42 U.S.C. § 11004

Current through P.L. 118-47 (published on www.congress.gov on 03/23/2024)
Section 11004 - Emergency notification
(a) Types of releases
(1) 11002(a) substance which requires CERCLA notice

If a release of an extremely hazardous substance referred to in section 11002(a) of this title occurs from a facility at which a hazardous chemical is produced, used, or stored, and such release requires a notification under section 103(a) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 [ 42 U.S.C. 9603(a) ] (hereafter in this section referred to as "CERCLA") ( 42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.), the owner or operator of the facility shall immediately provide notice as described in subsection (b).

(2) Other 11002(a) substance

If a release of an extremely hazardous substance referred to in section 11002(a) of this title occurs from a facility at which a hazardous chemical is produced, used, or stored, and such release is not subject to the notification requirements under section 103(a) of CERCLA [ 42 U.S.C. 9603(a) ], the owner or operator of the facility shall immediately provide notice as described in subsection (b), but only if the release-

(A) is not a federally permitted release as defined in section 101(10) of CERCLA [ 42 U.S.C. 9601(10) ],
(B) is in an amount in excess of a quantity which the Administrator has determined (by regulation) requires notice, and
(C) occurs in a manner which would require notification under section 103(a) of CERCLA [ 42 U.S.C. 9603(a) ].

Unless and until superseded by regulations establishing a quantity for an extremely hazardous substance described in this paragraph, a quantity of 1 pound shall be deemed that quantity the release of which requires notice as described in subsection (b).

(3) Non-11002(a) substance which requires CERCLA notice

If a release of a substance which is not on the list referred to in section 11002(a) of this title occurs at a facility at which a hazardous chemical is produced, used, or stored, and such release requires notification under section 103(a) of CERCLA [ 42 U.S.C. 9603(a) ], the owner or operator shall provide notice as follows:

(A) If the substance is one for which a reportable quantity has been established under section 102(a) of CERCLA [ 42 U.S.C. 9602(a) ], the owner or operator shall provide notice as described in subsection (b).
(B) If the substance is one for which a reportable quantity has not been established under section 102(a) of CERCLA [ 42 U.S.C. 9602(a) ]-
(i) Until April 30, 1988, the owner or operator shall provide, for releases of one pound or more of the substance, the same notice to the community emergency coordinator for the local emergency planning committee, at the same time and in the same form, as notice is provided to the National Response Center under section 103(a) of CERCLA [ 42 U.S.C. 9603(a) ].
(ii) On and after April 30, 1988, the owner or operator shall provide, for releases of one pound or more of the substance, the notice as described in subsection (b).
(4) Exempted releases

This section does not apply to any release which results in exposure to persons solely within the site or sites on which a facility is located.

(b) Notification
(1) Recipients of notice

Notice required under subsection (a) shall be given immediately after the release by the owner or operator of a facility (by such means as telephone, radio, or in person) to the community emergency coordinator for the local emergency planning committees, if established pursuant to section 11001(c) of this title, for any area likely to be affected by the release and to the State emergency response commission of any State likely to be affected by the release. With respect to transportation of a substance subject to the requirements of this section, or storage incident to such transportation, the notice requirements of this section with respect to a release shall be satisfied by dialing 911 or, in the absence of a 911 emergency telephone number, calling the operator.

(2) Contents

Notice required under subsection (a) shall include each of the following (to the extent known at the time of the notice and so long as no delay in responding to the emergency results):

(A) The chemical name or identity of any substance involved in the release.
(B) An indication of whether the substance is on the list referred to in section 11002(a) of this title.
(C) An estimate of the quantity of any such substance that was released into the environment.
(D) The time and duration of the release.
(E) The medium or media into which the release occurred.
(F) Any known or anticipated acute or chronic health risks associated with the emergency and, where appropriate, advice regarding medical attention necessary for exposed individuals.
(G) Proper precautions to take as a result of the release, including evacuation (unless such information is readily available to the community emergency coordinator pursuant to the emergency plan).
(H) The name and telephone number of the person or persons to be contacted for further information.
(c) Followup emergency notice

