As part of the EPA's Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA), Congress decreed that facilities that use large quantities of hazardous chemicals must inform the local community of their presence and work with local fire departments to plan for accidents and releases. These requirements to inform the public of chemical use and storage are known as Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA).

Specifically, regulations require the following:

1. Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPC) be established work with community chemical users;
2. Facilities must inform LEPC of new chemicals
3. Facilities must submit annual chemical inventories to the LEPC and state officials to help in planning for releases.
4. Facilities must notify the LEPC when chemicals are released;

In order to comply with there regulations, EHS Office requires chemical users on campus to fill out a specific chemical inventory each year, which is then submited to the Cambridge LEPC and state officials. A chemicals database by building and room enables the fire department to know what materials are in a building in the event of a fire. Representatives from the Medical Department, the Environment, Health and Safety Office, The Nuclear Reactor, and MIT Police participate on LEPC subcommittees and in mock emergency preparedness drills.