LEPC

Local Emergency Planning Committee

The Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act was passed as Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA) on October 17, 1986. This was almost two years after a chemical accident in Bhopal, India killed thousands, injured thousands more and received world-wide attention. Less catastrophic incidents in Institute, West Virginia and elsewhere reinforced that chemical disasters could happen in the United States.

Ohio Revised Code (section 3750.03) provides that the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) is the local planning body of an emergency planning district as established by the Sate Emergency Response Commission.

Members of the LEPC represent the various organization, agencies, departments, facilities and/or other groups within the district.

LEPC Responsibilities and Function:
The LEPC will establish and carry out a program to monitor regulated facilities within the district, and to conduct compliance and enforcement activities to insure that the facilities have submitted the information required by the Ohio Revised Code. Not later than the first day of October of each year, the LEPC shall submit a summary report of the compliance and enforcement activities of the LEPC during the previous year.
Under provisions of the Ohio Revised Code, the LEPC shall prepare and submit to the State Emergency Response Commission a chemical Emergency Response and Preparedness Plan and annually shall submit the plan, or plan updates, for review and concurrence.

Under provisions of the Ohio Revised Code each Local Emergency Planning Committee shall conduct an exercise of its plan at least annually.