Clean Air Act Advisory Committee: Accident Prevention Subcommittee's RMP Implementation Workgroup; Series of Conference Call Meetings September-December, 1998

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6164-3]

Clean Air Act Advisory Committee: Accident Prevention

Subcommittee's RMP Implementation Workgroup; Series of Conference Call

Meetings September-December, 1998

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: Section 112(r) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) requires covered

facilities to develop risk management programs to prevent accidental

releases of dangerous chemicals. Facilities are to submit risk

management plans (RMPs) to a central location by June 1999. The RMPs

will be electronically available to State and local governments and

citizens to help them understand local chemical hazards and take steps

to prevent accidents.

The Accident Prevention Subcommittee of the CAA Advisory Committee

was established in September 1996 to provide EPA with advice and

counsel on scientific and technical aspects of CAA section 112(r). In

October 1996, the Accident Prevention Subcommittee established the

Electronic Submission Workgroup which submitted its final

recommendations report on June 18, 1997. At its May 9th meeting, the

Accident Prevention Subcommittee established a second workgroup, the

RMP Implementation Workgroup, to ensure that all stakeholders have the

tools they need to implement a risk management program under CAA

Sec. 112(r).

The RMP Implementation Workgroup identifies activities that must be

undertaken and products that must be developed. Additionally, the

Workgroup makes recommendations to EPA and the Accident Prevention

Subcommittee about the best methods for carrying out these activities.

The Workgroup works with EPA to ensure that products are developed and

issues are addressed within appropriate time frames.

The Workgroup addresses the following:

1. Risk Communication

2. Guidance for Implementing Agencies

3. Guidance for Industry

4. Audit protocol and guidance

5. RMP*Info, RMP*Submit

6. Outreach, Training, and Program Evaluation

7. Guidance for LEPCs

The Workgroup includes 30-35 members, with balanced membership from

the following organizations: States, local government and LEPCs,

industry, environmentalists, non-profits, EPA CEPPO (HQ and Regions),

other EPA offices, and other groups.

DATES: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. 2,

notice is hereby given that the next four meetings of the RMP

Implementation Workgroup will be held at the following times (all

Eastern time).

(1) September 16, 1998--2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

(2) October 21, 1998--2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

(3) November 18, 1998--2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

(4) December 16, 1998--2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

On September 9, 1998, the Accident Prevention Subcommittee voted

for continuation of the RMP Implementation Workgroup through calendar

year 1999. Meetings after December of this year will be scheduled and

announced at least four weeks in advance. All meetings are open to the

public.

ADDRESSES: The Workgroup meetings held in September, October and

November will be located at EPA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., in

Washington Information Center (WIC) conference room #13 North. The

address is 401 M St., SW, Washington, D.C. 20460. The location of the

final meeting in December will be announced at least two weeks prior to

the meeting date. Members of the public are welcome to attend in

person.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Members of the public desiring additional

information about these meetings should contact Kate Narburgh, US EPA

(5104), 401 M. St., SW, Washington, DC 20460, via the Internet at:

[email protected], by telephone at (202) 260-8247 or FAX at

(202) 401-3448.

Additional information on the RMP Implementation Workgroup is

available on the Internet at: http://www.epa.gov/swercepp/rmp-imp.html.

Information on

[[Page 50238]]

the Accident Prevention Subcommittee is available at: http://

www.epa.gov/swercepp/acc-pre.html.

If you would like to automatically receive future information on

the Accident Prevention Subcommittee and its Workgroups by e-mail, you

can subscribe to the EPA-RMP Listserve by sending the following message

to [email protected]:

SUBSCRIBE EPA-RMP

Example: SUBSCRIBE EPA-RMP John Smith

Dated: September 15, 1998.

Karen Shanahan,

Designated Federal Official.

[FR Doc. 98-25197 Filed 9-18-98; 8:45 am]

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