Local Emergency Planning Committees are a requirement of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, otherwise known as SARA Title III.

SARA Title III and the Ohio Revised Code, Chapter 3750, set up a State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) for the state of Ohio and ORC: 3750.03 requires each state to designate Local Emergency Planning Districts (LEPDs). In Ohio, each LEPD is a county and must set up a Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC). Therefore, in Ohio, there are eighty-seven (87) LEPDs/LEPCs.

LEPCs are a group of individuals that are nominated by the County Commissioners and approved by the SERC. LEPC members are volunteers and serve a two-year (2) term of office. They are reappointed during the odd numbered years. The membership of an LEPC must include, without limitation, personnel from each of these groups: elected state and local officials, law enforcement, emergency management, firefighting, first aid, health, local environmental, hospital, transportation, broadcast/print media, community groups, and facilities subject to ORC, Chapter 3750.

LEPCs are the entity in the county responsible for receiving all information and industry reporter pertaining to extremely hazardous substances in the county. The LEPC writes the LEPC’s (County) Chemical Emergency Response and Preparedness Plan, and exercises that plan annually to ensure the county is prepared to respond to and handle a chemical release and protect its citizenry. The LEPC receives all notices and follow-up notices on hazardous substances releases. The LEPC also establishes and carries out a program to monitor regulated facilities in the district and conduct compliance and enforcement’s activities to ensure facilities are complying with ORC 3750.

As LEPCs are nominated by County Commissioners, they are considered to be County Boards and as such are entitled to assistance and representation by the County Prosecutor and Auditor.

The public is advised that information concerning chemical inventories of certain facilities within Morgan County, as well as information concerning Morgan County’s chemical response planning efforts, is available for review.

The Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, known as SARA, and/or the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act or EPCRA, provides a framework for chemical response planning in each local planning district, which in this instance, is Morgan County.

The Morgan County Local Emergency Planning Committee (MCLEPC), working with the Ohio Emergency Response Commission (OERC or Commission), the Morgan County Emergency Management Agency, and local fire departments, implement these requirements within Morgan County. Chemical inventory information for facilities that meet or exceed the reporting threshold requirements of 10,000 pounds for hazardous chemicals or approximately 500 pounds for certain defined extremely hazardous substances is available (the threshold for extremely hazardous substances is as low as one (1) pound in certain instances.)

The Morgan County LEPC Information Coordinator can be reached using the information on the Ohio SERC website or by contacting the EMA. Information is also available by mail request. Such a request must be facility specific, using forms approved by the MCLEPC. These forms can be obtained from the MCLEPC or by calling (740) 962-3900, or writing to MCLEPC, 60 S. 4th St. McConnelsville, Ohio 43787.

Photocopies of this information are available per the standard reproduction fees of the Morgan County Emergency Planning Committee.