The Mason County LEPC works under the authority of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), also known as SARA Title III, and in cooperation with the West Virginia State Emergency Response Commission (SERC). Its mission is to ensure that the public, local government, first responders, and industry partners are prepared for chemical hazards and other emergencies. The LEPC develops emergency response plans, reviews them, ensures access to chemical hazard information, and promotes safe practices to reduce risks in our community.
Under EPCRA (federal law), every community with facilities that store or use hazardous chemicals above certain thresholds must have a planning committee – this is the LEPC.
In West Virginia, each county is designated as an emergency planning district, and each has its own LEPC or shares one in a combined district. The LEPC must include representation from a set of stakeholders, such as elected officials, first responders, health/environmental agencies, facility operators, media, and community groups.
Here are the key “must-do” items for the LEPC as prescribed by EPCRA and the WV SERC:
Responsibility
Description
Emergency Response Planning
Develop, maintain, and review annually a comprehensive emergency response plan for chemical accidents. Includes both on-site (facility) and off-site (community) response procedures.
Chemical Inventory & Hazard Reporting
Collect data from facilities on what hazardous chemicals they store/use. Monitor transportation routes of hazardous materials. Share this information with local responders and the public.
Notification Procedures
Ensure there are clear, effective procedures for notifying the public and authorities in case of a chemical release or spill.
Public Right-to-Know
Make chemical hazard data available to the public. Educate citizens about what chemicals are in their community and what risks they may pose.
Training & Exercises
Provide training to emergency responders and conduct drills/exercises to test response plans. Update plans based on lessons learned.
Stakeholder Engagement
Include facility operators, health agencies, environmental agencies, transportation, media, and community representatives in LEPC membership. Hold regular meetings open to the public.
While Mason County LEPC is not directly part of the OES structure, it works closely with OES / DHSEM, 911 Communications, EMS, fire departments, health services, environmental agencies, and facility operators in the county. The LEPC:
Helps align the county’s emergency response and hazard mitigation planning with chemical hazard risks.
Reviews local emergency plans (chemical spill, hazardous material release) to coordinate with county-wide and regional plans.
Serves as the liaison for public inquiries about chemical safety, facility reports, and emergency planning.
Residents and facility operators have an important role:
Facilities subject to EPCRA / SERC rules must submit chemical inventories and report extremely hazardous substances, maintain safety data sheets, participate in planning and exercises.
Public input: LEPC meetings, public hearings, informational sessions allow citizens to ask questions, learn about chemical hazards, and provide feedback on emergency plans.
To comply with EPCRA and SERC guidance, the LEPC’s plan must include:
Identification of facilities with regulated (or extremely hazardous) substances and transportation routes for those chemicals.
Emergency response procedures (on- and off-site).
Community and facility coordinators - designated people who will act during an incident.
Notification procedures in case of release.
Methods to estimate affected area/population if there is a release.
Listing of available emergency equipment and response resources.
Evacuation and sheltering plans.
Training programs for responders, facility staff, medical personnel, etc.
Schedule and methods for conducting exercises, plan updates, and plan reviews.