The European Union hosts approximately 8500 industrial sites that are considered major hazards due to the potential accident risk associated with the presence of dangerous substances as defined by the Seveso II Directive. Approximately, half of these sites are classified as so-called lower tier sites because the quantity of the dangerous substances exceeds the lower threshold quantity stipulated in the Directive. Theoretically, the Seveso II Directive imposes a lower regulatory burden on lower tier sites than upper tier sites, whose quantity of dangerous substances exceed the higher threshold quantity given in the Directive. This lower burden is manifested particularly in Article 7, designed to apply exclusively to lower tier sites. In 2008-2009, on behalf of the Committee of Seveso Competent Authorities (CCA), the regulatory committee established by the Directive, the European Commission¿s Joint Research Centre (JRC) undertook a study of Seveso implementation in lower tier sites, through administration of a survey of competent authorities and subsequently co-organization of a workshop on the topic with DG-Environment and the Czech Republic. This paper summarizes the results of this study.JRC.DG.G.6-Security technology assessmen
