LEPC (Local Emergency Planning Committee) is a gathering of representatives in your community that have an interest in disaster preparedness and community resilience BEFORE a disaster affects the area. As a group you are tasked with identifying potential risks that our community faces, from natural and man-made disaster scenarios such as chemicals stored in and/or transported throughout your community. The LEPC seeks ways to help minimize the risk, prevent accidents and assist in the development of plans to deal with all hazards. Education and community outreach is another core component of an LEPC. Through the LEPC, the public is able to seek out information about preparedness in their communities and learn how to live and work safely.
History
The Brazos County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), incorporated in 2002, is a combined effort between local industry and emergency responders as part of the Community Right to Know Act of 1986. This group supports emergency planning for all hazards and provides local government and the public with information about possible hazards and proper emergency response.
In October of 1986, Congress passed Public Law 99-499, the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) Title III, also known as the “Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-know Act” (EPCRA). This federal law required the Governor of a state to appoint a State Emergency Response Commission (SERC), which divided each state into Local Emergency Planning Districts, each governed by a Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) and determined by city or county boundaries. Our local LEPC was determined by a county boundary.
Although early activities of LEPC were focused on chemical emergencies, subsequent emergencies across a variety of scenarios the past few years have caused LEPC to focus on all hazards, both physical and man-made, to make our community more resilient in any scenario.
Purpose
- Provide an opportunity for local businesses and first responders to interact BEFORE an emergency occurs to increase awareness and save lives in the case of an actual emergency.
- Develop, train, and test a hazardous substances emergency response plan for Brazos County.
- Develop procedures for regulated facilities to provide notification of a hazardous release to the LEPC.
- Develop procedures for receiving and processing community right-to-know requests from the public.
- Provide for public notification or committee activities.
Members
The LEPC is composed of members which represent a cross-section of the community, including local elected officials, law enforcement, emergency management, firefighting, first aid, health care, hospitals, university officials, broadcast and print media, as well as representatives from facilities and transportation sources, subject to EPCRA requirements. Members are residents of or conduct business in Brazos County. Anyone wanting to assist in making our community more resilient to an emergency are welcome to attend.
Meetings
Meetings are held at lunch on the first Wednesday of odd-numbered months at Rudy’s BBQ in College Station, TX.