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Roles and Responsibilities of the LEPC. WHY HAVE AN LEPC?. Congress mandated the creation of LEPC’s to effectively implement the emergency planning provision of EPCRA (Emergency Planning and Community Right-to- Know Act of 1986). The purpose of the LEPC is to
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WHY HAVE AN LEPC?
Congress mandated the creation of LEPC’s to effectively implement the emergency planning provision of EPCRA (Emergency Planning and Community Right-to- Know Act of 1986)
The purpose of the LEPC is to maintain a broad-based membership from the community to ensure the development of and maintenance of an effective emergency plan to respond to hazardous materials emergencies
At a minimum, the LEPC membership must include representatives from the following:
Elected state and local officials • Law Enforcement agencies • Emergency Management
Fire Fighting Personnel • Health Care Personnel • Local Environmental Groups
Hospital Representative • Broadcast and Print Media • Community Groups
Owners/Operators of facilities subject to emergency planning requirements • Transportation Representative
EMERGENCY PLANNING
The LEPC is responsible for developing and maintaining a local emergency plan that will ensure quick and effective responses to chemical emergencies
Use the information provided • by business and industry to • identify the facilities and • transportation routes where • hazardous substance(s) • are present
Establish emergency response • procedures, including shelter-in • place and evacuation plans, for • dealing with accidental releases • of hazardous materials
Set up notification procedures • for those who will respond to • chemical emergencies
Establish methods for • determining the occurrences • and severity of a release and • the areas and populations • likely to be affected
Establish ways to • notify the public of a release • and actions they must take
*Identify the emergency response equipment available in the county, including equipment at facilities
*Develop, and maintain a program and schedule training for local emergency response and medical worker (s) t respond to chemical emergencies
Establish methods and • schedules for conducting • exercises to test elements • of the emergency response • plan
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION
The LEPC must annually publish a notice of availability of the emergency response plan and all other information gathered under the reporting requirements of SARA Title III
Emergency Release Notification
If there is a chemical accident at any commercial, municipal or other facility or on a transportation route in your county,
If the release exceeds the “Reportable Quantity” for the hazardous the LEPC, SERC and NRC must be notified immediately
The National Response Center (NRC) alerts federal responders as necessary
Immediate Notification must • include: • The name of the chemical • The location of the release • Whether or not the chemical is on the “Extremely Hazardous Substance“ list
How much of the substance has • been released • The time and duration of the incident • Whether the chemical was • released into the air, water or • soil or some combination thereof
Known or anticipated health risks and necessary medical attention • Recommended actions/ precautions such as evacuation • A contact person and telephone number at the facility
The initial notification will activate the local emergency responders if necessary
The law also requires follow-up reporting. As soon as practical after the release, the facility must submit a written report to the LEPC and the SERC
The follow-up report must update the initial notification and provide additional information such as:
Known or anticipated health risks, and if appropriate, advice regarding any medical care needed by exposed victims
Any “covered facility” that fails to notify proper authorities of a release, or fails to submit a timely written follow-up report will be subject to civil penalties
Civil Penalties can be up to $25,000 a day for each day of non-compliance. Repeat offenders can be fined up to $75,000 a day
In addition, criminal penalties may be imposed on any person who knowingly and willfully fails to provide notice;
Criminal violators face fines of up to $25,000 or prison sentences of up to two years.
Repeat criminal offenders can be fined up to $50,000 and imprisoned up to five years
HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL REPORTING (Tier II)
Facilities must report the amounts, location and potential hazards of hazardous chemicals being produced, used or stored to the LEPC, SERC and fire department serving that facility
The LEPC and SERC must make this information available to the public upon request
Facilities must report on these substances in two ways:
1) MSDS’s - facilities must also submit to the LEPC, SERC and fire department MSDS’s or lists of MSDS chemicals present at the facilities in excess of planning quantities
2) Submit annual inventories of these same hazardous or extremely hazardous chemicals to the LEPC, SERC, and fire departments (Tier II’s)