Federal incident notification deadlines by regulation
The mandatory notification deadlines triggered by workplace, environmental, and transportation incidents under US federal regulations, compared across all major reporting frameworks. Each record is one notification obligation under one regulation, carrying the triggering event, the clock (how fast you must report), who receives the notification, the required method, the threshold that activates the requirement, and any follow-up reporting obligation. Answers 'how fast must I report a workplace fatality to OSHA', 'who do I call for a chemical spill', 'what is the DOT hazmat incident notification deadline', 'do I need to notify the SERC or just the NRC', and 'which incidents require written follow-up within 30 days'. A single incident at a facility can simultaneously trigger 4-6 different federal notification requirements with different deadlines (8 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, immediate, 30 days) and different recipients (OSHA, NRC, SERC, LEPC, EPA region).
Records23
Sources10
Verified
Review by
LicenceUS federal regulation — 17 USC 105, no copyright
3 records where two or more sources state different values. Both sides are reproduced on the record page, each with its own source and quote.
The data
| Regulation | Governing statute | Triggering event | Notification deadline | Notification recipient | Required method | Follow-up requirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 USC 2607(e) / TSCA section 8(e) | TSCA section 8(e) | a person who manufactures, processes, or distributes in commerce a chemical substance or mixture obtains information which reasonably supports the conclusion that such substance or mixture presents a substantial risk of injury to health or the environment | immediately | EPA Administrator | inform the Administrator | none specified in this section |
| 29 CFR 1904.39sources differ | OSH Act | work-related fatality | 8 hours | OSHA Area Office, or by telephone to 1-800-321-OSHA, or by electronic submission on OSHA.gov | telephone or in person to OSHA Area Office; or by telephone to 1-800-321-OSHA; or by electronic submission on OSHA.gov | none |
| 40 CFR 110.6 | Clean Water Act section 311 | discharge of oil from a vessel or an onshore or offshore facility in violation of section 311(b)(3) of the Act | immediately, as soon as he or she has knowledge of any discharge | National Response Center (NRC) (800-424-8802; in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, 202-426-2675) | telephone to the National Response Center (NRC); if direct reporting to the NRC is not practicable, reports may be made to the Coast Guard or EPA predesignated On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) | none specified in this section |
| 40 CFR 265.56(d) | RCRA | a release, fire, or explosion at a hazardous waste treatment, storage, or disposal facility that could threaten human health or the environment outside the facility | immediately | the government official designated as the on-scene coordinator for that geographical area, or the National Response Center (using their 24-hour toll free number 800/424-8802) | telephone or direct notification to on-scene coordinator or National Response Center | written report on the incident to the Regional Administrator within 15 days after the incident |
| 40 CFR 265.56(d)(1) | RCRA | a release, fire, or explosion at a hazardous waste treatment, storage, or disposal facility where evacuation of local areas may be advisable | immediately | appropriate local authorities | direct notification to appropriate local authorities | written report on the incident to the Regional Administrator within 15 days after the incident |
| 40 CFR 265.56(i) | RCRA | any incident at a hazardous waste treatment, storage, or disposal facility that requires implementing the contingency plan | within 15 days after the incident | Regional Administrator | written report | none beyond the written report |
| 40 CFR 302.6 | CERCLA | release of a hazardous substance from a vessel or an offshore or onshore facility in a quantity equal to or exceeding the reportable quantity in any 24-hour period | immediately, as soon as he or she has knowledge of any release | National Response Center (1-800-424-8802; in Washington, DC 202-267-2675) | telephone to the National Response Center | none specified in this section |
| 40 CFR 302.8 | CERCLA | continuous release of a CERCLA hazardous substance that is stable in quantity and rate — initial telephone notification for qualifying continuous release | immediately (initial telephone notification) | National Response Center (NRC) at 800-424-8802 | telephone to the National Response Center | initial written report within 30 days to EPA Headquarters; follow-up anniversary report annually to EPA Headquarters |
