Greater Houston Local Emergency Planning Committee GHLEPC

1
Greater Houston Local Emergency Planning
Committee (GHLEPC)

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• LEPC Profile
• Governing Mandate
• Purpose
• Functions
• Goals
• Partner Agencies

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Governing Mandate

• Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know
  Act (EPCRA)of 1986
• Also known as the Superfund Amendments and
  Reauthorization Act (SARA Title III).
• Applicable to Federal, State, and Local
  governments and Industry
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a
  ruling in July 1990 applying to Indian
  territories.

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Purposes of EPCRA (SARA Title III)

• Primary focus is to protect/safeguard public
  health and the environment.
• Help increase publics knowledge and access to
  information on hazardous and toxic chemicals.
• Encourage applicable entities to develop working
  relationships to improve emergency response to
  chemical incidents.

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EPCRA (SARA Title III) Functions

• Four main provisions
• Emergency Planning (Sections 301 - 303)
• Emergency Release Notification (Section 304)
• Hazardous Chemical Reporting (Sections 311 312)
• Toxic Release Reporting (Section 313)

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Tier II Reporting

• Governed by SARA Title III, Section 312
• Submitted annually by applicable facilities on or
  before March 1st
• Submitted to the LEPC, local fire department,
  and State Emergency Response Commission (SERC)
• Applicable to fixed facilities only (No
  transportation).
• Purpose is to provide agencies and the public
  with toxic and hazardous chemical information
  stored at facilities in their neighborhood during
  the past year.
• General public may submit a written request for
  Tier II information

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LEPC Functions

• Increase awareness in the community about the
  presence of hazardous chemicals and releases in
  the environment.
• Provide the vital link between citizens,
  government, and industry.
• Assist communities with the development of
  emergency action plans.
• Maintain/Administer Tier II information.
• Participate in public/private entity drills and
  exercises.

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LEPC Goals

• Effectively administer the core requirements of
  EPCRA.
• Increase the publics chemical safety and general
  hazardous materials awareness and knowledge.
• Be a source of accurate and timely information
  for local hazardous materials/chemical incidents.
• Develop and maintain key partnerships with
  federal, state, and local public and private
  entities.

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Partner Agencies

• Federal and state emergency management offices.
• Petrochemical facilities/industries
• Education facilities
• Churches
• Local fire departments
• Military
• Other federal, state, and local governmental
  agencies
• Hospitals
• Community Advisory Panels (CAPS) and other civic
  agencies

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Harris County LEPCs(Including the GHLEPC)
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Greater Houston Local Emergency Planning
Committee (GHLEPC)

• GHLEPC Contact Information
• Nick J. Guillen GHLEPC Administrator
• Office Phone [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• Email nicholas.guillen_at_cityofhouston.net
• GHLEPC Website http//www.houstontx.gov/fire/div
  isions/lepc.html 
• Mailing Address P. O. Box 10817
• Houston, TX 77206