ABSTRACT
Emergency response analysis is a decision-making tool to identify potential emergencies facing a community with respect to accidental explosions or releases of compounds from company facilities. By identifying and evaluating all potential emergencies—including the highly unlikely worst-case scenarios—decision makers can prepare for emergencies and significantly reduce the risks. One area that requires particular vigilance is the reporting of accidental and under-estimated air emission release from industrial facilities. The unpermitted release of smog-forming volatile organic compounds is of special concern for up-the-stack industrial organizations. In particular, facilities in communities that are in non-attainment areas that do not meet health-based standards for ozone must show strong care with regard to unpermitted releases. There should be requirements to diagnose the root causes of malfunction and emergency releases. Companies can improve backup pollution controls used when equipment goes down. Accidents can happen even at the best-run plants, but they should not become a way of life.
