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Local Emergency Planning Committees, or LEPC's, are crucial
to the success of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-know
Act (EPCRA). Appointed by the State Emergency
Response Commission, the LEPC consists of representatives
from the following groups and organizations:
- Elected State and Local Officials
-
Law Enforcement
-
Emergency Management
-
Fire Departments
-
Emergency Medical Services
-
Health Department
-
Local Environmental and Transportation agencies
-
Hospitals
-
Broadcast and Print Media
-
Community Groups
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Facilities subject to EPCRA
One of the primary duties of the LEPC is to create and
maintain the Whatcom County HAZMAT Contingency Plan. This
includes an ongoing rewriting and exercising process to
ensure that the plan is both complete and up-to-date.
Another duty of the LEPC is to receive, catalog, and make
available hazardous chemical information from reporting
agencies. This information is used for emergency planning and
is available to the public.
The LEPC meets once a quarter, and the meetings are open to
the public. Meeting times and locations are printed in The
Bellingham Herald or you may contact the D.E.M. at (360)
676-6681.
EPCRA and Your Right to Know
Under EPCRA you have a right to know about chemical hazards
in your community. You have a right to know what chemicals
are being used and in what quantities, and you have a right
to know what chemicals are being released into the
environment. In Whatcom County, you can exercise your right
to know by contacting the Division of Emergency Management.
As part of the EPCRA requirements, the Division maintains a
database of several hundred chemicals used by over 85
facilities in the county. This information is available to
the public, free of charge, upon request.
You can also learn how to
protect yourself and your family in the event of a hazardous
materials incident.
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