Local Emergency Planning Committee

Meetings

• 1st Thursday of February, May, August and November

Overview

The Pinal County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) is one of fifteen Local Emergency Planning Committees in the State that was formed on July 17, 1987 to implement the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA) within the County. A Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) is a gathering of representatives that have an interest in hazardous materials safety. As a group they will identify potential risks that the community faces from hazardous chemicals stored on or transported in and through your community. The Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) seeks ways to help minimize the risks, prevent accidents, and assist in the development of plans to respond to a chemical emergency.

What the Pinal County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) Does

The Pinal County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) encourages:

• Prevention by providing public information on the cause of hazardous material accidents
• Preparedness through the development of emergency response plans by entities handling, manufacturing, storing, transporting or disposing of hazardous chemicals
• Planning for emergencies by making training available to first responders, businesses and members of the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC)

Where the Funding Comes From to Support the Pinal County Local Emergency Planning Committee

The Local Emergency Planning Committee's day-to-day activities are donated time by its members. However, the development of the Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness (HMEP) grant program, by Congress, provides financial and technical assistance to enhance local hazardous materials emergency planning and training. The funding source for this grant program is through fees collected from shippers and carriers of hazardous materials. This grant may not be used to purchase equipment.

The Emergency Response Funds (ERF) grant program was established by Arizona Revised Statutes, and overseen by Arizona State Emergency Response Commission (AZSERC), to develop and implement a state hazardous materials emergency management program. When funding is available, this grant program is used to purchase equipment for emergency responders who are trained and certified to respond to hazardous materials emergencies.