Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC)

The Williams County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) Is established under the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act, or EPCRA. This was passed as Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA Title III) on October 17, 1986. This provides for a robust chemical emergency preparedness and response capability.

LEPC Responsibilities

Federal and State laws require counties to have a Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) to develop and maintain chemical emergency response plans; establish procedures for conducting public information and education on chemical emergencies; receive and process requests for information on hazardous materials; provide notification of all LEPC activities and meetings; and receive reports and information on hazardous materials as specified in the Ohio Revised Code. LEPC also exercises the chemical emergency response plan on a yearly basis. Once every four years, the yearly exercise has to be a full-scale exercise where all aspects of an emergency response are exercised together. The remaining years can be tabletop or functional style exercises.

The LEPC has other responsibilities besides developing an emergency response plan. The committee receives emergency releases and hazardous chemical inventory information submitted by local facilities and must make this information available to the public upon request. The LEPC has the authority to request additional information from facilities for their own planning purposes or on behalf of others. Members may want to visit facilities in the community to find out what they are doing to reduce hazards, prepare for accidents and reduce hazardous inventories and releases. LEPCs are able to take civil actions against facilities if they fail to provide the information required under the Act.

LEPC Membership

Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) are approved by the Local County Commissioners and appointed by the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC). LEPCs must consist of representatives of all of the following groups and organizations:

  • Elected and local officials
  • Law Enforcement
  • EMA
  • Firefighters
  • First Aid
  • Health
  • Local environmental and transportation agencies
  • Hospital
  • Broadcast and/or print media
  • Community Groups
  • Representatives of facilities subject to the emergency planning and community right-to-know requirements