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HR 861 117th Congress House

Alerting Localities of Environmental Risks and Threats Act of 2021

Official title: To amend the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act of 1986 to require an emergency notification meeting in the event of the release of an extremel… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act of 1986 to require an emergency notification meeting in the event of the release of an extremely hazardous substance from a facility, and for other purposes.

Introduced: February 5, 2021 Introduced by: Blunt Rochester, Lisa Democratic · Delaware See on congress.gov
Environmental Protection Civil actions and liabilityEmergency communications systemsEmergency planning and evacuationEnvironmental health
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Government buildings, facilities, and propertyHazardous wastes and toxic substancesIndustrial facilitiesLibraries and archivesNews media and reportingPublic participation and lobbying
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This bill died when the 117th Congress ended
It never became law before the 117th Congress (2021–2022) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 8, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change.
Feb 5, 2021
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Feb 5, 2021
Introduced in House
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 Latest action February 8, 2021

Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Alerting Localities of Environmental Risks and Threats Act of 2021

This bill requires the owner or operator of a facility where hazardous chemicals are produced, used, or stored to hold a public meeting within 72 hours of the release of an extremely hazardous substance. The owner or operator must publish a notice in a local newspaper, giving at least 24 hours of notice before the public meeting. Such notice must be posted at a local library, other local government buildings, and on the facility's public website.

The bill also requires the owner or operator of a facility to hold an annual public meeting, where specified information regarding the extremely hazardous substances at the facility must be disclosed. Notice for such meeting must be published in a local newspaper at least a week in advance of the meeting. The bill provides for a civil penalty if such public meeting and notice requirements are not met.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 1512 Related bill CLEAN Future Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 14
All 14 Democratic 11
D
Quigley, Mike
Illinois · May 10, 2022
 D
Cohen, Steve
Tennessee · Feb 28, 2022
 D
Lieu, Ted
California · Feb 28, 2022
Lowenthal, Alan
· Feb 11, 2022
HASTINGS, ALCEE
· Mar 8, 2021
 D
Foster, Bill
Illinois · Feb 18, 2021
Jones, Mondaire
· Feb 8, 2021
 D
Schakowsky, Janice D.
Illinois · Feb 8, 2021
 D
Soto, Darren
Florida · Feb 8, 2021
 D
Carson, André
Indiana · Feb 5, 2021
 D
Casten, Sean
Illinois · Feb 5, 2021
 D
Matsui, Doris O.
California · Feb 5, 2021
 D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Feb 5, 2021
 D
Watson Coleman, Bonnie
New Jersey · Feb 5, 2021
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 861: Alerting Localities of Environmental Risks and Threats Act of 2021. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-861/
MLA
"H.R. 861: Alerting Localities of Environmental Risks and Threats Act of 2021." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-861/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 861, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-861/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 861: Alerting Localities of Environmental Risks and Threats Act of 2021](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-861/)
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