Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) are appointed by the State Emergency Response Commissions (SERCs).
LEPCs consist of representatives of all of the following groups and organizations:
Broadcast and Print Media
Civil Defense Local Environmental Agencies
Elected and local officials
Firefighting
First Aid
Health Local Transportation Agencies
Hospitals Community Groups
Law Enforcement
In addition to the above, representatives of facilities subject to the emergency planning and community right-to-know requirements must be represented as part of the LEPC.
Initial Task
The LEPC's initial task is to develop an emergency plan to prepare for and respond to chemical emergencies. EPA's list of extremely hazardous substances may provide a focus for setting priorities in the planning effort. The plan is required to be completed by October 17, 1988. But that was only the beginning.
The plan must be reviewed annually, tested, and updated. Because the LEPC's members represent the community, they should be familiar with factors that affect public safety, the environment, and the economy of the community. That expertise will be essential as the LEPC develops a plan tailored to the needs of its planning district.
