What is a Local Emergency Planning Commission?
Local Emergency Planning
Committees (LEPC's) were established by the Federal Emergency Planning and
Community
Right-To-Know Act,
as Title III of the Superfund Amendments & Reauthorization Act of
1986.
The LEPC of Orleans and northern Essex counties is comprised of 32
communities with a population of approximately 30,000 persons. The LEPC
shares borders with Canada and New Hampshire. It is served by the major
interstate systems of I-91, as well as major Routes 5, 5A, 58, 100, 102,
105 and 114. The LEPC has 2 major watersheds and a several large and small
dams. There are seven international border crossings between Canada
and Vermont in the LEPC district. Many of the border communities
have mutual aid agreements with Canada and New Hampshire first responders.
Originally, the LEPC was designed to
provide a forum for emergency management agencies, responders, industry and the
public to work together to evaluate, understand and communicate chemical hazards
in the community and develop appropriate emergency plans in case of accidental
release of these chemicals.
Local industries must provide information to
the State and LEPC's about chemical hazards. LEPC's are required by law to make
this information available to any citizen who requests it. You can make a
difference by attending an LEPC meeting or by joining your LEPC. The meetings
are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 pm at the Derby
Barracks.
LEPC 10 has developed this website as a public information tool, as well
as for responders and other planners interested in accessing LEPC information
for Orleans and Essex counties.
In recent years, the LEPC's
planning efforts have been refocused to include planning for a variety of
disasters that may affect the community. Floods, hazardous material spills,
wildfires, natural disasters, and even terrorism all constitute real challenges
facing community leaders today. Federal and State planners have advocated for
development of "All-Hazards" planning, which prepare towns for any disaster; not
just those from chemical releases.
These are the communities of LEPC
#10.
Albany, Averill, Avery's Gore, Bloomfield, Brighton, Barton, Brunswick,
Brownington, Canaan, Charleston, Coventry, Craftsbury, Derby, Ferdinand,
Glover, Greensboro, Holland, Irasburg, Jay, Lemington, Lewis, Lowell, Maidstone,
Morgan, Newport City, Newport Town, Norton, Orleans, Troy, Warner's Grant,
Warren Gore, Westfield, Westmore.
Click here for some simple steps to follow if a disaster happens in your
neighborhood.
Click here to make a plan for your family in the event
of an emergency.
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Town Rapid Response Plans:
Essex County
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