Which quantity triggers compliance with emergency planning and community right-to-know reporting?

• A. Any amount of listed substance
• B. A quantity at or greater than its threshold planning quantity
• C. Only when spilled
• D. Only if the substance is hazardous waste

Answer: (B)

Threshold planning quantity on-site triggers compliance with emergency planning and community right-to-know reporting. Each listed hazardous chemical has a TPQ value, and when the amount present at the facility reaches or exceeds that TPQ, the facility must develop an emergency plan, coordinate with local responders, and report to community right-to-know programs. This is about meeting a specific quantity threshold, not about any amount or only during a spill, and it applies to the chemical at or above its TPQ regardless of whether it’s being handled as waste. The key idea is monitoring inventory and obeying the TPQ trigger to determine when reporting and planning obligations begin.