On Feb. 24, 2026, EPA published a proposed rule to change the Risk Management Program (RMP) regulations under the Clean Air Act. RMP regulations require facilities subject to chemical accident prevention requirements to develop plans to prevent accidental releases and coordinate emergency response with local authorities. The proposed rule would revise or remove several requirements that were strengthened by the 2024 Safer Communities by Chemical Accident Prevention (SCCAP) rule.
The proposed rule would eliminate the requirement that existing facilities conduct a “Safer Technologies and Alternatives Analysis” (STAA), which the 2024 SCCAP rule had mandated. STAA is a way to analyze existing processes and find opportunities to use “inherently safer technology or design measures.” New facilities would still be required to use STAA. The proposal also requests comments on alternative changes to the program.
EPA also proposed to change the database where RMP information is publicly available, removing the map display and changing the search function so the public can only search by county or facility name.
In addition, EPA suggested removing or amending several other 2024 SCCAP rule requirements, including that facilities establish a process for employees to report unaddressed hazards and that facilities develop, operate, and maintain a community notification system. The new proposal also suggested removing or changing the third-party auditing requirements laid out in the 2024 SCCAP rule.
The 2024 SCCAP rule found that many regulated facilities are located near low-income communities and communities of color. Changes affecting safety requirements, transparency, or public access to information for these facilities may therefore impact these communities’ ability to know the risks and participate in decisions affecting their health and safety.
EPA originally set a comment deadline for April 10, 2026. Following a virtual public hearing on March 10, 2026, EPA extended the public comment period until May 11, 2026.