Meetings: As posted, Town Hall

Meeting Minutes

Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) evolved from federal legislation passed in 1986 known as the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA or SARA Title III). This legislation required each governor to appoint a state emergency response commission (SERC) by April of 1987; each SERC was responsible for dividing the state into planning districts for appointing local emergency planning committees (LEPCs).

In accordance with the new legislation, the Massachusetts State Emergency Response Commission designated each MEMA sub-area as planning districts and appointed a Local Emergency Planning Committee for each city and town within them. The legislation required that the committees have representation from a specified number of interest groups:

• elected and local officials
• law enforcement
• civil defense
• firefighting
• first aid
• health
• local environmental and transportation agencies
• hospitals
• broadcast and print media
• community groups
• representatives of facilities subject to the emergency planning and community right-to-know requirment

The mission of LEPC is to:

• Develop a written emergency plan, which must be reviewed annually, to prepare for and respond to hazardous material incidents with the jurisdiction(s).
• Train emergency responders (police, fire, emergency medical services, public works, etc.) to levels indicated in the plan. At a minimum, first responders must be trained to the awareness level.
• Exercise the emergency response plan at least once a year.
• Create a system to collect, store, and respond to public requests.  

The LEPC also serves as the focal point in the community for information about hazardous substances, emergency planning, and health and environmental risks.

Useful Links:

• Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency
• Federal Emergency Management Agency
• Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
• Medical Management Guidelines for Acute Chemical Exposures
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Volunteers in Technical Assistance (VITA)
• Internet Disaster Information Center
• Chemical Safety and Hazardous Investigation Board
• Environmental Protection Agency Chemical Substance Factsheets
• Agriculture Information Network Center (AgNIC)
• Code of Federal Regulations for EPA