1. prevent and prepare for chemical emergencies;
2. respond to environmental crises;
3. inform the public about chemical hazards in their community

The ERNS database is a record of all phone calls made to the National Response Center (NRC). The NRC should be notified when any one of a number of different types of spills or releases of toxic substances occur, including oil spills and CERCLA releases. ERNS also include Coast Guard sightings of spills at sea. Although information from these calls was recorded in a standard form, these phone calls have not been checked for accuracy and may represent incorrect information given during an event. There may also be multiple phone calls referring to the same event. This database is generally NOT updated as more current information about an already-recorded event becomes available.

(There is another EPA database; ARIP that holds updated information about some of the most serious incidents reported in ERNS). (U:02/08/04)

Under the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, certain chemical facilities must report risk management plans (RMPs) to prevent and respond to chemical accidents in the United States. Each facility's Plan must include:

• A worst-case chemical release and more-likely "alternative release" scenario,
• Information about chemical accidents that have occurred in the last five years,
• An accident prevention program,
• An emergency response plan,
• Identifying information about the facility, including its location, address and contact information, and
• An Executive Summary that summarizes the Plan and allows the company reporting the data to characterize the information in the RMP. (U:02/08/04)