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What is the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC)?

      The Local Emergency Planning Committee of Franklin County is a local organization that was established by a Federal law called the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act or EPCRA.  It was passed by the United States Congress in November of 1986 to help communities deal safely and effectively with the many hazardous substances that are used throughout the country.  The Superfund Amendment and Re-Authorization Act (SARA) passed in 1986 requires emergency response plans to be developed for responding to chemical emergencies which might happen in the United States.  This responsibility was mandated to be handled on the local level through the establishment of LEPCs.

The Responsibilities of the Franklin County LEPC include:

·         Review all of the facilities inventory reports and assess the hazards involved.

·         Develop, maintain and update Comprehensive Response Plan to deal with potential releases of hazardous and extremely hazardous substances within Franklin County.

·         Maintain a list of all extremely hazardous substances and hazardous materials within the county and the facilities that use, store or manufacture such chemicals.

·         Establish procedures for receiving and processing request from the public for information about and copies of Emergency Response Plans, Material Safety Data Sheets, and Chemical Inventory Forms.

·         Develop, observe, and critique all Hazardous Materials exercises.

·         Educate the public about the risks from accidental and routine releases of chemicals, and work with facilities to minimize those risks.

The Emergency Response Plan must include:

·         Identification of the facility.

·         Identification of hazardous materials transportation routes.

·         Designate community and facility coordinators.

·         Designate coordinators who will implement the plans.

·         Emergency notification procedures.

·         Methods to determine release occurrences and probable affected areas and population.

·         Description of emergency equipment, facilities and personnel.

·         Evacuation procedures.

·         Description and schedules of personnel training programs and methods for exercising emergency response plans.