Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPC's) were established by the Federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act, as Title III of the Superfund Amendments & Reauthorization Act of 1986.
Originally, the LEPC was designed to provide a forum for emergency management agencies, responders, industry and the public to work together to evaluate, understand and communicate chemical hazards in the community and develop appropriate emergency plans in case of accidental release of these chemicals.
Local industries must provide information to the local EMA, State EMA and LEPC's about chemical hazards. LEPC's are required by law to make this information available to any citizen who requests it.
In recent years, the LEPC's planning efforts have been refocused to include planning for a variety of disasters that may affect the community. Floods, hazardous material spills, wildfires, natural disasters, and even terrorism all constitute real challenges facing community leaders today. Federal and State planners have advocated for development of "All-Hazards" planning, which prepare towns for any disaster; not just those from chemical releases.
You can make a difference by attending an LEPC meeting or by joining your LEPC. For more information, call the Talladega EMA at 256-761-2125.