As soon as practicable after a release which requires notice under subsection (a), such owner or operator shall provide a written followup emergency notice (or notices, as more information becomes available) setting forth and updating the information required under subsection (b), and including additional information with respect to-

(1) actions taken to respond to and contain the release,
(2) any known or anticipated acute or chronic health risks associated with the release, and
(3) where appropriate, advice regarding medical attention necessary for exposed individuals.
(d) Transportation exemption not applicable

The exemption provided in section 11047 of this title (relating to transportation) does not apply to this section.

(e) Addressing source water used for drinking water
(1) Applicable State agency notification

A State emergency response commission shall-

(A) promptly notify the applicable State agency of any release that requires notice under subsection (a);
(B) provide to the applicable State agency the information identified in subsection (b)(2); and
(C) provide to the applicable State agency a written followup emergency notice in accordance with subsection (c).
(2) Community water system notification
(A) In general

An applicable State agency receiving notice of a release under paragraph (1) shall-

(i) promptly forward such notice to any community water system the source waters of which are affected by the release;
(ii) forward to the community water system the information provided under paragraph (1)(B); and
(iii) forward to the community water system the written followup emergency notice provided under paragraph (1)(C).
(B) Direct notification

In the case of a State that does not have an applicable State agency, the State emergency response commission shall provide the notices and information described in paragraph (1) directly to any community water system the source waters of which are affected by a release that requires notice under subsection (a).

(3) Definitions

In this subsection:

(A) Community water system

The term "community water system" has the meaning given such term in section 1401(15) of the Safe Drinking Water Act [ 42 U.S.C. 300f(15) ].

(B) Applicable State agency

The term "applicable State agency" means the State agency that has primary responsibility to enforce the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act in the State.

42 U.S.C. § 11004

Pub. L. 99-499, title III, §304, Oct. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 1733; Pub. L. 115-270, title II, §2018(a), Oct. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 3857.

EDITORIAL NOTES

REFERENCES IN TEXTThe Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, and CERCLA, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), (3), is Pub. L. 96-510, Dec. 11, 1980, 94 Stat. 2767, which is classified principally to chapter 103 (§9601 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 9601 of this title and Tables. The Safe Drinking Water Act, referred to in subsec. (e)(3)(B), is title XIV of act July 1, 1944, as added Dec. 16, 1974, Pub. L. 93-523, §2(a), 88 Stat. 1660, which is classified generally to subchapter XII (§300f et seq.) of chapter 6A of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 201 of this title and Tables.

AMENDMENTS2018-Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 115-270, §2018(a)(1), substituted "State emergency response commission" for "State emergency planning commission". Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 115-270, §2018(a)(2), added subsec. (e).

Administrator
The term "Administrator" means the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
State
The term "State" means any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, and any other territory or possession over which the United States has jurisdiction.
environment
The term "environment" includes water, air, and land and the interrelationship which exists among and between water, air, and land and all living things.
extremely hazardous substance
The term "extremely hazardous substance" means a substance on the list described in section 11002(a)(2) of this title.
facility
The term "facility" means all buildings, equipment, structures, and other stationary items which are located on a single site or on contiguous or adjacent sites and which are owned or operated by the same person (or by any person which controls, is controlled by, or under common control with, such person). For purposes of section 11004 of this title, the term includes motor vehicles, rolling stock, and aircraft.
owner
The term "owner" means, with respect to federally assisted housing, the entity or private person, including a cooperative or public housing agency, that has the legal right to lease or sublease dwelling units in such housing.
person
The term "person" means any individual, trust, firm, joint stock company, corporation (including a government corporation), partnership, association, State, municipality, commission, political subdivision of a State, or interstate body.
release
The term "release" means any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, or disposing into the environment (including the abandonment or discarding of barrels, containers, and other closed receptacles) of any hazardous chemical, extremely hazardous substance, or toxic chemical.