WHAT IS IT?

The Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) is designed to help communities prepare for and respond to emergencies involving hazardous substances.

What are Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs)?

LEPCs must develop an emergency response plan, review it at least annually, and provide information about chemicals in the community to citizens.  Plans are developed by Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) with stakeholder participation.

The LEPC membership must include (at a minimum):

Elected state and local officials

Police, fire, civil defense, and public health professionals

Environment, transportation, and hospital officials

Facility representatives

Representatives from community groups and the media

What are the required elements of a community emergency response plan?

•  Identification of facilities and transportation routes of extremely hazardous substances

•  Description of emergency response procedures, on and off site

•  Designation of a community coordinator and facility emergency coordinator(s) to implement the plan

•  Outline of emergency notification procedures

•  Description of how to determine the probable affected area and population by releases

•  Description of local emergency equipment, facilities, the persons responsible for them

•  Outline of evacuation plans

•  A training program for emergency responders (including schedules)

•  Methods and schedules for exercising emergency response plans