Local Emergency Planning Committee

Superfund Amendment And Reauthorization Act (SARA) Title III is a federally mandated program to insure a coordinated planning and response effort between industries, St. Clair County and local governments in the event of a hazardous substance release into air, land, and/or water.

Congress enacted this law to help local communities protect public health, public safety and the environment from chemical hazards. The Act also provides a means for citizens to have access to information on chemicals located in their communities under the Community Right-To-Know.

Hazardous substance facilities are on file in St. Clair County that could have one or more of the approximately 1,450+ regulated hazardous substances. If these substances were released, they would have an immediate effect upon the community.

Some of the facilities are categorized as Extremely Hazardous Substance (EHS) facilities. In St. Clair County, Chlorine, sulfuric acid, ammonia, and nitric acid are among the most common EHSs.

The St. Clair County LEPC also works to:

Identify and assist facilities subject to SARA Title III requirements.

Take reports of accidental hazardous substance release/spill notifications when released off site of the facility.

Develop and provide public education and informational materials.

Identify transportation routes used for extremely hazardous substances and plan for and respond to transportation incidents.

Assist pre-hospital responders in planning and training to protect themselves and treat patients, and identify area hospital's hazardous substances capabilities.

A volunteer committee, risk analysis, reviews facilities which store certain chemicals to develop emergency plans. Recommendations are then given for review to the advisory committee.

If you have any questions about SARA Title III or the L.E.P.C., contact Becky Mayes at the Office of Emergency Management: (810) 989-6965 or E-Mail Becky.