Summary

The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) was enacted by Congress as the national legislation on community safety. Its purpose is to encourage and support emergency planning and response efforts at the state and local levels by providing the community with information concerning potential chemical hazards and accidental releases of chemicals.

Background

The fertilizer industry is regulated under EPCRA to report chemicals present at both manufacturing and retail facilities.  This reporting facilitates the protocols followed by emergency responders and the community in the event of a chemical release.  Although some fertilizers are exempt from the reporting requirements due to their inert properties, other more reactive fertilizers such as anhydrous ammonia must be reported under EPCRA.  Changes to reporting requirements are often complex and require a depth of understanding to properly adhere to the modifications in the reporting.