Michael S. Regan 16th Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency | Official Website
Emergency response teams at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are gearing up for the Gulf Coast hurricane season, which officially commences on June 1. These teams, known as on-scene coordinators (OSCs), are specifically trained in disaster response and work in collaboration with state, local, and Tribal partners to prepare for potential storms.
The preparation includes providing guidelines to industrial facilities on how to prevent, minimize, and report chemical releases. It is mandatory for facility operators to maintain safety, minimize any releases that do occur, and report chemical or oil releases and discharges promptly. This requirement falls under regulations such as the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, and the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan.
Unlike some natural disasters, hurricanes and tropical storms can be predicted allowing facilities ample time to prepare for potential impacts. The EPA reminds operators of some basic steps to ready themselves for hazardous weather:
- Review procedures for shutting down processes and securing facilities appropriately—especially hazardous chemical storage—or otherwise implement appropriate safe operating procedures.
- Review updated state-federal guidelines for flooding preparedness.
- Ensure all employees are familiar with requirements and procedures to contact the National Response Center in case a spill or release occurs.
- Review local response contacts, including Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) and State Emergency Response Commissions (SERCs).
In springtime, OSCs from EPA Region 6 coordinate with LEPCs. These committees include local response personnel from city or county emergency management departments such as police, fire departments among others in preparation for hurricane season. OSCs also regularly coordinate and train with state emergency management teams along with other federal agencies to prepare for various disaster scenarios.
For prevention measures and reporting requirements for facilities visit our Hazardous Weather Release Prevention and Reporting webpage. In case of a hazardous weather incident please visit our Natural Disasters webpage for updated emergency information. Stay connected with the Environmental Protection Agency Region 6 on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), or visit our homepage.
