Local Emergency Planning Committee

Under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) must develop an emergency response plan, review the plan at least annually, and provide information about chemicals in the community to citizens. Plans are developed by LEPCs with stakeholder participation. There is one LEPC for each of the more than 3,000 designated local emergency planning districts. The LEPC membership must include (at a minimum):

  • Elected state and local officials
  • Police, fire, civil defense, and public health professionals
  • Environment, transportation, and hospital officials
  • Facility representatives
  • Representatives from community groups and the media

The Vermilion County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) is a community-based organization that assists in preparing for emergencies, particularly those concerning hazardous materials. Under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), the Local Emergency Planning Committee must develop an emergency response plan, review the plan at least annually, and provide information about hazardous materials in the community to citizens. The LEPC membership must include (at a minimum):

  • Elected state and local officials
  • Police, fire, civil defense, and public health professionals
  • Environment, transportation, and hospital officials
  • Facility representatives
  • Representatives from community groups and the media

Some required elements of the community emergency response plan, developed by the LEPC, include:

  • Identification of facilities and transportation routes of extremely hazardous substances
  • Description of emergency response procedures in the event of an incident
  • Designation of a community coordinator and facility emergency coordinator to implement the plan
  • Outline of emergency notification procedures
  • Description of how to determine the probable affected area and population by releases
  • Description of local emergency equipment and facilities and the persons responsible for them
  • Outline of evacuation and shelter-in-place plans