Emergency Management Department

What is LEPC?

The Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) was signed into federal law in 1986. Title III of SARA is also known as the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act (EPCRA) or the Community Right-to-Know (CRK) regulation. The State of Washington adopted the federal Title III law and regulations in 1987. A State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) was established to oversee implementation of requirements imposed by SARA Title III, including the formation of the Local Emergency Planning Committees and the development of a statewide master plan for hazardous materials incident response.

Who does the emergency planning?
Any business which uses, manufactures, stores or transports hazardous materials is required to have procedures for safe handling of these materials as well as emergency response procedures. Fire departments and other response agencies are also required to have procedures for hazardous materials spills.

Hazardous Materials
Hazardous materials have one or more of the following characteristics:

• Corrosive
• Flammable
• Poisonous

• Toxic Fumes

Many solids, gasses and liquids used in the production of fuels, medicines, plastics, and other products and processes in our community are classified as hazardous. Hazardous materials are used. stored and transported daily throughout the country.  Under most circumstances, these materials are handled safely.  However, when improperly handled, disposed of or released these substances can become hazardous to people and the environment necessitating coordinated planning fro emergencies. 

Community Right to Know
The LEPC has set up a Community Right to Know Program which incorporates the chemicals reported to the LEPC by local businesses.  This program is based upon the 1986 Title III of SARA.  This legislation requires local planning by businesses and response agencies (such as fire departments) whenever hazardous materials are involved. SARA also requires the establishment of a system in each community that informs citizens of chemicals used, manufactured or stored locally.

Reporting Hazardous Chemical Inventory

The Washington State Department of Ecology receives EPCRA reports and manages EPCRA data on behalf of the Washington State Emergency Response Commission (SERC). Ecology staff also provide technical and regulatory assistance to businesses, local emergency planning committees, tribal nations, and the public.

If there are 10,000 pounds or more of a hazardous substance or a reportable quantity of an extremely hazardous substance on site at any one time, you will need to send in completed Tier Two – Emergency & Hazardous Chemical Inventory report each year.

The Washington State Emergency Response Commission now requires reporting actual amounts of substances stored on site and has revised the form to include a field for the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes.

Information on chemicals stored during the previous calendar year is due March 1st each year to:

1. The State Emergency Response Commission (SERC)
2. The Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) *
3. The facility's local fire department/district

* Completed Tier Two Reports for facilities in Walla Walla County should be sent to:

Walla Walla County LEPC

Attn:  Liz Jessee

27 N. 2nd Ave.

Walla Walla, WA  99362

Reports may also be sent via email. :

Walla Walla County Emergency Management Department provides information to interested parties on hazardous material storage. Contact us by calling
509.524.2900 or by email.

LEPC Meeting Minutes April 22, 2008

LEPC Meeting Minutes June 3, 2009

LEPC Meeting Minutes December 3, 2009

LEPC Meeting Minutes February 17, 2010