LEPC

What is LEPC?

The Shelby County LEPC or Local Emergency Planning Committee is a group of professional and interested parties from throughout Shelby County representing many organizations. The Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) is a product of federal legislation passed in the wake of the Bhopal disaster in India, where thousands of people died because of an accident involving hazardous chemicals. To prevent similar occurrences in our communities, Congress passed the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), also known as Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA), in 1986. EPCRA establishes requirements for businesses and for federal, state, and local governments regarding emergency planning and community right-to-know (CRTK) reporting for hazardous chemicals. The CRTK provision in EPCRA helped increase awareness about the presence of chemicals in their communities and releases of these chemicals into the environment. Many State legislatures also enacted CRTK laws that are consistent with federal law. As a result, States and communities, working with industry, are better able to protect public health and the environment.

The role of the LEPC is to form a partnership with local governments and industries as a resource for enhancing hazardous materials preparedness. Local governments are responsible for the integration of hazmat planning and response within their jurisdiction. This includes ensuring the local hazard analysis adequately addresses hazmat incidents; incorporating planning for hazmat incidents into the local emergency management plan and annexes; assessing capabilities and developing hazmat response capability using local resources, mutual aid and contractors; training responders; and exercising the plan.

It’s necessary for industry to be a part of that planning process to ensure facility plans are compatible with local emergency plans. Every regulated facility is responsible for identifying a facility emergency coordinator; reporting hazmat inventories annually to the LEPC, SERC, and local fire departments; providing material safety data sheets (MSDS); allowing local fire departments to conduct on-site inspection of hazmat facilities; and providing annual report of toxic chemicals released to EPA and the State. LEPCs are crucial to local hazardous materials planning and community right-to-know programs. The membership comes from the local area and should be familiar with factors that affect safety, the environment, and the economy of the community. That expertise is essential as the LEPC advises the writers of the local emergency management plan, so that the plan is tailored to the needs of the planning district.

LEPC Members

The Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) of Shelby County is composed of the following:

• Elected State and Local Officials
• Broadcast and print media
• Community groups
• Emergency management
• Emergency medical services
• Firefighting
• Health department
• Hospital management
• Law enforcement
• Local environmental management
• Owners and operators of facilities storing and using Title III chemicals
• Transportation

SARA TITLE III SUBMISSIONS

Shelby County, only accepts submissions through the Indiana Department of Homeland Security Hazconnect (Tier II Manager) Information and no follow up copies are needed. Fire Departments in Shelby County also accept this submission, we encourage you to build a relationship with your local Fire Department before an emergency occurs. Please add site maps showing where the chemicals are located, emergency response plans and Safety Data Sheets to your submission.

LEPC