Local Emergency Planning Committee
Background/History
The original Superfund act - CERCLA, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act - was enacted by Congress in 1980 to clean up the nation's hazardous waste sites. In response to continuing community concern regarding hazardous materials and chemical release tragedies such as the incident in Bohpal, India, a reauthorization and expansion of Superfund was signed into law on October17, 1986. It is known as the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA). Title III of SARA created a new, nationwide program known as Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act (EPCRA). The law was designed to improve local hazardous materials emrgency response capabilities and provide the public with information concerning hazardous and toxic chemicals in their community.
SARA TITLE III FACT SHEET
Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know
The Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act of 1986 establishes requirements for Federal State and local governments and industry regarding emergency planning and "community right-to-know" reporting on hazardous and toxic chemicals.
To learn more about these 2 sections, go to the DEQ website: http://www.michigan.gov/deq
To obtain SARA Title III reports and information, visit the Michigan SARA Title III Webpage:http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3307_29815_4137---,00.html
What Are SERCs and LEPCs?
The Govenor of each state designated a State Emergency Response Commission (SERC). The SERCs, in turn, designated about 3,500 local emergency planning districts nationwide and appointed Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) for each district. The SERC supervises and coordinates the activities of the LEPC, establishes procedures for receiving and processing public requests for information collected under EPCRA (The Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act of 1986), and reviews local emergency response plans. In Michigan, the LEPC's are designated by county.
The LEPC membership must include, at a minimum, local officials including police, fire, emergency management, public health, transportation, and environmental professionals, as well as representatives of facilities subject to the emergency planning requirements, community groups, and the media. The LEPCs must develop an emergency response plan, review it at least annually, and provide information about chemicals in the community to citizens.
The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) annually provides each LEPC (Local Emergency Planning Committee) with a current list of 302 facilities (facilities that use, store, or produce extremely hazardous substances) (EHS) in their counties.