The Hall County’s Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) is committed to improve the public’s awareness of possible chemical hazards located in Hall County, and to ensure the proper resources and planning regarding the safety of our communities.

What communities are served by Hall County’s LEPC?

The communities served by Hall County’s LEPC are the Villages of Alda, Doniphan, Wood River, Cairo, St. Libory, City of Grand Island, and all who live in rural Hall County.

Hazard Analysis: Moderate Risk.

Hall County’s population is growing very steadily, which increase the number of people affected by an incident. The City of Grand Island has full-time and villages have some volunteer emergency response resources. Outside assistance may be needed to respond to a major incident. Severe weather events can affect the entire county, while commercial transportation, via the interstate and railway, and anhydrous tanks in the fields and industries located in the county can also be a threat in most areas.

Who makes up the LEPC Membership?

Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) are appointed by the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC). LEPCs consist of representatives from the following groups and organizations within each community:

• Elected local officials

• Law enforcement

• Emergency management

• Fire departments

• First aid

• Health

• Local environmental and transportation agencies

• Hospitals

• Broadcast and print media

• Community groups

• Representatives of facilities subject to emergency planning and community right-to-know requirements.

Meetings are quarterly, open to the public, and advertised in the local media. We welcome anyone’s participation! The meetings are usually held on the first Thursday of every 3rd month and an annual meeting is held after Oct. 1st of every year. Can call Emergency Management Office, 308-385-5360, for meeting information.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is a LEPC?

An LEPC (local emergency planning committee) is a gathering of representatives in your community that have an interest in hazardous materials safety. Members should include; fire department, law enforcement, health care, media, schools, industry, transportation, public health, VOAD and others. As a group they will identify potential risks that your community faces from hazardous chemicals stored in and/or transported around your community. The LEPC should seek ways to help minimize the risks, prevent accidents, and assist in the development of plans to deal with a chemical emergency. Another core component of an LEPC is education. Through the LEPC the public will be able to seek out information about chemicals in their community and identify safety plans within their own families.

Why do I need an LEPC?

Your community needs to know they are safe and that there are plans in place to assist with a chemical release. Under the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA) it was mandated that LEPCs be formed as a means of allowing communities to assess their risks from hazardous chemicals and a way for public to exercise it’s Right to Know. Nebraska has adopted EPCRA under the Nebraska Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (NEPCRA) – see link for complete details on NEPCRA. The NEPCRA law is administered by the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) and is overseen by the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC).

What is the SERC?

The SERC consists of 19 members from state and local government, including fire, law, public health, schools, industry, transportation, and public. Members of the SERC are appointed by the Governor and are responsible for appointing members of the LEPCs.

Who is responsible for forming a LEPC in my community?

Under the NEPCRA law, the SERC has designated each county as a local emergency planning district. Any person with interest in community right to know / public safety can start a LEPC. According to the minimum requirements there needs to be a elected chairperson and a designated coordinator of information (see LEPC minimum requirements.) Please contact the SERC coordinator at (402) 471-7421 for assistance in developing your LEPC.

What will our LEPC be expected to do?

Your LEPC will be expected to meet at least one a year to review the Local Emergency Operations Plan (LEOP) hazardous materials annex and make necessary changes to the plan. An annual report will need to be completed and sent to the SERC Coordinator for review by the SERC by April 30th. The report will include a number of Tier II forms received, a notification that the plan has been reviewed and any changes documented, changes in elected officers, upcoming meeting schedule, copies of public meeting notes, LEPC members names, addresses, phone numbers, area they represent, items of special interest/special projects.

Who pays for all this?

One of the great things about an LEPC is it’s virtually free. An LEPC is a meeting of the minds, a communication tool, a format to bring interested parties and the public together to make their communities safer. While there may be some incidental cost, they should be significant. Some costs of operation are reimbursable under the Hazardous Materials Emergency Planning (HMEP) grant (see the HMEP grant link for further details.)

Can counties join together for a regional LEPC?

With the approval for the SERC counties can combine their LEPCs. In a case where a county has only limited presence of a hazardous material or emergency response sources, adjoining counties may merge together to form a multi-county emergency planning district. This multi-county LEPC must be able to meet the objectives set forth by each of the participating counties. For more information or assistance please contact the SERC Coordinator.

Where do I get help?

If you need assistance in developing your LEPC or need ideas for your LEPC begin by contacting Tonya Ngotel at NEMA (402) 471-7176 or by e-mail at tonya.ngotel@nebraska.gov.  Members of the SERC, if possible, will also be more then happy to meet with you.

Recent Local Spill Reports

None

Useful Links & Documents

Shelter In Place
U.S. Chemical Safety Board
Environmental Protection Agency
Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality

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