The EPA received three petitions asking it to delay and reconsider amendments to the RMP rule. First, the “RMP Coalition” submitted a petition dated February 28, 2017. On March 13, 2017, the Chemical Safety Advocacy Group also submitted a petition, followed by a third petition from a group of eleven states. On March 13, 2017,
Process Safety Management
EPA Delays Effective Date of RMP
On February 28, 2017, the EPA received a petition from the “RMP Coalition” for reconsideration and a request for a stay from the amendments to the RMP rule. The RMP Coalition consists of several affected industry trade groups, manufacturing groups, and the Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America. The petition asserts that:…
EPA RMP Requirements: Information Availability
On March 14, 2016, Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) proposed changes to the Risk Management Plan Program (“RMP”) Rule . On January 13, 2017, the EPA published a new final rule. This is the final article in a series that addresses five major changes: root cause analysis for near misses, third-party audits, inherently safer technology,…
EPA RMP Requirements: Emergency Response Preparedness Requirements
On March 14, 2016, Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) proposed changes to the Risk Management Plan Program (“RMP”) Rule . On January 13, 2017, the EPA published a new final rule. This a fifth in a planned series that will address five major changes: root cause analysis for near misses, third-party audits, inherently…
Petroleum Refineries are back in OSHA’s National Emphasis Program (NEP) – New NEP to Apply to All
Effective January 17, 2017, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued new instructions concerning its National Emphasis Program (NEP) as it relates to chemical process subject to Process Safety Management (PSM). See Directive Number CPL-03-00-021. PSM requirements are codified at 29 CFR 1910.119. Prior NEPs were implemented for Petroleum Refining in 2007 and…
EPA RMP Requirements: Safer Technology and Alternatives Analysis
On March 14, 2016, Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) proposed changes to the Risk Management Plan Program (“RMP”) Rule. On January 13, 2017, the EPA published a new final rule. This is fourth in a planned series that will address five major changes: root cause analysis for near misses, third-party audits, inherently safer technology,…
EPA RMP Requirements: Third Party Audits Criteria and Implementation of Findings
On March 14, 2016, Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) proposed changes to the Risk Management Plan Program (“RMP”) Rule. On January 13, 2017, the EPA published a new final rule. This is third in a planned series that will address five major changes: root cause analysis for near misses, third-party audits, inherently safer technology,…
EPA RMP Requirements: Third Party Audits and Privilege
On March 14, 2016, Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) proposed changes to the Risk Management Plan Program (“RMP”) Rule. On January 13, 2017, the EPA published a new final rule. This a second in a planned series that will address five major changes: root cause analysis for near misses, third-party audits, inherently safer technology,…
EPA RMP Requirements: Root Cause Analysis for Near Misses
On March 14, 2016, Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) proposed changes to the Risk Management Plan Program (“RMP”) Rule. On December 21, 2016, the EPA disclosed its changes via a Pre-Publication Copy. A series of blogs are planned to address five major changes: root cause analysis for near misses, third-party audits, inherently safer technology,…
EPA Amends the Risk Management Program (RMP) Rule
On March 14, 2016, Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) proposed changes to the RMP Rule . On December 21, 2016, the EPA disclosed its changes via a Pre-Publication Copy.
In the proposed rule, the EPA essentially agreed that the scope and trigger for post incident investigation was not universally understood or applied. The final rule…