Guidance for Facilities on Risk Management Programs (RMP)

EPA developed the following guidance to assist the regulated community in understanding the Risk Management Program (RMP) rule.

• General Risk Management Program Guidance
• Supplemental Risk Management Program Guidance for Ammonia Refrigeration Facilities
• Supplemental Risk Management Program Guidance for Wastewater Treatment Plants
• Risk Management Program Guidance for Propane Storage Facilities
• Risk Management Program Guidance for Warehouses
• Risk Management Program Guidance for Chemical Distributors
• Risk Management Program Guidance for Offsite Consequence Analysis
• Technical Background Document for Offsite Consequence Analysis for Anhydrous Aqueous Ammonia, Chlorine, and Sulfur Dioxide
• Additional Information

Asmark and The Fertilizer Institute developed the myRMP Suite of Retail Agriculture Guidance Materials

General Risk Management Program Guidance

In December 2021, EPA updated Chapters 8 and 11 of the General Risk Management Program Guidance to reflect regulatory changes since 2017.

• Table of Contents (March 2009)
• Introduction (March 2009) 
• Chapter 1 (April 2004) 
• Chapter 2: Applicability of Program Levels (April 2004)
• Chapter 3: Five-Year Accident History (March 2009)
• Chapter 4: Offsite Consequence Analysis (April 2004)
• Chapter 5: Management System (April 2004)
• Chapter 6: Prevention Program (Program 2) (April 2004)
• Chapter 7: Prevention Program (Program 3) (April 2004)
• Chapter 8: Emergency Response Program (December 2021) 
• Chapter 9: Risk Management Plan (March 2009)
• Chapter 10: Implementation (April 2004)
• Chapter 11: Communication with the Public (December 2021) 
• Appendix A: 40 CFR 68 (April 2004) 
• Appendix B: Selected NAICS Codes (April 2004)
• Appendix C: Technical Assistance (April 2004)
• Appendix D: OSHA Guidance on PSM (April 2004)

• Appendix E: Supplemental Risk Management Program Guidance for Ammonia Refrigeration Facilities (May 2004)  Note: This appendix replaces the former stand-alone document "Risk Management Program Guidance for Ammonia Refrigeration." This appendix is intended for facilities with ammonia refrigeration systems (e.g., food processors and distributors, refrigerated warehouses). It covers only anhydrous ammonia and provides offsite consequence analyses that are specific to the ways in which ammonia is handled in an ammonia refrigeration system.

• Appendix F: Supplemental Risk Management Program Guidance for Wastewater Treatment Plants (July 2004)  Note: This appendix replaces the former stand-alone document "Risk Management Program Guidance for Wastewater Treatment Plants." This appendix provides additional information for wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), including publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) and other industrial treatment systems. It provides guidance on how to comply with part 68 with respect to chlorine, ammonia (anhydrous and aqueous), sulfur dioxide, and digester gas, the substances WWTPs usually use for treatment or produce as a result of treatment.

Risk Management Program Guidance for Propane Storage Facilities

This document is intended as comprehensive RMP guidance for larger propane storage or distribution facilities who already comply with propane industry standards. This guidance assumes that propane is the ONLY regulated substance stored at the facility. If your facility uses other regulated substances in addition to propane you should also consult the General Risk Management Program Guidance. 

Main Text (March 2009)

Appendix A (January 2000)

Risk Management Program Guidance for Warehouses

This guidance was revised to incorporate applicable provisions of the Chemical Safety Information, Site Security, and Fuels Regulatory Relief Act, other recent regulatory changes, and to make additional minor changes. This guidance document (developed with input from the International Warehouse Logistics Association (IWLA)) contains comprehensive RMP implementation guidance for chemical warehouse owner/operators. The guidance includes simplified methods for conducting offsite consequence analyses on regulated substances commonly handled and stored at warehouses, as well as industry-specific information on accident prevention programs.

• Table of Contents (March 2009)
• Introduction (March 2009)
• Chapter 1: General Applicability (May 2000)
• Chapter 2: Applicability of Program Levels (May 2000)
• Chapter 3: Five-Year Accident History (March 2009)
• Chapter 4: Offsite Consequence Analysis (May 2000)
• Chapter 5: Management System (May 2000)
• Chapter 6: Prevention Program (Program 2) (May 2000)
• Chapter 7: Prevention Program (Program 3) (May 2000)
• Chapter 8: Emergency Response Program (May 2000)
• Chapter 9: Risk Management Plan (May 2000)
• Chapter 10: Implementation (May 2000)
• Chapter 11: Communication with the Public (May 2000)
• Appendix A/B: 40 CFR part 68/Selected NAICS Codes (May 2000)
• Appendix C: Technical Assistance (May 2000)
• Appendix D: OSHA Guidance on PSM (May 2000)

Risk Management Program Guidance for Chemical Distributors

This guidance was revised to incorporate applicable provisions of the Chemical Safety Information, Site Security, and Fuels Regulatory Relief Act, other recent regulatory changes, and to make additional minor changes. This guidance document (developed with input from the National Association of Chemical Distributors contains comprehensive RMP implementation guidance for owners and operators of chemical distribution facilities. The guidance includes simplified methods for conducting offsite consequence analyses on regulated substances commonly handled and stored at chemical distribution facilities, as well as industry-specific information on accident prevention programs. 

• Table of Contents (March 2009)
• Introduction (May 2000)
• Chapter 1: General Applicability (May 2000)
• Chapter 2: Applicability of Program Levels (May 2000)
• Chapter 3: Five-Year Accident History (March 2009)
• Chapter 4: Offsite Consequence Analysis (May 2000)
• Chapter 5: Management System (May 2000)
• Chapter 6: Prevention Program (Program 2) (May 2000)
• Chapter 7: Prevention Program (Program 3) (May 2000)
• Chapter 8: Emergency Response Program (May 2000)
• Chapter 9: Risk Management Plan (March 2009)
• Chapter 10: Implementation (May 2000)
• Chapter 11: Communication with the Public (May 2000)
• Appendix A: 40 CFR part 68/Selected NAICS Codes (May 2000)
• Appendix C: Technical Assistance (March 2009)
• Appendix D: OSHA Guidance on PSM (May 2000) 

Risk Management Program Guidance for Offsite Consequence Analysis

This is EPA's official RMP offsite consequence analysis guidance. This latest version represents the most up-to-date thinking on the subject, and has been technically reviewed by experts outside of EPA. Although it replaces the previous Offsite Consequence Analysis Guidance, if you have prepared your RMP using the previous guidance, you do not need to revise it based on this new guidance. This revision incorporates several new features, including chemical-specific modeling for ammonia, chlorine, and sulfur dioxide, temperature correction factors for calculations involving evaporating liquids, step-by-step procedures and worksheets to assist users, additional worked examples, and format changes.

Risk Management Program Guidance for Offsite Consequence Analysis (March 2009)

Appendices (April 1999) 

Technical Background for Offsite Consequence Analysis for Anhydrous Ammonia, Aqueous Ammonia, Chlorine, and Sulfur Dioxide (April 1999)

Technical Background for Offsite Consequence Analysis for Anhydrous Ammonia, Aqueous Ammonia, Chlorine, and Sulfur Dioxide. This document provides the technical background of the methodology and assumptions used to develop the chemical-specific tables.

Additional Information

• Risk Management Program (RMP) Level 1 Process Checklist (pdf) (943.46 KB)
• Risk Management Program (RMP) Level 2 Process Checklist (pdf) (847.73 KB)
• Risk Management Program (RMP) Level 3 Process Checklist (pdf) (904.64 KB)