LEPC Initiative Facility Compliance
The Delaware County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) is performing an updating process to be completed by December 2011, of all Emergency Response Plans for all SARA Title III facilities in Delaware County. This action is necessary to insure compliance with SARA Title III requirements as well as Pennsylvania Act 165 and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) regulations. The LEPC will also be collecting general information relative to the transportation of extremely hazardous materials. The goal of the LEPC Initiative is to enhance emergency management response capabilities, promote strong partnerships between industry, public officials and responders, and to protect the safety of our citizens. The LEPC will work with you to provide any assistance to facilitate the fulfillment of this obligation.
It is also appropriate that we thank the already participating companies, who have attended meetings and provided timely responses for information. Their continued commitment towards these endeavors to fulfill the LEPC’s mission is a testament to the strong partnership, cooperative resolve and stewardship, in making our communities a safer place to live. Please click on the LEPC Facility Information link under the SARA Initiative Documents Section for specifics.
Overview of SARA Title
III
SARA Title III
(Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986), also know as the
Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), was passed in
response to concerns regarding the environmental and safety hazards posed by
the storage and handling of toxic chemicals. These concerns were
triggered by the disaster in Bhopal, India, in which more than
2,000 people suffered death or serious injury from the accidental release of
methyl isocyanine. To reduce the likelihood of such a disaster in the
United States, Congress imposed requirements on both states and regulated
facilities.
SARA Title III
establishes requirements for Federal, State and local governments, Indian
Tribes, and industry regarding emergency planning and "Community
Right-to-Know" reporting on hazardous and toxic chemicals. The
Community Right-to-Know provisions help increase the public’s knowledge and
access to information on chemicals at individual facilities, their uses and
releases into environment. States and communities, working with
facilities, can use the information to improve chemical safety and protect
public health and the environment.
SARA Title III
(EPCRA) has four major provisions:
Emergency Planning
Emergency release notification
Hazardous chemical storage reporting
requirements
Toxic chemical release inventory
Overview of Act 165
Act 165 encases establishing a Statewide hazardous material safety
program; creating the Hazardous Material Response Fund; providing for the
creation of Hazardous Material Emergency Response Accounts in each county;
further providing for the powers and duties of the Pennsylvania Emergency
Management Agency, of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Council and the
counties and local governments; imposing obligations on certain handlers of
hazardous materials; and imposing penalties.
Owners or operators of facilities that have hazardous chemicals on
hand in quantities equal to or greater than set threshold levels must submit
a Tier Two form. The purpose of the Tier Two form is to provide State
and local officials and the public with specific information on hazardous
chemicals present at the facility during the past year. It is the
responsibility of the facility to report to the county.
Planning facilities are facilities that have extremely hazardous
chemicals on hand that meet or exceed reporting thresholds. These
facilities are required to do an Off-site Emergency Response Plan.
Help is offered to facilities to complete this plan by the Act 165
Coordinator. The plan is then presented to the Local Emergency
Planning Committee (LEPC) by the Act 165 Coordinator for approval.
