• The collaboration among local agencies, states, tribes, and industry is essential to develop a local response plan and inform the community of chemical risks.
• SERCs and TERCs oversee LEPCs and TEPCs and provide leadership, resources, and expertise to local planners and responders.
• Community members can volunteer to serve as a citizen representative on their LEPC and TEPC and be informed of potential chemical hazards in their community.

Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) creates the opportunity for collaboration among a diverse group of participants who broadly represent their communities by serving on their Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) and Tribal Emergency Planning Committee (TEPC) organizations. Each participant brings expertise that is essential to the development of a comprehensive emergency response plan for chemical accidents. The law expressly states LEPC and TEPC organizations shall include representatives from the following groups:

• Elected state and local officials,
• Law enforcement officials,
• Civil defense workers,
• Fire fighters,
• First aid workers
• Health and hospital workers,
• Local environmental and transportation workers,
• Community groups,
• The news media, and
• Owners and operators of facilities handling hazardous chemicals.

While participants bring their expertise to the LEPC and TEPC, political officials are responsible for demonstrating the importance and supporting LEPCs and TEPCs. They should demonstrate through leadership that they value community participation and stakeholder coordination to prepare for and prevent chemical incidents.

The collaboration among local agencies, states, tribes, and industry is essential to develop a local response plan and inform the community of chemical risks. But leadership is key.

Governor

EPCRA requires the governor of each state to appoint a State Emergency Response Commission (or SERC), whose member organizations are responsible for implementing the statute. Similarly, the chief executive (often a president or chairperson) of a tribe is responsible for appointing an emergency response commission (or Tribal Emergency Response Commission (TERC)).

SERCs and TERCs

SERCs and TERCs are responsible for establishing local emergency planning districts and an LEPC or TEPC for each district. These local planning districts are often organized around counties, parishes, municipalities, or hazardous materials (HAZMAT) response regions.

SERCs and TERCs oversee LEPCs and TEPCs. They provide leadership, resources, and expertise to local planners and responders.

LEPCs, TEPCs, and local emergency responders

Local planners and responders who are part of the LEPC and TEPC organizations receive information on the presence of hazardous chemicals in their community to prepare for and respond to chemical releases.

LEPCs and TEPCs develop and implement the emergency response plans for their communities. They are comprised of key local organizations and industry, making them full partners in identifying chemical risks in the community and preparing for chemical emergencies. Tribal and local elected officials are the shepherds of the planning process and should emphasize the importance of preparedness in support of their LEPC and TEPC.

Industry

Facility owners and operators also play a key role in implementing EPCRA. The law requires industry to report on the presence and accidental releases of hazardous chemicals, to the organizations created under EPCRA. As members of the LEPC and TEPC, industry leaders can assist these entities in identifying potential chemical risks and developing a plan to respond to those risks.

Community

Community members can volunteer to serve as a citizen representative on their LEPC and TEPC and be informed of potential chemical hazards in their community. They can also learn what to do should a chemical accident occur in order to protect their family and place of business.

Federal EPA

The federal government (namely Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)) provides national leadership and technical assistance to states, tribes, and local agencies to implement EPCRA.