Postal Service™ policy requires that all USPS® facilities comply with the reporting requirements of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), if applicable. Postal Service sites that store certain quantities of hazardous and toxic chemicals must complete and submit the EPCRA Tier II Form by March 1 every year.
Reporting requirements apply to any location that stores threshold quantities of EPCRA-regulated hazardous and toxic chemicals.
Commonly reported chemicals and thresholds applicable to USPS facilities include the following:
n Lead-acid batteries. USPS facilities can meet the 500-pound threshold for sulfuric acid by having more than six tow motor batteries or more than two forklift batteries, or a combination of these batteries, onsite. Estimate the percent weight of sulfuric acid in each battery by multiplying the battery weight by 18 percent.
n Gasoline, diesel, or heating fuel. The 10,000 pound threshold for these fuels is equivalent to 1,639 gallons of gasoline (6.1 pounds/gallon) or 1,351 gallons of diesel/heating fuel (7.4 pounds/gallon).
n Ice melt/anti-skid products. Rock salt, calcium magnesium acetate, and sand have a 10,000-pound threshold. The threshold applies whether the materials are stored in one bulk location, or dispersed in bags or on pallets throughout the site.
By March 1, 2020, USPS Installation Heads must submit the emergency and hazardous chemical inventory reporting form, known as the EPCRA Tier II Form, based on the chemicals stored in 2019, to the following organizations:
n The State Emergency Response Commission;
n The Local Emergency Planning Committee; and
n The local Fire Department that would respond to an emergency at your facility.
States may require report submission via the following ways:
n Submittal of the hard copy EPCRA Tier II Form,
n Electronic reporting through the EPA Tier2 Submit software program, or
n Through state-specific software programs or websites. Each state’s individual reporting requirements, procedures, and forms can be accessed at epa.gov/epcra
For states that require report submission through the EPA Tier2 Submit 2019 software, USPS facilities can request a download of the Tier2 Submit 2019 software through eAccess. If other state electronic reporting software or website applications are not accessible or authorized on your USPS ACE computer system, you must submit the EPCRA Tier II Form in a hard copy format.
Note: USPS facilities are not required to pay any fees associated with reporting (including electronic reporting user and registration fees); however, as a matter of individual discretion, electronic submittal fees may be paid if the convenience benefits the Postal Service.
Additional detailed reporting instructions are available through the appropriate regional manager of Environmental Compliance and Sustainability, or by visiting the Sustainability website at blue.usps.gov/sustainability/environmental/tier-ii-reporting.htm.
If you have questions about your need to report under EPCRA, contact your designated manager, Regional Environmental Compliance:
n For the East region (Northeast, Eastern, Capital Metro Areas, and Headquarters-related facilities), contact Nicholas DeCarlo at nicholas.decarlo@usps.gov.
n For the West region (Great Lakes, Western, Southern, and Pacific Areas), contact Judy Wingo-Stalinger at judy.wingo-stalinger@usps.gov.
— Environmental Compliance and Risk Management,
Office of Sustainability, 1-30-20
