lepc


	PIKE COUNTY LEPC YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW Larry D. Travis, Chairman Donald E. Simonton, Vice-Chairman EMERGENCY PLANNING Title III established Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPC's) responsible for responding to chemical emergencies. Your local LEPC, The Pike County Local Emergency Planning Committee, consisting of representatives of business, industry, government, community groups, and emergency response agencies (police, fire, EMS, Red Cross) completed a response plan which was submitted to the State Emergency Response Committee (SERC). WHAT IS TITLE III? In response to an ever-Increasing number of hazardous material incidents, Title III, the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, was passed by Congress in 1986 as part of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act. (SARA). Several Title III requirements became effective in 1988 with continuing future obligations. Title III is intended to ensure that every community has the best possible emergency plan to use in the event of a chemical accident. It is also intended to increase the public's knowledge of the hazardous chemical that are made, used or stored in the community, and measures citizens can take to protect themselves in the event of an emergency. The law is divided into four major parts: EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION The Act requires companies to immediately notify local and state officials of spills into the environment, including a potential health and safety hazard associated with the spilled material. The LEPC has developed a notification procedure that outlines which response agencies should be notified of any accidental spill and also the specific order of notifying these agencies. WHO HAS TO COMPLY? Most companies using or storing specified amounts of chemicals that Title III classifies as hazardous or toxic must comply with some parts of the new law. The EPA estimates that more than one million businesses throughout the U.S. are required to comply with at least some provisions of the law. EMISSIONS REPORTING The Act requires reporting of routine and accidental releases of many chemicals. Information concerning the medium (air, soil, water) in which the release occurred must be included in the report. This information is submitted annually to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the state government. Based on the information submitted, the EPA will establish a national toxic chemical inventory that will be available to everyone through the EPA maintained database. The LEPC reviews this data as it pertains to Pike County COMMUNITY RIGHT-TO-KNOW Title III is helping people become informed by giving them access to data about the hazardous chemicals in their communities. For example, businesses are required to prepare annual reports for chemicals they manufacture, use, and store. These forms must be filed with the LEPC, the SERC, and the fire department responsible for the community in which the company does business. The reports show amounts and locations of hazardous material kept on-site. This information is available to the public through the LEPC.


	2006 Pike County LEPC Training Exercise