Content requirements for the comprehensive emergency response plan developed by each Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) are specified in Section 303 of the federal law, "Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986" (SARA), Title III. The plan developed by the LEPC must address (but is not limited to) responsibility for and coordination of action by each of four key components of an effective response to accidental release of a hazardous substance. The four key components are: (1) Community emergency response organizations (fire fighting, law enforcement, EMS, etc.); (2) Facilities subject to requirements of the federal law; (3) Sites (additional facilities such as shipping terminals, rail switch yards, etc.) which contribute additional risk to the community due to their proximity to facilities subject to the federal law; and (4) Vulnerable populations (such as hospitals with patients, nursing homes with residents, schools with students, etc.) which face additional risk due to their proximity to facilities subject to the federal law.
Information regarding the first emergency response component, community emergency response organizations, must include (but is not limited to):
- methods for determining the occurrence of an accidental release; § community procedures for reliable, effective and timely emergency notification of an accidental release;
- methods for determining the area or population to be affected by a release;
- a description of emergency equipment and services within the community;
- methods and procedures local emergency response organizations will employ to respond to an accidental release;
- identification of routes (i.e., rail, highway, pipeline, etc.) likely to be used to transport hazardous substances;
- evacuation plans and routes;
- designation of the community emergency coordinator;
- training programs and schedules for local emergency response personnel; and
- methods and schedules for exercising the emergency response plan.
Information regarding the second component, facilities subject to requirements of the federal law , must include (but is not limited to): (1) identification (name and location) and description of each facility; (2) designation of the emergency coordinator for each facility; (3) procedures established by each facility to effect reliable, effective and timely emergency notification; (4) methods and procedures each facility owner and operator will employ to respond to an accidental release in the facility; and (5) description of emergency equipment and services within each facility.
Information regarding the third and fourth components, sites contributing additional risk to a community and populations or groups of vulnerable people which are subject to additional risk, respectively, must include (but is not limited to): (1) identification of each site; (2) designation of the emergency coordinator for each site; (3) procedures each site will employ for reliable, effective and timely emergency notification; (4) methods and procedures the owner and operator of each site will employ to respond to an accidental release, and; (5) description of emergency equipment and services within each site.
The federal law is designed to foster community commitment for fulfillment of statutory planning requirements through the LEPC. An effective, comprehensive plan establishes shared responsibility and concern for safety of citizens in the community. For example, the law requires community emergency response organizations and organizations serving groups of vulnerable people (hospitals, schools, nursing homes, etc.) to share their respective emergency response plans with the LEPC.
In addition to requiring each facility subject to the requirements of the law to share its plan, each facility is also required to: designate a representative who will participate in the LEPC planning process as the facility emergency coordinator; notify the LEPC of any relevant changes occurring or expected to occur at the facility; and promptly provide information requested by the LEPC for developing and implementing the emergency response plan.
