EPA has found that major chemical accidents continue to occur from facilities that are not adequately managing the risks they pose to ensure the safety of their facilities and protect surrounding communities. Many of these communities have environmental justice concerns or face climate change-related hazards or both.
Thousands of facilities nationwide make, use, and store extremely hazardous substances. Failure to implement risk management programs as required under Section 112(r) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) at facilities handling these substances can result in catastrophic accidents that cause fatalities and serious injuries, evacuations, and shelter-in-place orders.