[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 40, Volume 28]
[Revised as of July 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 40CFR717.12]

[Page 109-110]
 
                   TITLE 40--PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT
 
         CHAPTER I--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 717--RECORDS AND REPORTS OF ALLEGATIONS THAT CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES CAUSE 
SIGNIFICANT ADVERSE REACTIONS TO HEALTH OR THE ENVIRONMENT--Table of 
Contents
 
                      Subpart A--General Provisions
 
Sec. 717.12  Significant adverse reactions that must be recorded.

    (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, significant 
adverse reactions to human health that must be recorded include but are 
not limited to:
    (1) Long-lasting or irreversible damage, such as cancer or birth 
defects.
    (2) Partial or complete impairment of bodily functions, such as 
reproductive disorders, neurological disorders or blood disorders.
    (3) An impairment of normal activities experienced by all or most of 
the persons exposed at one time.
    (4) An impairment of normal activities which is experienced each 
time an individual is exposed.
    (b) Firms are not required to record significant adverse reactions 
that are known human effects as defined in Sec. 717.3(c).
    (c) Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this section, significant 
adverse reactions to the environment that must be recorded, even if 
restricted to the environs of a plant or disposal site, include but are 
not limited to:

[[Page 110]]

    (1) Gradual or sudden changes in the composition of animal life or 
plant life, including fungal or microbial organisms, in an area.
    (2) Abnormal number of deaths of organisms (e.g., fish kills).
    (3) Reduction of the reproductive success or the vigor of a species.
    (4) Reduction in agricultural productivity, whether crops or 
livestock.
    (5) Alterations in the behavior or distribution of a species.
    (6) Long lasting or irreversible contamination of components of the 
physical environment, especially in the case of ground water, and 
surface water and soil resources that have limited self-cleansing 
capability.
    (d) Firms are not required to record a significant adverse reaction 
to the environment if the alleged cause of that significant adverse 
reaction can be directly attributable to an accidental spill or other 
accidental discharge, emission exceeding permitted limits, or other 
incident of environmental contamination that has been reported to the 
Federal Government under any applicable authority.

[48 FR 38187, Aug. 22, 1983, as amended at 49 FR 23183, June 5, 1984; 58 
FR 34204, June 23, 1993]