FEMA is responsible for coordinating all civil emergency planning, management, mitigation, and assistance functions of the Federal Government. Under SARA’s Title III, FEMA is the primary Federal agency responsible for planning and related training for hazardous materials emergency management. This authority encompasses accidents at manufacturing, processing, storage, and disposal facilities, as well as hazardous materials in transit by highways, on water, by rail, and by air.

FEMA provides resource information and technical and financial assistance to States for developing emergency plans for hazardous materials accidents and other types of emergencies, and assists State and local governments in hazardous materials training. FEMA also assists States and communities by interpreting Federal planning guidance, providing advice on plan preparation, and reviewing completed plans. FEMA Regional staff are available to provide this support. When emergency exercises are conducted, FEMA Regional officials provide support by reviewing the plans, observing exercises to test the plans, and providing technical evaluation of how well the plans worked.

Finally, FEMA is available to provide additional financial relief in the event of an incident so serious that both local and State funds prove inadequate.