Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC)

Regular Meetings
  • 5:30 p.m.
  • Powhatan Emergency Management Office
    3910 Old Buckingham Road
    Powhatan, VA 23139
A schedule of meeting times and locations are determined by the membership of the committee on an annual basis. The Chair may change the location and time of the meetings when deemed necessary and with appropriate notice given to the members. These meetings are posted to the county website and are open to the public and all interested parties.

Members
There should be at least one member on the Committee from each of the following categories (if one of the groups cannot provide a member, the committee will continue to be allowed to function):
  • Broadcast or print media.
  • Citizens or Community groups.
  • Elected state or local official.
  • Law enforcement, emergency management, firefighting, health, rescue, local environmental, hospital or transportation personnel.
  • Owners or operators of facilities subject to the requirements of S.A.R.A., Title
Appointment & Term
In June of each year, the committee may make appointment recommendations to the Powhatan Board of Supervisors. If approved, these recommendations are passed to the Virginia Emergency Response Council (VERC). Members of the Committee are appointed by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia based on the recommendation from both the Powhatan Board of Supervisors and the VERC. Terms are unlimited pursuant to the committee by-laws.

Overview
This committee is required by the Federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 (EPCRA), Public Law 99-499.

Purpose
  • In accordance with Federal Public Law 99-499, the “Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986,” under Title III, Section 312, receive and process annual Tier I and Tier II hazardous materials inventory reporting information
  • Establish procedures for receiving and processing requests from the public for information about and/or copies of emergency response plans, material safety data sheets and chemical inventory forms
  • Assist the County with the development, and maintenance of the County Emergency Operations Plan entitled, “Incident Annex 2: Oil and Hazardous Materials Response” and “ESF 10: Oil and Hazardous Materials”
  • If requested, observe and critique hazardous materials emergency operations exercises annually
  • Educate the public about risks from accidental and routine releases of chemicals, and work with facilities to minimize such risk
  • Encourage hazardous materials training of public and quasi-public personnel
  • Function as the Powhatan County Disaster Recovery Task Force
  • Function as the Powhatan County Citizen Corp Council
  • Assist the county and state government when requested in the area of terrorism assistance and community education
  • Other support as requested by county government officials