| 40 CFR 355.32 | EPCRA | continuous release of a CERCLA hazardous substance or EPCRA extremely hazardous substance (EHS) that is stable in quantity and rate — initial telephone notification for qualifying continuous release | immediately (initial telephone notification) | State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) and Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) | telephone to SERC and LEPC | initial written report within 30 days to SERC and LEPC |
| 49 CFR 171.15sources differ | Hazardous Materials Transportation Act | the general public is evacuated for one hour or more as a direct result of a hazardous material during transportation | as soon as practical but no later than 12 hours after the occurrence | National Response Center (NRC) on 800-424-8802 (toll free) or 202-267-2675 (toll call) | telephone to the National Response Center (NRC) | written Hazardous Materials Incident Report on DOT Form F 5800.1 within 30 days per 49 CFR 171.16 |
| 49 CFR 171.15(b)(1)(ii) | Hazardous Materials Transportation Act | a person receives an injury requiring admittance to a hospital as a direct result of a hazardous material during transportation | as soon as practical but no later than 12 hours after the occurrence | National Response Center (NRC) on 800-424-8802 (toll free) or 202-267-2675 (toll call) | telephone to the National Response Center (NRC) | written Hazardous Materials Incident Report on DOT Form F 5800.1 within 30 days per 49 CFR 171.16 |
| 49 CFR 171.15(b)(1)(iii) | Hazardous Materials Transportation Act | the general public is evacuated for one hour or more as a direct result of a hazardous material during transportation | as soon as practical but no later than 12 hours after the occurrence | National Response Center (NRC) on 800-424-8802 (toll free) or 202-267-2675 (toll call) | telephone to the National Response Center (NRC) | written Hazardous Materials Incident Report on DOT Form F 5800.1 within 30 days per 49 CFR 171.16 |
| 49 CFR 171.15(b)(1)(iv) | Hazardous Materials Transportation Act | a major transportation artery or facility is closed or shut down for one hour or more as a direct result of a hazardous material during transportation | as soon as practical but no later than 12 hours after the occurrence | National Response Center (NRC) on 800-424-8802 (toll free) or 202-267-2675 (toll call) | telephone to the National Response Center (NRC) | written Hazardous Materials Incident Report on DOT Form F 5800.1 within 30 days per 49 CFR 171.16 |
| 49 CFR 171.15(b)(1)(v) | Hazardous Materials Transportation Act | the operational flight pattern or routine of an aircraft is altered as a direct result of a hazardous material during transportation | as soon as practical but no later than 12 hours after the occurrence | National Response Center (NRC) on 800-424-8802 (toll free) or 202-267-2675 (toll call) | telephone to the National Response Center (NRC) | written Hazardous Materials Incident Report on DOT Form F 5800.1 within 30 days per 49 CFR 171.16 |
| 49 CFR 171.15(b)(2) | Hazardous Materials Transportation Act | fire, breakage, spillage, or suspected radioactive contamination occurs involving a radioactive material during transportation | as soon as practical but no later than 12 hours after the occurrence | National Response Center (NRC) on 800-424-8802 (toll free) or 202-267-2675 (toll call) | telephone to the National Response Center (NRC) | written Hazardous Materials Incident Report on DOT Form F 5800.1 within 30 days per 49 CFR 171.16 |
| 49 CFR 171.15(b)(3) | Hazardous Materials Transportation Act | fire, breakage, spillage, or suspected contamination occurs involving an infectious substance other than a regulated medical waste during transportation | as soon as practical but no later than 12 hours after the occurrence | National Response Center (NRC) on 800-424-8802 (toll free) or 202-267-2675 (toll call) | telephone to the National Response Center (NRC) | written Hazardous Materials Incident Report on DOT Form F 5800.1 within 30 days per 49 CFR 171.16 |
| 49 CFR 171.15(b)(4) | Hazardous Materials Transportation Act | a release of a marine pollutant occurs in a quantity exceeding 450 L (119 gallons) for a liquid or 400 kg (882 pounds) for a solid during transportation | as soon as practical but no later than 12 hours after the occurrence | National Response Center (NRC) on 800-424-8802 (toll free) or 202-267-2675 (toll call) | telephone to the National Response Center (NRC) | written Hazardous Materials Incident Report on DOT Form F 5800.1 within 30 days per 49 CFR 171.16 |
