On August 30, 2022, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (“CSB” or the “Agency”) issued a guidance document aimed at helping owners and operators of stationary sources and similar stakeholders understand and comply with CSB’s Accidental Release and Reporting Rule (the “Rule”), finalized by the Agency on February 21, 2020.
The Rule reflects the Agency’s mandate to investigate serious accidents which result from the production, processing, handling or storage of chemical substances and establish requirements for reporting such accidents. The Rule outlines when an owner or operator of a stationary source is required to file a report of an accidental release and the required contents of such a report. The August 2022 Guidance on Reporting of Accidental Releases (“Guidance”) provides and overview of the Rule and offers guiding principles and best practices for owners and operators to determine when an accidental release report must be filed, and what information must be included in the report to meet all established statutory criteria.
