South Carolina Emergency Planning and Response: What you need to know

Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA): 42 USC 11001 to 11050; regulations at 40 CFR 355 to 372

South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) Office of Environmental Quality Control

State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) South Carolina Military Department Office of the Adjutant General Emergency Management Division

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4

Local emergency planning committees (LEPCs)

Local fire departments

See ADDRESSES & CONTACTS for addresses and telephone numbers.

See national section for basic information and federal regulations.

• Rules. The federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) emergency planning and response requirements are the focus of this section. South Carolina follows the federal EPCRA rules for emergency planning and response. SERC within the state appoints members to a local emergency planning committee (LEPC) for each district. See the national section EMERGENCY PLANNING AND RESPONSE for federal requirements.

See the state sections COMMUNITY RIGHT TO KNOW and TRADE SECRETS for a summary of EPCRA's chemical reporting and confidential business records requirements.

South Carolina drinking water regulations for public water systems require emergency preparedness plans. See the state section DRINKING WATER for more information.

Hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities (TSDFs) and certain generators must respond to an emergency at their facilities. South Carolina follows federal contingency plan requirements with additional state notification rules. See the state section CONTINGENCY PLAN for more information.

Facilities must immediately notify SERC, the county LEPC, and the fire department if there is a release of a hazardous substance that is equal to or exceeds the minimum reportable quantity. See the state section