What is an “acutely toxic chemical?
Acutely toxic chemicals are forerunners of SARA Title III extremely hazardous substances; however, the term “acutely toxic chemical” is not formally defined under any statute. In 1985 as Congress prepared to re-authorize CERCLA, the EPA compiled a list of 402 acutely toxic chemicals in a document entitled, Chemical Emergency Preparedness Program Interim Guidance”, (EPA 560/7-85-013). The guidance document addressed emergency responses to accidental releases of these chemicals, and the information presented in the document was presented in a format similar to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommended format for material safety data sheets (MSDS). This list of acutely toxic chemicals was reprinted along with threshold planning quantities (TPQs) [quantities which triggered reporting to a State Emergency Response Commission] and reportable quantities (RQs) [quantities which triggered reporting to the national Response Center] in the November 17, 1986, Federal Reg
