Emergency Planning

The Problem:

Potential releases of hazardous and/or toxic materials from:

Tanker trucks
Railroad tank cars
Pipelines
On-site storage facilities
Oil/gas production

The Solution:

Effective planning and teamwork among critical groups, including:

Informed citizens
Emergency responders
Governmental agencies
Business/Industry
The LEPC

An emergency plan must include the identity and location of hazardous materials, procedures for immediate response to chemical accidents, ways to notify the public about actions they must take, names of coordinators at plants, and schedules and plans for testing the plan. The SERC reviews the plan. The LEPC must test the plan through emergency exercises and update it at least annually.

LEPC's have the authority to request additional information from facilities for their own planning purposes or on behalf of others. LEPC's can visit facilities in the community to find out what they are doing to reduce hazards, prepare for accidents, and reduce hazardous inventories and releases. LEPC's can take civil actions against facilities if they fail to provide the information required under the act.

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Community Awareness & Emergency Response - program developed by the Chemical Manufacturers Association. Guidance for chemical plant managers to assist in taking the initiative in cooperating with local communities to develop integrated hazardous materials response plans.

Emergency Planning for Chemical Spills - Great resource with right-to-know links!

LEPC/SERC Net - This site was developed to help emergency planners and the public implement the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA). It showcases LEPC/SERC homepages, provides access to EPA information, and provides a discussion forum (conference) for users to address current issues related to emergency planning and community right-to-know at the local level.

This page last updated on Wednesday, October 12, 2005 09:01:49