What is a LEPC?
The Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) is a federally mandated entity composed of state and local officials, business representatives and members of the press.
The role of the LEPC is to form a partnership with local governments and industries as a resource for enhancing hazardous materials preparedness. Local governments are responsible for the integration of hazmat planning and response within their jurisdiction. This includes ensuring the local hazard analysis adequately addresses hazmat incidents; incorporating planning for hazmat incidents into the local emergency management plan and annexes; assessing capabilities and developing hazmat response capability using local resources, mutual aid and contractors; training responders; and exercising the plan.
In the wake of the Bhopal disaster in India in the 1980’s Congress passed the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), also known as Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA), in 1986. EPCRA establishes requirements for businesses and for federal, state, and local governments regarding emergency planning and community right-to-know (CRTK) reporting for hazardous chemicals. The CRTK provision in EPCRA helped increase awareness about the presence of chemicals in their communities and releases of these chemicals into the environment. Many State legislatures also enacted CRTK laws that are consistent with federal law. As a result, States and communities, working with industry, are better able to protect public health and the environment.
It’s necessary for the industry to be a part of that planning process to ensure facility plans are compatible with local emergency plans. Every regulated facility is responsible for identifying a facility emergency coordinator; reporting hazmat inventories annually to the LEPC, SERC, and local fire department; providing material safety data sheets (MSDS) or a list of hazardous chemicals; allowing local fire departments to conduct on-site inspection of hazmat facilities; and providing annual report of toxic chemicals released to EPA and the State. LEPCs are crucial to local hazardous materials planning and community right-to-know programs.
The membership comes from the local area and should be familiar with factors that affect safety, the environment, and the economy of the community. That expertise is essential as the LEPC advises the writers of the local emergency management plan, so that the plan is tailored to the needs of the planning district. In addition to its formal duties, the LEPC can serve as a focal point in the community for information and discussion about hazardous substance emergency planning, and health and environmental risks. Citizens may expect the LEPC to reply to questions about chemical hazards and risk management actions.
SARA Title III / EPCRA
Tier II Annual Report Submission Information
Mississippi requires the use of E-Plan for all Tier II related reporting, The State of Mississippi does not accept Tier II reports via email or postal mail. All Tier II related reports must be uploaded electronically to the E-Plan website at the link below: https://tier2.erplan.net
The University of Texas at Dallas, administrators of the E-Plan website, will charge a $25.00 facility filing fee that is paid directly to UT at Dallas during the upload process at the time of submission.
To File the Annual Report
Login to E-Plan, update, confirm or copy data from last year’s report, or upload data if this is a new facility report.
Once the upload is successful an e-mail confirmation will be sent and the State of Mississippi reporting requirements have been fulfilled. No copies, e-mails, notifications, or additional actions are required by the State of Mississippi.
Local LEPCs or Fire Departments may have reporting and notification requirements specific to their jurisdictions and they should be contacted individually for guidance.
https://erplan.net/news/Tier2SubmitUsersGuide/UsersGuide.html
For technical support related to software and upload issues, e-mail your questions directly to the E-Plan “Contact Us” address provided at the link below:
https://erplan.net/eplan/support/contactUs.htm