EPA to Shut Down LEPC Database

ERC ^ | 8/20/12

[EBH]

Despite best efforts to keep the National Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPC) Database current and accurate, EPA has found that it has become significantly outdated. Discussions of whether to maintain or remove the database have been on-going since the 2008 Nationwide Survey of LEPCs. After discussions with key stakeholders, including State Emergency Response Commissions (SERCs), LEPCs, EPA Regional Offices, and industry, the decision was made to remove the database on September 1st, 2012.

Each state has designated a SERC that is responsible for implementing the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) provisions within its state. The SERC’s duties include:

Establishing procedures for receiving and processing public requests for information collected under EPCRA

Reviewing local emergency response plans

Designating local emergency planning districts

Appointing an LEPC for each district, and

Supervising the activities of the LEPC

EPA will continue to maintain the SERC Contact webpage. This page contains information for SERC points of contact, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and pertinent webpage links. Use this page to contact your SERC for LEPC contact information.

Some SERCs provide LEPC contact information on their websites. Here are two examples:

www.msema.org/library/documents/MississippiActiveLEPCList-January2012.pdf

www.calema.ca.gov/HazardousMaterials/Pages/Local-Emergency-Planning-Committee-(LEPC).aspx

EPA continues to maintain the Tier II Chemical Inventory Reports/Tier2 Submit website to assist with reporting: .

Additionally, the Federal Reading Rooms website has recently been updated to reflect changes in EPA and the Department of Justice (DOJ) contact information, appointments, and locations for those seeking Risk Management Plans for their local chemical facilities.

[EBH]

Interesting to read this. It is an admission of an epic failure in emergency planning at the National level.

Considering 0bama's EO a few months ago...this is counter-intuitive.

[EBH]

Just an FYI ping point of interest vulnerability

[PeterPrinciple]

Any database is extremely difficult to keep current and accurate. Can you imagine what they will do with the medical database.

[AlbertWang]

Let’s apply a little cost/benefit analysis to this.

You’ll see that the cost of a LEPC exceeds any possible benefit.

[Lurker]

I am quite proud to have played a very small part in screwing this dangerously stupid idea into the ground.

[Lurker]

There was almost nothing “Local” about these committees. Trust me. I spent a year trying to set one up. Then I spent another year helping to destroy it.

[B4Ranch]

>>After discussions with key stakeholders, including State Emergency Response Commissions (SERCs), LEPCs, EPA Regional Offices, and industry, the decision was made to remove the database on September 1st, 2012. <<

I view this as an admission by Zero and Crew that they do not expect to be in office much longer. Someone made the decision to dump all the incriminating files before some damn Bible clutching patriot realized that he was looking at enough evidence to hang them all to air dry.

There’s going to be a lot of harddrives chewed up in the big shredders in the next couple of months. Here’s to hoping someone decides to keep a few of them for memory’s sake.

[Nachum]

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