An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) final rule requiring facilities that manufacture, use and store dangerous chemicals to develop comprehensive plans to prepare for, and respond to worst-case chemical discharges (or spills) near waterways, was made public on March 28, 2024.
A worst-case discharge of chemicals is the largest foreseeable discharge in adverse weather conditions, including extreme weather conditions due to climate change, EPA says. Facilities subject to the rule—the Clean Water Act (CWA) Hazardous Substances Facility Response Plans—are required to not only prepare response plans to worst-case discharges, but also threats of such discharges, and submit those plans to EPA.