Environmental Spill Reporting - Utah

Utah has its own environmental release notification requirements on top of the federal requirements. This summary page is provided as a reference tool. It is not a definitive source of compliance information and not intended to replace the federal and state laws and regulations. The summary is also not comprehensive, as there may be other release notification requirements at the federal, state, and/or local levels.

A facility may need to comply with both federal and state requirements, not just the state ones, when the federal requirements do not preempt the state ones and the state is not delegated authority to run its own program in lieu of the federal. Be sure to check with your state agency(ies) if you have questions about which federal or state requirements apply.

Regardless, there is no government penalty for over-reporting, but there may be steep penalties for failure to make a notification when required. When unsure whether to report, it is better to side on reporting the release.

Related information

• Emergency Releases ezExplanation  
• Oil Spill Reporting ezExplanation
• Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) accidental release reporting
• Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) 
• Utah DEQ Division of Environmental Response and Remediation 
• Utah DEQ — Report an Incident
• Utah DEQ Division of Environmental Response and Remediation — Utah State Emergency Response Commission (SERC)  
• Utah DEQ — Summary of DEQ or EPA Hazardous Material Release Reporting R Requirements

State citations

• R311-202-1 (incorporates 40 CFR 280.53) — Incorporation by Reference
• R315-15-9 — Emergency Controls
• R315-262-265 — Preparedness, Prevention, and Emergency Procedures for Large Quantity Generators -- Emergency Procedures
• R315-263-30 — Immediate Action
• R315-263-33 — Reporting
• R315-264-56(d) — Emergency Procedures
• R315-264-196 — Response to Leaks or Spills and Disposition of Leaking or Unfit-for-Use Tank Systems
• R317-6-6.11— Notice of Commencement and Discontinuance of Ground Water Discharge Operations
• R317-6-6.13 — Reporting of Mechanical Problems or Discharge System Failures
• R317-6-6.15(B) — Notification and Interim Action
• R317-6-6.17 — Procedure When a Facility Is Out-of-Compliance
• Utah Code 19-5-114 — Spills or Discharges of Oil or Other Substance – Notice to Director
• Utah Code 19-6-420(3) — Releases – Abatement Actions – Corrective Actions

Federal citations

• 40 CFR 68 — Chemical accident prevention provisions
• 40 CFR 110 — Discharge of oil
• 40 CFR 112 — Oil pollution prevention
• 40 CFR 117 — Determination of reportable quantities for hazardous substances (also known as CWA release reporting)
• 40 CFR 262 — Standards applicable to generators of hazardous waste
• 40 CFR 264 — Standards for owners and operators of hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities
• 40 CFR 265 — Interim status standards for owners and operators of hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities
• 40 CFR 280 — Technical standards and corrective action requirements for owners and operators of underground storage tanks (UST)
• 40 CFR 302 — Designation, reportable quantities, and notification (also known as CERCLA release reporting)
• 40 CFR 355 — Emergency planning and notification (also known as EPCRA release reporting)
• 40 CFR 403 — General pretreatment regulations for existing and new sources of pollution
• 40 CFR 761 — Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) manufacturing, processing, distribution in commerce, and use prohibition
• 40 CFR 1604 — Reporting of accidental releases