Common Sense Approach to Chemical Accident Prevention Proposed Rule
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Rule Summary
On February 13, 2026, EPA announced the Common Sense Approach to Chemical Accident Prevention rule, which proposes revisions to the Risk Management Program. These proposed changes would:
- reduce regulatory burden by ensuring regulatory consistency,
- avoid duplicative requirements,
- eliminate unnecessary burdens placed on facilities where there is not specific data available to show that the current RMP rule would reduce or has reduced accidental releases, and
- bolster economic growth.
EPA will accept comments on this proposal for 45 days after publication in the Federal Register.
Public Hearing
In addition to accepting written comments during the public comment period, EPA will hold a virtual public hearing. The hearing will convene at 12:00pm Eastern Standard Time and will conclude after all speakers have presented, but no earlier than 5:00pm EST.
EPA will provide more details (including the date of the public hearing, how to register, the last day to pre-register to speak, etc.) once the proposal is published in the Federal Register.
Rule History
In 2017, the RMP Amendments Final Rule issued new requirements for accident prevention, response, and public disclosure of information, but key provisions were paused, and most never went into effect. Instead, in 2019, the RMP Reconsideration Final Rule rescinded or modified some of the measures in the 2017 rule. In 2024, the RMP Safer Communities by Chemical Accident Prevention Final Rule restored many of the requirements from the 2017 rule.
On March 12, 2025, EPA announced the agency is reconsidering the 2024 Risk Management Program Safer Communities by Chemical Accident Prevention final rule.