The majority of the 2,760 LEPCs across the US struggle to engage their communities or strengthen their community preparedness with viable agendas and action plans. This is despite the EPA’s Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act, which informs stakeholders of hazards in their community and encourages public-private partnerships to prepare for hazardous material incidents.
As communities encroach into the buffer zone around hazardous materials facilities and the transport of hazardous materials increases, there is a growing risk from pipeline distribution, crude-by-rail, fertilizer storage/distribution and other hazardous materials. LEPCs need to engage all of their stakeholders to include schools, hospitals, and private hazmat facilities and transporters to mitigate these risks. ASG can boost a community’s preparedness by working with the LEPC to actively engage stakeholders, conduct risk-based planning, and collaborate with private facilities to conduct joint training and exercises.
Our all-hazards, risk-based approach to planning was published by the EPA as a new benchmark standard.