Local Emergency Planning Committee

The legislative requirement of the Committee is to implement SARA Title III in Indiana, but the broader and more comprehensive purpose is to enhance public health, safety, and environmental protection in Floyd County.

Mission - The mission of the Local Emergency Planning Committee is to:

Develop a comprehensive hazardous materials emergency response plan for our community. To be effective, planning must be an ongoing activity. Receive and record information about chemical releases, Collect, manage and provide public access to information on hazardous chemicals in our area. Educate the public about the risks from accidental and routine releases of chemicals and work with facilities to minimize risks.

Community Role

Title III introduced a new relationship among governments at all levels, the private sector, public organizations and the general public. Each group has a different, but equally important role in making emergency planning and community Right-To-Know provisions of the law which will be of unlimited value to the community. At the very heart of this effort to ensure public safety lies a responsibility which everyone shares...establishing and maintaining two-way communication. In other words, our state and its counties need support to implement the law; industry needs to understand how and when to comply; the public needs to be aware of this kinds of information available and what it might mean to them. Within each area is a role to be played. The federal role is to provide national leadership, guidance, technical assistance, access to date about chemical releases and training through the states. Indiana, through the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC), provides leadership to ensure that an emergency planning and implementation structure is developed to provide training and technical assistance to its communities. The local role is the work our LEPC does in actually carrying out emergency planning, Community Right-To-Know, and response function. Industry complies with Title III reporting requirements and can get involved by increasing their awareness and understanding of chemical risks and supporting actions to increase public safety and protection of chemical risks and protection of the environment. The integration of these roles is tested during hazardous materials emergency response training exercises. Safety and efficiency is the desired process and improved communication and coordination will be the desired outcome. The desired overall result will be improved preparedness and a potentially safer community. All LEPC Data is kept on file at the Floyd County Emergency Management Agency is available during business hours 8-4 Monday thru Friday upon request.

Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPC) are 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

Emergency Management

Firefighting

Emergency Medical Services

Health

Local Environmental and Transportation agencies

Hospitals

Broadcast and print media

Community Groups

Owners or Operators of Facilities storing and using Sara Title III Chemicals

Emergency Plan

The LEPCs 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. When the plan is completed, it must be reviewed annually, tested and updated. The LEPC's members represent the community and they should be familiar with factors that affect public safety, the environment and the economy of the community. An Emergency Plan must include the identity and location of hazardous materials, procedures for immediate response to a chemical accident; ways to notify the public about actions they must take; names of coordinators at plants; schedules and plans to be tested.

The LEPC also receives emergency releases and hazardous chemical inventory submitted by local facilities in Floyd County, and must make this information available to the public upon request. An LEPC can most effectively carry out its responsibilities as a community forum by taking steps to educate the public about chemical risks, and working with facilities to minimize those risks. The value of the information provided by the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act will be limited unless citizens are given the means to understand the information and it implications. The LEPC's ability to improve the safety and health of its community will be greatly enhanced by the support of an informed and active citizenry.

General Information:

The Local Emergency Planning Committee meets once every quarter at 6:00 at the Pine View Government Center, 2524 Corydon Pike, Suite 101, New Albany, Indiana 47150.