Which Federal Act requires the development of emergency response plans that address fuel spills and exposures to hazardous waste?

• A. The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA)
• B. The Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA)
• C. The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)
• D. The Clean Water Act

Answer: (B)

Emergency response planning for fuel spills and exposures to hazardous waste is required under the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act, which includes the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act provisions. These provisions mandate that states and localities establish emergency planning processes and committees and develop plans to handle releases of hazardous substances—covering scenarios like fuel spills and potential worker or public exposures. The requirement is embedded in EPCRA as part of the broader SARA framework, so the act that encompasses this planning obligation is the one tied to SARA through EPCRA.

Other acts in the list don’t focus on community emergency planning for chemical releases: OSHA addresses workplace safety standards for employees, and the Clean Water Act targets preventing discharges to bodies of water.