Tier Two is an annual report of hazardous chemicals and extremely hazardous substances (EHS). It is part of Hazardous Chemical Inventory Reporting, one of the key reports required under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA).
Reports are due March 1 every year.
To complete the reporting process:
- Use Tier Two online to complete the report.
- Submit copies of the report to your:
- Local emergency planning committee (LEPC).
- Fire department.
- Tribal emergency planning committee (TERC) (if applicable).
Does your facility need to submit a Tier Two report?
If your facility stores any of the following on-site at any time, you must submit a Tier Two report:
- Hazardous chemicals: 10,000 pounds or more.
- Extremely Hazardous Substances (EHS): 500 pounds OR the threshold planning quantity (TPQ), whichever is lower.
How do you find the TPQ?
- Use your Safety Data Sheets (SDS) to determine your products' ingredients.
- Refer to the Environmental Protection Agency's Consolidated List of Lists to determine if your products' ingredients are listed and determine the TPQ.
NOTE: All EHS’s are listed, but not all reportable products are included.
How do you access Tier Two Online?
To access Tier Two Online, you must sign up for a Secure Access Washington (SAW) account, then add it as a service from within SAW.
Follow these steps to access Tier Two Online:
How do you complete the Tier Two reporting process?
1. Log into Tier Two Online via SAW
- Go to your SAW account.
- Click "Access Now" next to Tier Two Online to open your report.
Note: If you do not have an account, or if Tier Two Online does not appear under your list of services, follow the steps listed under How to access Tier Two Online.
2. Fill out your Tier Two report
- Reporting instructions appear on the right side of Tier Two Online.
- Fill out the report in full.
- Click "Submit" when your report is complete.
By submitting your report online, you also fulfill the requirement of submitting your report to the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC). You do not need to send copies to us.
3. Send report to other required emergency planning agencies
To complete your Tier Two reporting requirements, you must also send your report to:
To send your report to these agencies:
Option 1:
- Download your report from Tier Two Online.
- Email a copy to the applicable agencies listed above.
Option 2:
- Print, wet ink sign, and mail a hard copy to the applicable agencies listed above.
Does my facility qualify for an exemption?
Facilities qualify for an exemption if they:
- Reduce the quantities of all products stored on-site below reporting thresholds.
- Close.
How to complete the exemption process
- Fill out the exemption form.
- Submit the form to:
- Ecology (contact information is noted on the form).
- All other applicable agencies: TERC, LEPC, local fire department.
What if your exemption status changes?
- If quantities of chemicals stored on-site exceed reportable thresholds again, you must contact the applicable agencies.
Tier Two Online allows authorized representatives for facilities to:
An authorized representative is defined as the person responsible for the overall operation of a facility.
If you are replacing a previous representative, please email us at TierTwoOnline@ecy.wa.gov or call us at 800-633-7585, option 1.
Reporting is free. There are no fees to submit your Tier Two report.
However, there can be steep penalties for willful non-compliance of EPCRA regulations. EPCRA enforcement actions are conducted by EPA or legal firms acting on behalf of the public.
Information required on your Tier Two report includes:
- Facility identification number.
- Chemical details such as:
- Name and Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) number.
- Physical and health hazards.
- Quantities stored on-site (in pounds).
- Storage and location descriptions.
- Food and cosmetics: Any food, food additive, color additive, drug, or cosmetic regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
- Solids in manufacturing: Any substance that is a solid in any manufactured item to the extent that exposure to the substance does not occur under normal conditions of use.
- Personal or household products: Any substance used for personal, family, or household purposes, or is present in the same form and concentration as a product packaged for distribution and use by the general public.
- Lab or medical substances: Any substance used in a research laboratory, hospital, or other medical facility under the direct supervision of a technically-qualified individual.
- Agricultural or fertilizer products: Any substance used in routine agricultural operations or fertilizer sold by a retailer to customers.