LEPC and EPCRA

WHAT IS THE LOCAL EMERGENCY PLANNING COMMITTEE?

As a result of a chemical accident in India in the 1980s, the Superfund Amendment Reauthorization Act (SARA) or, Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA), was passed establishing Local Emergency Planning Committees. The Sauk County LEPC is made up of representatives from: state and local elected officials, emergency management, law enforcement, fire fighting, first aid/EMS, health/hospital, transportation, environment, media, community groups and owners/operators subject to requirements of EPCRA.

Emergency Planning and Community Right To Know Act (EPCRA)

The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) is Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA) and is often referred to as SARA Title III. EPCRA was the United States congressional response to serious chemical incidents that occurred in Bhopal, India and Institute, West Virginia in the two years prior to its enactment. The incident in Bhopal resulted in 2,000 immediate fatalities. While the accident in West Virginia caused no fatalities, the circumstances were similar and aroused concern. 

EPCRA was designed to provide all levels of government and the public with information required to plan for a chemical incident. The law was meant as a starting point for an on going dialogue between community representatives, emergency response personnel, and industry. EPCRA requires each state to establish a state emergency response commission (SERC), to designate local emergency planning districts, and to appoint a local emergency planning committee (LEPC) for each district. Industries are required to provide the government with information about their activities with hazardous and toxic chemicals. The SERC and the LEPCs use the information in their emergency planning activities and make it available to the public.

Chemicals are part of our lives, necessary to manufacture the things that we enjoy. However, they can also be dangerous and life threatening if they are not used properly. Your Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), operated through the County Emergency Management Office, is charged with the task of maintaining files on any industry who has certain identified chemicals on hand in reportable amounts and developing off-site facility plans to assist local responders (fire, law enforcement, Emergency Medical Services) in answering calls to these facilities, as well as transportation events. Another task of the LEPC is community awareness.

The Sauk County LEPC meets twice a year. Meetings are held in the EMBS meeting room, first floor Courthouse Annex, Room 128, 510 Broadway, Baraboo. These are open to the public. We welcome your questions.