Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC)

What is SARA?
On October 17, 1986, then President Regan signed into law the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) of 1986.  The law revises and expands the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA).

What is Title III?
Title III of SARA established the “Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act” which includes three subtitles:

1. Procedures for emergency planning in states and localities.
2. Building a framework of community awareness concerning potential chemical hazards and requirements for submission of MSDS, chemical inventory forms, and toxic release forms.
3. Trade secrets protection, citizen petitions, and information availability.

The Governor of each State was to appoint a State Emergency Response Commission (SERC).  In Illinois a SERC was appointed and is under the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.  The goal of the Illinois SERC is to promote chemical emergency preparedness and prevention throughout the state of Illinois.  The SERC, through implementation of emergency planning and community right-to-know laws and through establishment and support of its Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPC's), assists in chemical emergency planning, provides public access to chemical data, raises public awareness of chemical risks and encourages public participation in local chemical safety issues.

In April, 1987, Will County was appointed a Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC).  The LEPC is under the Will County Emergency Management Agency.  The goal of the LEPC is to promote chemical emergency preparedness and prevention.  This is done through emergency planning, providing public access to chemical data, and raising public awareness of chemical risks.

What is a regulated facility?
A regulated facility is a facility that produces, uses or stores one or more extremely hazardous substances, such as chemicals that require a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) be prepared or maintained under OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, are subject to Emergency Release Notification under the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA), if a release occurs of a reportable quantity of a CERCLA Hazardous Substance or an Extremely Hazardous Substances.

What is Tier I?
Tier I information is an inventory form that provides information in aggregate terms for hazardous chemical in categories of health and physical hazards as set forth under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Act of 1970 (OSHA), as amended, which is completed on a yearly basis by the regulated facility for that preceding year.

What is Tier II?
Tier II information is an inventory form that provides additional information for each hazardous chemical present at a facility for the preceding year that is not included on the Tier I Inventory Form.

The Will County LEPC only accepts Tier II information submitted in the Tier II Submit computer program and the printed version of Tier II Manager used by the Illinois State Emergency Response Commission.

Related Will County LEPC Info

• Will County LEPC Members & Sub-Committees
• Risk Management Program
• Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Data
• TRI and RMP Data through Envirofacts
• In-Depth Pollution Reports for Cities/Counties
• Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
• Illinois State Emergency Response Commission

Will County LEPC Related Documents
View and / or download:

•   Will County LEPC By-Laws (PDF)
•   Emergency Assistance Telephone Roster (PDF)
•   Acronyms and Abbreviations (PDF)

Other Local LEPCs

• Chicago, IL LEPC
• DeKalb County LEPC
• Jo Daviess County LEPC
• Lake County LEPC (Indiana)
• Mason County LEPC
• Winnebago County LEPC

If you have any questions, or would like more information on the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), please contact our office.