| 49 CFR 171.15(b)(5) | Hazardous Materials Transportation Act | a situation exists of such a nature (e.g., a continuing danger to life exists at the scene of the incident) that, in the judgment of the person in possession of the hazardous material, it should be reported to the NRC | as soon as practical but no later than 12 hours after the occurrence | National Response Center (NRC) on 800-424-8802 (toll free) or 202-267-2675 (toll call) | telephone to the National Response Center (NRC) | written Hazardous Materials Incident Report on DOT Form F 5800.1 within 30 days per 49 CFR 171.16 |
| 49 CFR 171.15(b)(6) | Hazardous Materials Transportation Act | during transportation by aircraft, a fire, violent rupture, explosion or dangerous evolution of heat occurs as a direct result of a battery or battery-powered device | as soon as practical but no later than 12 hours after the occurrence | National Response Center (NRC) on 800-424-8802 (toll free) or 202-267-2675 (toll call) | telephone to the National Response Center (NRC) | written Hazardous Materials Incident Report on DOT Form F 5800.1 within 30 days per 49 CFR 171.16 |
| 49 CFR 171.16 | Hazardous Materials Transportation Act | any of the circumstances set forth in 49 CFR 171.15(b), or an unintentional release of a hazardous material or the discharge of any quantity of hazardous waste during transportation | within 30 days of discovery of the incident | Information Systems Manager, PHH-60, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Department of Transportation | written Hazardous Materials Incident Report on DOT Form F 5800.1, or electronic report | report must be updated within one year if a death results, misidentification occurred, or damage/loss changes by $25,000 or more or 10% of prior estimate |
| 49 CFR 171.16(a)(3) | Hazardous Materials Transportation Act | a specification cargo tank with a capacity of 1,000 gallons or greater containing any hazardous material suffers structural damage to the lading retention system during transportation | within 30 days of discovery of the incident | Information Systems Manager, PHH-60, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Department of Transportation | written Hazardous Materials Incident Report on DOT Form F 5800.1, or electronic report | report must be updated within one year if damage/loss changes by $25,000 or more or 10% of prior estimate |
| 49 CFR 171.16(a)(4) | Hazardous Materials Transportation Act | an undeclared hazardous material is discovered during transportation | within 30 days of discovery of the incident | Information Systems Manager, PHH-60, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Department of Transportation | written Hazardous Materials Incident Report on DOT Form F 5800.1, or electronic report | report must be updated within one year if damage/loss changes by $25,000 or more or 10% of prior estimate |
| EPCRA section 304 / 40 CFR 355.40sources differ | EPCRA | release of a reportable quantity of a CERCLA hazardous substance or an extremely hazardous substance (EHS) | immediately | State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) and Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) | immediate notification, followed by written follow-up emergency notification as soon as practicable | written follow-up emergency notice as soon as practicable after the release, updating the information in the immediate notification and including actions taken, health risks, and advice regarding medical attention |
Where this came from
Every record above links the page it was taken from and quotes the sentence that states it. These are the 10 sources this dataset was assembled from.
- law.cornell.eduhttps://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/2607
- osha.govhttps://www.osha.gov/recordkeeping/2014/reporting-table
- law.cornell.eduhttps://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/40/110.6
- law.cornell.eduhttps://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/40/265.56
- law.cornell.eduhttps://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/40/302.6
- epa.govhttps://www.epa.gov/epcra/cercla-and-epcra-continuous-release-reporting
- law.cornell.eduhttps://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/49/171.15
- law.cornell.eduhttps://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/49/171.16
- epa.govhttps://www.epa.gov/epcra/epcra-release-notification-rq-any-24-hour-period
- law.cornell.eduhttps://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/40/355.40
Machine-readable
- data.jsonThe whole dataset — every record with its source URL and source quote.
- Open Knowledge Format bundleOne JSON object per line — every record's frontmatter and quoted span exactly as it is held here, in one fetch.
- How this is made and checkedWhat "verified against source" does and does not mean.