WHAT IS AN LEPC?
The Hamilton County Local Emergency Planning Committee, or LEPC, was created following
several disastrous chemical release accidents. The worst was Union Carbide's chemical
accident in 1984 in Bhopal, India, which killed more than 3,000 people and injured
thousands more. In an effort to avoid a similar tragedy in this country, Congress
enacted the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA).
Section 301 of SARA requires the governor of each state to appoint a State Emergency
Response Commission, which in turn appoints LEPCs for each emergency planning district. |
WHO BELONGS TO THE LEPC?
In Tennessee, LEPCs were set up in all 95 counties. SARA stipulates that
the LEPCs include representatives from the following groups or organizations:
Elected state and local officials Health, law enforcement, civil defense, firefighting,
first aid, local environmental, hospital, and transportation personnel, community
groups, and owners and operators of facilities subject to the requirements of SARA
Title III.
Title III of SARA, also known as the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know
Act, was created to ensure that citizens are made aware of the chemicals being utilized
by industries in their community. In Chattanooga and Hamilton County, there are
more than 60 companies that use chemicals on the EPA's list of Extremely Hazardous
Substances.
Those companies covered under Title III are required to report any chemical releases
that may occur, and provide detailed information periodically on the type and quantity
of chemicals used on their premises. Files on all of the plants are maintained by
Hamilton County Emergency Services, which works closely with the LEPC. Those files
are open to the public and an access fee of $10.00 is applied, since this legislation
had no funding associated with it.
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EMERGENCY RESPONSE
In addition to educating the public on the chemical hazards that exist in the community,
the LEPC is charged with developing and maintaining an emergency response plan.
This plan would be utilized in the event of a chemical emergency at one of our local
companies.
The Hamilton County LEPC is not a well-publicized organization. Presently, the LEPC
relies on private donations, however other options are being investigated. This
volunteer organization receives no regular funding from local, state or federal
governments. For more information, call Hamilton County Emergency Services at 423/209-6900 |
Wayne Stuntz, Title III Coordinator
Fixed Nuclear Facility Planner
Hamilton County Emergency Services
Phone: 423-495-1743
(Tier II submittals)
E-mail: wstuntz@hamiltonTN.gov |
Bruce Garner, Chairperson
Hamilton County LEPC
Email: Garner_b@mail.chattanooga.gov |
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