Local Emergency Planning Committee
Under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), the Brunswick County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) is a federally-mandated committee with membership from:
- Business and industry
- Emergency response groups such as fire, medical and law enforcement
- Community groups
- Elected officials
- Media
- Hospitals
- Environmental interest groups
- Public schools and universities
- General public
The mission of the LEPC is to effectively plan for emergencies involving hazardous materials. The LEPC is tasked with the responsibility for SARA Title III Environmental Compliance, HAZMAT training and exercises, the Site-Specific Chemical Planning Program, coordination of chemical information to emergency responders, and maintenance of the county-wide incident management plan.
The LEPC meets quarterly and the public is invited to attend.
The next LEPC Meeting will be held on Thursday, October 19, 2023, 12:00 pm at the Emergency Services (building C) at the Brunswick County Government Center in Bolivia – 3325 Old Ocean Hwy, Bolivia, NC 28422.
The primary responsibility of the LEPC is to receive information about hazardous substances from industries and to use this information to develop comprehensive site emergency plans to handle emergencies. It is also responsible for establishing procedures and programs which make it easy for citizens to understand and have access to the information that industry submits.
The LEPC can assist you in obtaining chemical-related information from industries in your neighborhood. Federal law requires LEPCs to establish procedures for receiving and processing requests from the public for information. The Brunswick County Emergency Management Division has been designated as the official agency to serve as coordinator of this information.
Industries must provide three types of information to the LEPC, including:
- In case of an accidental release of certain chemicals, industries must immediately notify appropriate federal, state and local agencies, including the LEPC. Once submitted, release information is maintained on file with the LEPC.
- If a business stores, uses or manufactures one of approximately 360 chemicals that the U.S. EPA considers extremely hazardous, the business must report to the LEPC the amount, general location and hazards caused by the chemical’s use or storage.
- Annually, the industry must submit to the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) and to the U.S. EPA a Toxic Release Inventory which reports on the amounts of toxic chemicals routinely emitted into the air or water, or shipped off-site for treatment or disposal.
Federal law required the LEPC to complete an Emergency Response Plan within two years after the date of the enactment of the Community Right-to-Know Act. The LEPC is required to review the plan at least annually.
The plan is available for public inspection at the following location:
Brunswick County Emergency Services
3325 Old Ocean Highway
P.O. Box 249
Bolivia, NC 28428
910-253-2565
