Daniel Gellert, Director

Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC)

Chairperson: Lorie Floyd

Each Wisconsin county, including Taylor County, is designated as an emergency planning district under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act (EPCRA), also known as SARA Title III. Taylor County’s Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) administers the local hazardous chemical planning program in accordance with this federal law.

The LEPC is comprised of representatives from:

• Local and state government
• Law enforcement, fire departments, EMS, emergency management, and hospitals
• Transportation and utilities
• Community organizations and media
• Facilities subject to EPCRA/SARA Title III reporting

LEPC Responsibilities

The LEPC plays a key role in local hazardous materials preparedness.

Responsibilities include:

• Maintaining facility submissions and hazardous chemical reports
• Managing and updating the countywide emergency response plan
• Developing off-site emergency response plans for facilities
• Overseeing hazmat response resources and equipment
• Facilitating hazardous materials training and exercises
• Responding to public information requests under the Community Right-to-Know Law

Note: LEPC meetings are publicly announced and listed on the Taylor County Calendar.

Public Access to Chemical Information

Information on hazardous chemicals stored within Taylor County is available for public review at the Taylor County Emergency Management Office between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Available information includes:

1. Facility reporting lists
2. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
3. Chemical inventory forms
4. Emergency response plans
5. Facility emergency release notifications (if any)

What is EPCRA?

The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), part of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA Title III), was enacted in 1986 following the 1984 Bhopal, India chemical disaster. The law was created to help communities plan for emergencies involving hazardous substances and to give the public access to information about chemical hazards in their area.

EPCRA requires coordination among federal, state, and local governments, tribes, and industry to improve chemical safety, reporting, and emergency response. The 2018 America's Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) further amended EPCRA, requiring additional coordination with state drinking water agencies and water systems in the event of hazardous chemical releases.