GOHSEP Elected_Officials_Manual_2015

GOHSEP
Louisiana Elected Officials
Emergency Management Manual
Prepare + Prevent + Respond + Recover + mitigate
1.3.3 Local Emergency Planning
Committee (LEPC)
Section 301 of the Emergency Planning and
Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA),
also known as Title III of the Superfund
Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA)
requires each State to create designated
emergency planning districts within the State
and appoint members to a Local Emergency
Planning Committee (LEPC) solely to address
hazardous materials disasters. LEPCs are
frequently organized in a first responder office
or local government office of emergency
management. Louisiana has 64 LEPCs, one in
each of its 64 Parishes.
PURPOSE
The law provides a basis for a community to
develop and tailor a chemical emergency
planning and response program and provides
the public with a right-to-know attitude to
identify, quantify, locate and determine the
physical and chemical properties of hazardous
substances in the community.
While industry representatives, owners and
operators of Regulated Facilities have the
primary responsibility for preparedness
planning and emergency response to a
hazardous materials incident, LEPC and first
responder organizations are also responsible
to the public when it comes to community
hazardous materials incident preparedness.
LEPCs create public
awareness of hazardous
materials risks + improve
community preparedness.
LEPC MEMBERS
LEPC members are volunteers. By mandate
under EPCRA, LEPC members represent:
• Local and State elected officials.
• Local environmental group
members.
• Law enforcement personnel.
• Local hospital personnel.
• Broadcast and print media.
• Emergency management officials.
• Transportation officials.
• Firefighters.
• Emergency medical service
personnel.
• Community groups.
• Parish or City health department
personnel.
• Industry representatives of
Regulated Facilities.
1.3.3 LEPC Page 1 of 3