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PA EPA ISSUES CHEMICAL SAFETY ALERTS FOR THE FIRST TIME
Release Date: 05/30/97
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FOR RELEASE: FRIDAY, MAY 30, 1997
EPA ISSUES CHEMICAL SAFETY ALERTS FOR THE FIRST TIME
EPA today issued four Chemical Safety Alerts to warn industry officials about the significant hazards that were discovered as a result of chemical accident investigations, some of which were jointly conducted with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Under the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act and the Clean Air Act EPA has authority to conduct chemical accident investigations. Whenever significant hazards are found in the course of accident investigations EPA will issue Chemical Safety Alerts to caution facilities, State Emergency Response Commissions, Local Emergency Planning Committees, emergency responders and others to reduce risks and prevent future accidents. The first alert describes the type of aboveground storage tanks that may be prone to catastrophic failure. The second alert warns of potential danger associated with pressure vessels that are not properly designed, constructed, operated, inspected, tested and repaired. The third alert warns of the risks associated with lightning strikes that can cause devastating accidents at refineries, bulk plants, processing sites and other facilities. The fourth alert warns that activated carbon systems used to absorb vapors that may pose a fire hazard. For a copy of the Chemical Safety Alerts contact the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Hotline at 1-800-424-9346 or 703-412-9810 or visit our homepage on the Internet at https://www.epa.gov/swercepp/.
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