Connecticut State Emergency Response Commission

Training Resources and Links

 

Tier II Reporting and Compliance Assistance Workshops

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency periodically conducts EPCRA Compliance Assistance Workshops regarding Facility Planning and Reporting Obligations under EPCRA-Sections 301-312.
 

 

The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) establishes requirements for federal, state and local governments, Indian tribes, and industry regarding emergency planning and reporting on hazardous and toxic chemicals. Individual facilities are required to report annually on the presence and use of chemicals on-site in order to help states and communities improve chemical safety and protect public health and the environment. Every March 1st, facilities covered by EPCRA must submit an emergency and hazardous chemical inventory form (Tier II Report) to the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) or Tribal Emergency Planning Committee (TEPC), the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) or Tribal Emergency Response Commission (TERC) and the local fire department for the previous calendar year.

Connecticut SERC and DEEP will use the Hazconnect® Tier II Manager system "Hazconnect," to manage EPCRA Tier II chemical inventory reports due March 1 each year.

 

To use the Hazconnect® Tier II Manager platform please register for a system user account if you have not already.  If you are registered in this platform in another state you still need to register for the Connecticut platform. Here's how:

1. Sign up as a User at this link: https://connecticut.hazconnect.com/Account/Login.aspx

2. Click on the REGISTER button in the middle of the page.

3. Choose Reporting Facility/Business User then click Next.

4. Enter your information. Please be sure you enter information in the “Facility Details” text box at the bottom of the screen to inform CT DEEP of facility reports you have submitted in the past. Using this information CT DEEP will link the previous year’s report for that facility to your new user account so you can start with data pre-populated.

5. Once your User account is approved, you will receive a notification and then you can begin submitting the next year’s report. If you don’t see previously submitted reports in your account, please contact us at DEEP.CTEPCRA@ct.gov.

 

Facilities are still required to submit reports to their Local Emergency Planning Committee and fire department.

 

You can also sign up for any of the upcoming EPA EPCRA webinars at: https://www.epa.gov/epcra/emergency-planning-and-community-right-know-act-epcra-workshops-new-england.  On the EPA website, you can also view recordings of our EPCRA four-part video series for more information about EPCRA requirements and Tier II Reporting.

EPCRA_Tier2_Demo_Slides_CT_January 2021


CAMEO Webinar

Introduction to CAMEO Chemicals, recorded May 23, 2023

This webinar was led by Len Wallace, EPA Region 1, who provided an overview of CAMEO Chemicals including a live demonstration. CAMEO Chemicals is the hazardous chemical database for the CAMEO® software suite, which is used widely to plan for and respond to chemical emergencies. CAMEO Chemicals also has a tool to predict possible hazards if chemicals are mixed together. With CAMEO Chemicals, you can search through the extensive chemical database to find chemical datasheets with critical response information, including physical properties, health hazards, information about air and water hazards, and recommendations for firefighting, first aid, and spill response. CAMEO Chemicals is available as a website, mobile website, mobile app, and desktop program. This webinar recording will assist first responders, emergency planners and facility staff to get key information quickly through CAMEO Chemicals.

EPA Region 1 EPCRA Video Series

The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act establishes requirements for federal, state, and local governments, Indian tribes, and industry regarding emergency planning and reporting on hazardous and toxic chemicals. Individual facilities are required to conduct emergency planning with state and local emergency planning committees, report accidental releases to the proper authorities, and report annually on the presence and use of chemicals on-site in order to help states and communities improve chemical safety and protect public health and the environment. The four videos from EPA New England below provide detailed information about these requirements for covered facilities.  Full Video Playlist on YouTube

Part 1: Introduction to Facility Hazards and Chemical Safety
Part 2: EPCRA Sections 301-303: Emergency Planning with your SERC/TERC/LEP
Part 3: EPCRA Section 304: Reporting Accidents and Continuous Releases
Part 4: EPCRA Sections 311-312: Tier II Reporting and Tier2 Submit Software

View the slides from presentations here: 
 EPA Region 1 Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA),
Risk Management Program (RMP)
General Duty Clause (GDC) Video Series (pdf) (8.42 MB)

TRI Compliance Assistance

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, New England's EPCRA Team periodically hold a series of TRI compliance assistance workshops. F  Facility owners and operators are invited to participate in one of these workshops.  TRI Reports are due annually by July 1.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has information on their TRI Program webpage regarding how to submit TRI reports and who needs to report.

EPA Information on General Duty Clause; Refrigerated Ammonia resources

US EPA Presentation to CT SERC re General Duty Clause and Refrigerated Ammonia Compliance Assurance Resources

 

Fire & Rescue, Hazardous Materials, and Other Emergency Services Related Training Programs

The Connecticut Fire Academy is operated under the guidance and administration of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Connecticut Commission on Fire Prevention and Control.  The Training Division is responsible for the development and delivery of Fire & Rescue, Hazardous Materials, and other Emergency Services related training programs.  The Division also offers a variety of industrial OSHA compliance programs to assist private industry to comply with State and Federal Health and Safety regulations. 

