A Local Emergency Planning Committee or LEPC is a voluntary organization established to meet the requirements of the federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), also known as the Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act (SARA Title III), for emergency response planning. EPCRA contains four major provisions:

• Planning for chemical emergency
• Emergency notification of chemical accidents and releases
• Reporting of hazardous chemical inventories (Tier Two Reports)
• Toxic chemical release reporting
• Although these are the minimum requirements, the DAC LEPC has chosen to take a multi-objective planning approach.

WHAT DOES LEPC DO?

Under EPCRA, an LEPC is the focal point for chemical emergency response planning and implementation in a community. The LEPC’s key responsibilities are 

• Assisting local governments in developing hazardous materials emergency response plans
• Evaluating the community’s need for resources to respond to hazardous materials emergencies
• Processing requests from the public for information on hazardous chemicals in the community hazard assessment and vulnerability studies as well as exercising

WHAT ARE THE ACTIVITIES OF THE GRANT COUNTY LEPC?

• The LEPC assists with the preparation and implementation of the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP)
• The LEPC receives the annual Tier Two Reports (chemical inventory). The information is used to perform hazard assessments for the community. LEPC must make information from these reports available, to the public, upon request. The LEPC may also request additional hazardous chemical information from facilities for emergency planning purposes.
• The LEPC participates in hazardous material exercises and drills to improve the response community’s preparedness. In May 1999, a CHER-CAP (Chemical Hazardous Materials Emergency response-Capability Assessment Program) exercise was conducted to exercise the, EOP and to identify the community’s resource capabilities.

The LEPC serves as the link between citizens, industry, and government in emergency planning and preparedness for the community. Members participate in exercises, training, seminars and other special projects with other in the community to build team efforts.

WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN THE LEPC?

The Grant County LEPC is comprised of dedicated volunteers, from city, county, state government representatives, local industry and organizations, medical, school districts, university, emergency response personnel and concerned citizens.

WHAT DOES THE LEPC PROMOTE?

The Grant County LEPC promotes, emergency planning, preparedness, and public. awareness, to protect the community from the potential impact of natural or technological hazards of hazardous chemical and substances, and related disasters.

HOW CAN I HELP THE LEPC?

• Participate as an active member by attending the monthly meetings.
• Provide your expertise or resources to the membership.
• Participate on LEPC subcommittees.
• Donate staff time to perform special projects, assist in planning exercises, perform data entry, etc.
• If you choose to support your LEPC you will be doing your part to contribute to the health and safety of your community.

WHEN DOES THE LEPC MEET?

The Grant County LEPC meets the first Wednesday of each month at 3:30 pm at the Grant County Business and Conference Center.

Local Emergency Plans

GRANT COUNTY – ALL-HAZARD EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN

Grant County has numerous planning documents that are intended to assist in the preparation for and planning of natural and manmade disasters that are prevalent in Grant County. Those plans include:

• All Hazards Emergency Operations Plan (AHEOP)
• Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP)

Training

Numerous training course are provided annually by the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, FEMA-EMI, Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), and Louisiana State University (LSU) for individuals wishing to enhance their knowledge skills and abilities of emergency management.

Individuals wishing to sign up for training are encouraged to set up an account and register for courses at the following website. To Sign up Click Here