Virtual Classroom Hazard Series Presentation
December 6, 2000 -- 12:00 Noon EST

Chemical Accident Risks
A Preliminary Analysis of Risk Data

James C. Belke
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Office



Contents:

Summary
On-line Transcript
Download Transcript (MS Word File)
Slides: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

About Jim Belke

U.S. EPA, CEPPO Web page
Chemical Accident Risks in U.S. Industry (PDF File, 217 Kb)

Related Reports:
Epidemiology and the U.S. Chemical Industry: Preliminary Results from RMP*Info, Wharton School.
http://opim.wharton.upenn.edu/risk/downloads/00-1-15.pdf (119 Kb)

Assessment of the Increased Risk of Terrorist or Other Criminal Activity Associated with Posting
Off-Site Consequence Analysis Information on the Internet, U.S. Department. of Justice.
http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/april18final.pdf (5771 Kb)

Assessment of the Incentives Created by Public Disclosure of Off-site Consequence Analysis
Information for Reduction in the Risk of Accidental Releases, U.S. EPA.
http://www.epa.gov/ceppo/pubs/incenAss.pdf (366K)

SUMMARY

EIIP Virtual Classroom Presentation
Wednesday - December 6, 2000 - 12:00 Noon EST

Chemical Accident Risks: A Preliminary Analysis of Risk Data

James C. Belke
Environmental Engineer
US Environmental Protection Agency
Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Office (CEPPO)

Amy Sebring
EIIP Technical Projects Coordinator

Jim Belke reviewed the EPA's Risk Management Program regulation and the results of some preliminary analysis of the RMP*Info data submitted by fixed facilities under the rule. Although access to this data is limited by an act of Congress, the presentation and the paper did not reveal any information specifically restricted by law. This preliminary analysis raises additional questions that further analysis will address. Qualified researchers will have access to the data in the future, and it is expected that over time, the public will learn more about their findings. Further epidemiological study conducted by the Wharton School will continue to determine if any correlations exist between accident history and other factors that merit further scrutiny by regulators.

Additional listing or de-listing of hazardous substances is an on-going process and OSHA is planning to conform its list of hazardous substances under its Process Safety Management (PSM) rule to the RMP list. The Department of Justice has requested, but not received, funding to study vulnerability of facilities to acts of terrorism.

JAMES C. BELKE

United States Environmental Protection Agency
Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Office

Jim Belke is an environmental engineer with EPA's Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Office (CEPPO). His primary duties include development and implementation of federal regulations and technical guidance for EPA's Risk Management Program, and working with industry and other private organizations to prevent hazardous chemical accidents. Prior to working for EPA, Mr. Belke worked as a safety engineer at the Department of Energy, was employed by a private engineering consulting firm, and served as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy. Mr. Belke earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, received a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and qualified as a Nuclear Engineer in the U.S. Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program.

James C. Belke
Environmental Engineer
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Mail Code 5104A
1200 Pennsylvania Ave, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20460
(202)-564-8023
(202)-564-8444 FAX
E-mail: belke.jim@epa.gov

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