPA and our state partners perform large-scale field exercises and post response personnel along the Gulf Coast during hurricane season, and expect regulated facilities to prepare as much as possible to keep their workers and nearby communities safe before, during and after significant weather events,” Nance said in the EPA advisory.
