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Pesticide Safety Education Program

Ohio State University Extension

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SARA TitleIII

S.A.R.A. Title III


Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA)

  • Federal law enacted in 1986
  • The law mandates program to give local officials and citizens information about harzardous chemicals

S.A.R.A. Title III requirements:

1. Report stored chemicals. The law has a list of extremely hazardous substances. Anyone (businesses, municipalities, farmers, etc.) who stores more than a specified quantitiy of any of these substances must provide notification to the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC). The specified quanities are known as the threshold planning quantity of the individual hazardous substances. A list of the hazardous substances and threshold planning quantities is available. If you have a reportable quantity in your farm or business storage, contact Ohio SERC at (614) 644-2260 or (888) 644-2260. This is a one-time notification.

2. Provide information to the LEPC. As part of the law in Ohio, every county has a Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC). You must notify your LEPC if you have pesticides stored that are above the threshold planning quantity. In addition to identification of the pesticides stored at your farm or business, the LEPC will also need a map of your facility in case of emergencies.

3. Report spills. Whether or not you are required to report to the LEPC and SERC for Threshold Planning Quantities, if you have a pesticide release at or above the Reportable Quantity, you are required to notify federal, state and local authorities. A list of reportable quantities is available. Ohio EPA has a 24-hour emergency spill hotline at (800) 282-9378.