Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC)

Meetings

Local Emergency Planning Committee meetings are held at 3 p.m. on the 3rd Thursday of January, March, May, July, September, and November.

Agendas & Minutes

Agendas are available prior to the meetings. Minutes are available following approval.

View Board Minutes

Members

Members serve based on occupational roles involved in local emergency planning. Members range from fire/police personnel to power/utilities representatives and county officials. Generally meets monthly.

View Board Members

Sub-Committee

The LEPC’s Exercise Design Sub-committee meets on the third Thursday of February, April, June, August, October, and December.  This subcommittee consists of various seated members of the full LEPC along with ad-hoc community partners. It’s purpose is to lead and coordinate planning various multi-jurisdictional seminar, tabletop, functional, and full scale drills/exercises.

Five additional sub-committees assist in the review and development of specific goals and topics of interest to the LEPC.  These sub-committees are outlined below and meet on an as-needed basis as directed by the Chairperson or individual sub-committee chair

  • Emergency Operations Plan Review
  • Hazardous Materials Response and Planning
  • Nominations
  • Public Awareness
  • Special Needs & Populations

Open to the Public

All meetings of the LEPC are open to the public. If you would like to attend, please contact us electronically or by phone at 704-216-8900 for details.

Duties

The Rowan County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) is organized under the auspices of the County Board of Commissioners, and it activities are in accordance with, but not limited to, Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA).

Local Emergency Planning Committee meeting

Organization

The Committee is an organization of industrial, governmental and citizen member groups whose purpose is to provide a forum in which the local community and facilities can discuss issues related to hazardous substances, man-made and natural hazards or emergencies. Additionally, the LEPC works closely with Emergency Management and all response agencies to fulfill the tasks as outlined below on an ongoing basis.

Responsibilities

  • Establish procedures for reviewing and processing requests from the public for information under the Community Right-To-Know Act (Section 324) of known chemical storage and hazards in the community.
  • Develop a chemical hazard/risk analysis of the community as a whole.
  • Develop emergency response procedures for emergency response personnel.
  • Identify private/public sector resources available to deal with hazardous materials emergencies.
  • Identify private/public sector resources available to deal with natural and man-made emergencies.
  • Review emergency plans submitted by the subcommittees and make recommendations on revisions of the plans that may be necessary to ensure coordination of such plan with emergency response plans of other emergency planning agencies.
  • Exercise emergency response plans and update them accordingly.

Public Notice

Section 324 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act, also known as SARA Title III, requires public notice at least once annually informing the public of the means to access information about extremely hazardous substances that are manufactured, stored, and used within their community. Follow-up emergency notices may subsequently be issued.

Accordingly, access to information concerning LEPC meetings, SARA Title III hazardous materials planning, safety data sheets (SDS), and hazardous chemical inventory forms (listing extremely hazardous substances manufactured, stored or used within Rowan County) can be found on this page or requested during normal business hours by contacting the Emergency Management Division of Rowan County Emergency Services at 704-216-8900.

Disaster Preparedness

The Committee is designated coordinating entity for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Citizen Corp Program for Rowan County. As such, Rowan's LEPC also promotes and encourages all citizens and businesses to prepare for disaster and emergency situations by becoming a partner in ReadyROWAN!

Ready Rowan

Community Emergency Response Team

The LEPC also promotes and coordinates the development of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program within the county, including it's municipalities.

CERT Community Emergency Response Team

Tier II Hazardous Chemical Reporting

The LEPC acts as the coordinating body for the collection and review of hazardous chemical storage at facilities meeting federal quantity requirements. For more information, please visit Hazardous Chemical Reporting.

Hazardous Chemicals stored in an industrial setting