LOCAL EMERGENCY PLANNING COMMITTEES
LEPC and EPCRA
A Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) is a public safety planning committee, tasked with overseeing hazardous materials safety. Committees are tasked with identifying potential risks within the communities, such as chemicals stored in and/or transported throughout your community. The LEPC should seek ways to help minimize the risk, prevent accidents and assist in the development of plans to address a chemical emergency. Education and community outreach is a core component of an LEPC. Through the LEPC, the public will be able to seek out information about chemicals in their communities and learn how to safely shelter in place.
The citizens of your community need to know they are safe and that there are plans in place to assist with a chemical release. Under the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA) it was mandated that LEPCs form as a means of allowing communities to assess their risks from hazardous chemicals and a way to exercise its right-to-know. Nebraska adopted EPCRA under the Nebraska Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (NEPCRA). The NEPCRA law, administered by the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE), is supervised by the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC).
LEPC Representation
Each LEPC shall include, at a minimum, representation from each of the following groups or organizations:
- State and local officials
- Local elected officials
- Law enforcement
- Emergency management
- Fire fighting
- First aid
- Health professionals
- Local environmental agencies
- Hospitals
- Transportation personnel
- Broadcast and print media
- Community groups
- Owners and operators of facilities subject to the requirements of EPCRA
If you need assistance in developing your LEPC or need ideas for your LEPC, begin by contacting the SERC at SERC@nebraska.gov. Members of the SERC will also be happy to meet with you and attend your meetings.
LEPC RESOURCES
LEPC FAQs (Find out how LEPC fits into SERC)
Tier II Data Retrieval
LEPC Documents
LEPC Requirements
Membership Form
Bylaws Template
Annual Report Template
Meeting Agenda Template