Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC)
The Northeast Florida Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) is one of ten in the state. The Northeast Florida region includes Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, Putnam, and St. Johns counties. The LEPC is a voting body consisting of hazmat professionals and interested citizens appointed by the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC).
The LEPC has the responsibility to increase chemical safety in our communities. This is accomplished through increasing response capability and accident prevention. Our tools include planning, training, reviewing, exercising, offering How-to-Comply assistance, and educating the public.
The LEPC is charged with facilitating regional hazardous materials emergency response and compliance with hazardous materials reporting laws. Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA), also known as the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 (EPCRA), requires public and private facilities that use, produce or store extremely hazardous substances or hazardous chemicals, to report their inventories on an annual basis.
The intent of the legislation is:
To develop plans to respond quickly in the event of an accident, spill or release of chemicals or hazardous materials.
To increase the public’s knowledge and access to information regarding the presence of hazardous chemicals in the community and releases of the chemicals into the environment.