CT DESPP Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security Training Resources
The US DOT Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) hosts free training modules:

https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/training/hazmat/training-modules To register for any HazMat webinar offered by PHMSA, please visit the registration webpage at: https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/seminars/webinars
PHMSA also has lists of resources:
PHMSA Resource List - 2021-01-21

PHMSAs Public Resources Presentation to CT SERC 20210121

EPA's State Delivery Prohibition Website

The EPA's state delivery prohibition website is available at  https://www.epa.gov/ust/underground-storage-tank-delivery-prohibition-2005-energy-policy-act or www.epa.gov/oust/dp/index.htm .  This site provides links to states' and territories' delivery prohibition programs where users will find detailed information, including applicable laws, regulations, and policies.  Information accessible through this site can help fuel delivery drivers determine if an underground storage tank is not eligible to receive fuel.
 
Section 1527 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 stated that, by August 2007, states and territories receiving funds under Subtitle I of the Solid Waste Disposal Act were required to meet delivery prohibition requirements described in grant guidelines EPA developed.  EPA consulted with states and representatives from the underground storage tank and fuel delivery industries to develop the guidelines.  During that consultation, some stakeholders requested that EPA provide information on delivery prohibition programs developed and used by states and EPA committed to provide that information.  This website fulfills that commitment.   
 

Chemical Management and Climate Resilience

Free on-line Training:

CT DEEP has developed a FREE, short online training (approximately 20 minutes) to help a variety of businesses, especially those in flood prone areas that use chemicals in their process, sell chemicals and store hazardous waste onsite.

Find out how to be prepared, lessen the impacts of a natural hazard, save money, and prevent risks to human health and the environment.
Examples of actions some CT facilities/businesses have already taken are included.  

Go to the Training Now:

CT DEEP Pollution Prevention 21st Century Resilient Business: How Managing Chemicals Can Help You Weather the Storm Training | Center for Land Use Education and Research (uconn.edu)

 
CT’s businesses can be prepared to "weather the storm"
Connecticut was hit with at least 5 major storms plus lesser weather events since 2010.  It is important to make your business and property resilient to natural hazards and reduce the risk of  on-site chemicals causing pollution. Storm events can result in property damage, loss of inventory, and environmental contamination and liability. Accidental releases of toxic chemicals have also put communities and emergency responders at risk. Working together, businesses and local emergency officials can increase awareness and take steps to reduce risk and protect human health and safety.  Use the resources below to be better prepared.  
 
 
1.  Take CT DEEP's Free on-line Training 

The 21st Century Resilient Business: How Managing Chemicals Can Help Your Business Weather the Storm -  Designed to help a variety of businesses, especially those in flood prone areas that use chemicals in their process, sell chemicals and store hazardous waste onsite, including service providers and retail stores that sell toxic products. It provides steps businesses can take to reduce risks and prevent damage, contamination, and liability and keep your business operating.  Examples of actions some CT facilities/businesses have already taken are included.  (Approximately 20 minutes)  

Related Materials: Course Transcript,Checklist, Additional Resources and Links document referenced in the training, informational survey and Certificate of Completion

21st Century Resilient Business online training

2.  Watch Videos with Information from CT Businesses:

If your business or facility has hazardous materials, chemicals or waste on site you'll want to watch this!  Come along on site-visits to a business and a facility, both  located in flood prone areas along CT's coast, to find out what changes they are making towards becoming disaster resilient. They offer ideas and examples that you can incorporate at your site.
 

3. Use Tools, Outreach Materials & Resources for Businesses:
CT Toxics Users and Climate Resilience Map

CT Toxic Users Map

The CT Toxic Users & Climate Risk Viewer is a tool for businesses as well as local and state emergency preparedness and response planners. Layers include 
  • the national flood hazard zones,
  • hurricane evacuation areas,
  • facilities that are EPCRA Tier 2 filers,
  • RCRA hazardous waste generators,
  • storage/ disposal facilities, and
  • Toxic Release Inventory reporters. 
A layer with sea level rise will be added in the future. 
Business, especially those that store hazardous chemicals, materials and/or wastes on site can assess the vulnerability of their location to climate-related natural hazards and take action to prevent damage or contamination from toxic on-site materials.  
EPCRA-regulated facilities subject to CGS 22a-610(e) can assess risk and update hazard mitigation plans and applicable evacuation plans accordingly.
 
Guidance Documents:
Local, Regional, and State Emergency Planning:
Municipalities and regions can utilize their Natural Hazard Mitigation Plans (NHMP) to promote best management practices to prevent pollution from chemical releases from businesses in the event of a natural hazard. NHMPs that are due for an update can include new initiatives aimed at chemical management, utilize DEEP's information and promote through municipal websites and social medial.
Natural Hazard Mitigation Plans with chemical management initiative:
DEEP offers to meet with/make presentations for COGs, municipalities, LEPCs and other emergency response officials, business associations and others to provide detailed information about our project, promote outreach materials and training and provide technical assistance.  
Other Resources & Links:
 
Last updated November 22, 2023