Preamble

On October 17, 1986, The Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, also known as SARA, was signed into law. The third part of SARA is Title III: The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act. This law provided citizens the ability to obtain information about hazardous materials and releases from facilities in their communities.

Title III was designed to help reduce the likelihood that a Bhopal, India type incident could occur in the United States, and simultaneously increase a local government’s ability to anticipate and plan for such a major emergency if one were to occur. Title III also seeks to provide reliable information to those who would be affected by an accidental release of this kind; the communities located in the immediate area of industrial plants.

As used in SARA, the term “hazardous materials” refers to substances transported, used, and stored at industrial sites. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maintains an updated list that includes over 300 extremely hazardous substances (EHS), selected on the basis of their ability to pose an immediate threat to life and health. Title III establishes requirements for Federal, State, and local governments and industry regarding local emergency planning and reporting on hazardous materials. It also provides a comprehensive framework within which Federal, State and local governments can work together with industry to reduce risks.

Title III has four major sections:

1. Emergency planning
2. Emergency notification
3. Community right-to-know reporting requirements
4. Toxic chemical release and emissions reporting

The Emergency Planning section requires that the governor of each state designate a State Emergency Response Commission (SERC). This commission designates local emergency planning districts and appoints LOCAL EMERGENCY PLANNING COMMITTEES (LEPC’s) within each of these districts.

Each LEPC is expected to include elected State and local officials; police, fire, civil defense, public health, environmental, hospital, and transportation officials; representatives of facilities subject to the emergency planning requirements; community groups; and media.

The LEPC’s primary responsibility is to develop a local emergency response plan. In developing their plans, local communities analyze local risks and evaluate resources available to their area that could help them prepare for and respond to a hazardous materials incident.

The Delaware County Local Emergency Planning Committee was originally formed as the Delaware County Hazardous Materials Advisory Council and has been operational since 1984. It’s membership, working with local and county officials, the emergency response community, and industry, strive to provide for the well being of the community in the event of a hazardous material emergency. Through the efforts of local community officials, industry representatives and Delaware County Emergency Services, a comprehensive and cohesive emergency plan is in place to help ensure the safety of the community.

This effort could not have been accomplished without the assistance of some key participants. Congressman Curt Weldon provided the leadership and focus for the organization of the process. The Delaware County Council was most supportive and allocated the appropriate resources to allow the process to function.

Over 100 people participated in generating the mission and establishing the goals of the LEPC. Four committees: Planning, Operations, Systems, and Education worked tirelessly to decide the proper strategies and to determine the correct areas of concentration to make the LEPC effective.

We in Delaware County are grateful to all those that participated in the LEPC start-up process and are proud of the efforts of the LEPC and the safety and protection that it provides to our community.

November 1997