WHAT IS THE LEPC?

A Local Emergency Planning Committee or LEPC, is a voluntary organization which is established in an Emergency Planning District designed by the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC). LEPC's are crucial to local hazardous materials planning and community right-to-know programs. The membership comes from the local area and should be familiar with factors that affect public safety, the environment, and the economy of the jurisdiction. That expertise is essential as the LEPC advises the writers of the Local Emergency Response Plan, so that the plan is tailored to the needs of its planning district. In addition to its formal duties, the LEPC serves as a focal point in the community for information and discussions about hazardous substance emergency planning, and health and environmental risks as well as natural disaster planning.

MISSION STATEMENT

To prepare citizens, industries, and local emergency response agencies for chemical accidents by developing a comprehensive community program that will benefit the citizens of Fairfax County and municipalities within Fairfax by :

• Developing a comprehensive hazardous materials emergency response plan for our community. To be effective, planning must be an ongoing activity.
• Receive and record information about chemical releases
• Collect, manage, and provide public access to information on hazardous chemicals in our area.
• Educate the public about the risks from accidental and routine releases of chemicals and work with facilities to minimize the risks.