This paper provides an overview and analysis of the impact of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986's Title III provisions (SARA Title III or Title III) on community participation, risk communication, and other elements of effective emergency preparedness for response to accidental hazardous chemical releases. It employs the U.S. Army's Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP) as a case study and applies conclusions from this case to other programs.
The employment of SARA Title by CSEPP exemplifies recent efforts by emergency planners to integrate disaster research theory into the practice of emergency management. This integration has occurred in three specific areas: (1) disseminating risk information to the public; (2) enhancing intergovernmental coordination; and (3) identifying needed resources and legal reforms for ensuring that emergency response and recovery decisions can be made in a timely manner—free of postemergency litigation.
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