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Roles and Responsibilities of the LEPC

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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Roles and Responsibilities of the LEPC

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  1. Roles and Responsibilities of the LEPC

  2. WHY HAVE AN LEPC?

  3. 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)

  4. 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

  5. At a minimum, the LEPC membership must include representatives from the following:

  6. Elected state and local officials • Law Enforcement agencies • Emergency Management

  7. Fire Fighting Personnel • Health Care Personnel • Local Environmental Groups

  8. Hospital Representative • Broadcast and Print Media • Community Groups

  9. Owners/Operators of facilities subject to emergency planning requirements • Transportation Representative

  10. EMERGENCY PLANNING

  11. The LEPC is responsible for developing and maintaining a local emergency plan that will ensure quick and effective responses to chemical emergencies

  12. The Emergency Plan Must:

  13. Use the information provided • by business and industry to • identify the facilities and • transportation routes where • hazardous substance(s) • are present

  14. Establish emergency response • procedures, including shelter-in • place and evacuation plans, for • dealing with accidental releases • of hazardous materials

  15. Set up notification procedures • for those who will respond to • chemical emergencies

  16. Establish methods for • determining the occurrences • and severity of a release and • the areas and populations • likely to be affected

  17. Establish ways to • notify the public of a release • and actions they must take

  18. *Identify the emergency response equipment available in the county, including equipment at facilities

  19. *Develop, and maintain a program and schedule training for local emergency response and medical worker (s) t respond to chemical emergencies

  20. Establish methods and • schedules for conducting • exercises to test elements • of the emergency response • plan

  21. PUBLIC NOTIFICATION

  22. 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

  23. Emergency Release Notification

  24. If there is a chemical accident at any commercial, municipal or other facility or on a transportation route in your county,

  25. If the release exceeds the “Reportable Quantity” for the hazardous the LEPC, SERC and NRC must be notified immediately

  26. The National Response Center (NRC) alerts federal responders as necessary

  27. 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

  28. 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

  29. Known or anticipated health risks and necessary medical attention • Recommended actions/ precautions such as evacuation • A contact person and telephone number at the facility

  30. The initial notification will activate the local emergency responders if necessary

  31. 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

  32. The follow-up report must update the initial notification and provide additional information such as:

  33. Known or anticipated health risks, and if appropriate, advice regarding any medical care needed by exposed victims

  34. 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

  35. 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

  36. In addition, criminal penalties may be imposed on any person who knowingly and willfully fails to provide notice;

  37. Criminal violators face fines of up to $25,000 or prison sentences of up to two years.

  38. Repeat criminal offenders can be fined up to $50,000 and imprisoned up to five years

  39. HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL REPORTING (Tier II)

  40. 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

  41. The LEPC and SERC must make this information available to the public upon request

  42. Facilities must report on these substances in two ways:

  43. 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

  44. 2) Submit annual inventories of these same hazardous or extremely hazardous chemicals to the LEPC, SERC, and fire departments (Tier II’s)

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