Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC)

Grand County Emergency Operations Plan, ("EOP")

The GC-EOP provides a basis for the coordinated planning and management of types of emergencies and disaster events most likely to occur in Grand County and those emergencies and disaster events of “countywide interest”. All Elected Offices and County Departments tasked in this plan are responsible for developing and maintaining the standard operating procedures and training necessary for implementing the assigned duties and functions of the GC-EOP.

Responsibilities

The Office of Emergency Management works with all of Grand County’s responders through the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC). The LEPC is a countywide effort tasked to identify locations of hazardous materials and create emergency response plans. In Grand County we are approaching this as an all-hazards LEPC, understanding that the identification of risks, hazards, which might create a disaster, and the general response planning is very similar for most disasters.

As a team the LEPC facilitates communication, works on strategies, develops plans, coordinates training, and regularly conducts practice drills. All of our efforts and dedication are to provide the most comprehensive protection for the community. The Grand County LEPC has representation from most emergency support functions.

Sub-Committees

The sub-committees of the LEPC are:

• Hazardous Materials
• Healthcare Coalition
• Public Information Group (Joint Information System / JIS)
• Training and Exercise

The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA)

To reduce the likelihood of such a disaster in the United States, Congress imposed requirements for federal, state and local governments, tribes, and industry. These requirements covered emergency planning and "Community Right-to-Know" reporting on hazardous and toxic chemicals. The Community Right-to-Know provisions help increase the public's knowledge and access to information on chemicals at individual facilities, their uses and releases into the environment. States and communities, working with facilities, can use the information to improve chemical safety and protect public health and the environment.