Potential Impacts of Changes to EPA's RMP Rule on the Pharmaceutical Industry and How to Get Ready

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published its long-awaited proposed revisions to the Risk Management Program (RMP) rule (40 CFR 68) in the Federal Register (Vol. 81, No. 49) on March 14, 2016. The proposed revisions include several changes to the accident prevention program requirements, including:

• Changes to some key regulatory definitions 
• A requirement for Safer Technology Alternatives Analysis in the process hazard analysis (PHA) for certain Program 3 processes 
• Enhancements to the emergency preparedness requirements involving field and tabletop exercises 
• Conduct of root cause analyses using a recognized method during incident investigations 
• Use of competent, impartial and independent third parties to conduct/submit compliance audits 
• Increased public availability of chemical hazard information, including holding public meetings after accidents 
• Changes to RMP data elements and submission 

A public hearing was held on March 29, 2016 and written comments are due by May 13, 2016 to the RMP rule docket [EPA–HQ–OEM–2015–0725; FRL–9940–94–OLEM].

This webinar will address important aspects of the proposed changes, consider potential impacts to the Pharmaceutical industry, provide suggestions on what companies can do to get ready to submit written comments to the rulemaking and how facilities can prepare for compliance.

Related Webinar

• Tuesday, April 19, 2016: Proposed Changes to EPA's RMP Rule – Potential Impacts to Industry and How to Get Ready

Presenter

Steve Arendt

Steve Arendt is Vice President, Oil, Gas and Chemical for ABS Group. With more than 30 years of experience in chemical process safety and risk management, he has performed hundreds of process safety and security analyses, risk assessments, audits and accident investigations on a variety of oil, gas, chemical and related industry processes.

About ABS Group

ABS Group of Companies, Inc. (ABS Group) and its operating subsidiaries provide risk management solutions and certification services worldwide that help clients address the safety, integrity, quality and environmental efficiency of critical assets and operations. Headquartered in Spring, Texas, ABS Group operates with more than 1200 professionals across the globe, serving the marine and offshore, oil, gas and chemical, government, power and energy and industrial sectors. ABS Group is a subsidiary of ABS (www.eagle.org), a leading marine and offshore classification society.