NACD Comments on Final EPA RMP Rule

ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, NACD President Eric R. Byer issued the following statement on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) recently finalized Risk Management Program (RMP) rule requiring facilities that handle highly hazardous substances to develop risk management plans:

"NACD has serious concerns with the new final rule on EPA's Risk Management Program. Throughout the rulemaking process, we have expressed those concerns to the agency. While EPA did make some positive modifications, the final rule still includes many of the elements that concerned us in the proposed rule.

"For companies that handle hazardous materials—which includes a significant number of chemical distributors that already participate in environmental, health, safety and security programs—the new rule will require costly third party audits, extensive investigation requirements for 'near misses,' and a requirement to conduct a complex safer technology alternatives analysis that EPA previously rejected due to a lack of expected benefits.

"In complying with these new requirements, companies will face undue regulatory burdens that NACD believes will provide little, if any, improvements to safety. NACD therefore urges the incoming Trump administration to rescind this rule for the benefit of the business community and public safety as soon as possible."

NACD and its over 440 member companies are vital to the chemical supply chain providing products to over 750,000 end users. NACD members are leaders in health, safety, security, and environmental performance through implementation of Responsible Distribution, established in 1991 as a condition of membership and a third-party verified management practice. For more information, visit www.NACD.com.

Contact: Matthew McKinney
(571) 482-3074
mmckinney@NACD.com

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SOURCE National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD)