On October 17, 1986, the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA) was signed into law (P.L. 99-499). One part of the SARA provisions is Title III: "The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986" hereafter referred to as "EPCRA." EPCRA establishes requirements for federal, state, and local governments, and industry regarding emergency response planning and community right-to-know on hazardous chemicals.

The emergency planning provisions of EPCRA (Sections 301-305) are designed to develop state and local government hazardous chemical emergency preparedness and response capabilities through better coordination and planning, especially at the local level.

Other community right-to-know provisions of EPCRA require the owners and/or operators of facilities to provide information about the nature, quantity, and location of reportable chemicals manufactured, processed, stored, or used at their facility sites. The purpose of these provisions is to increase public knowledge of the presence of hazardous chemicals in communities and to better prepare for potential emergencies.