Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC)

General Information

A large variety of hazardous materials are used, manufactured, stored, or transported through the St. Louis County area. Generally, such materials are classified as explosives and blasting agents, flammable liquids and solids, oxidizers, poisons, etiological agents, radioactive materials, corrosive materials and other materials including hazardous wastes.

Despite extensive safety precautions exercised by the manufacturers, users, and transporters of these materials, accidents involving their release sometimes occur. Any release of hazardous material can pose a threat to life, property and the surrounding environment. The population likely to be seriously affected would be within the most densely populated five mile belt on either side of a major transportation route (e.g., highway, rail lines, pipelines, port, or river) along which hazardous materials move, or within a five mile radius of fixed sites and facilities, to include all hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal sites (whether legal or illegal).

On October 17, 1986, then President Reagan signed the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA) [U.S. Code] into law. One part of the SARA provisions is Title III: the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986. Title III requires the governor of each state to designate a State Emergency Response Commission (SERC). To fulfill this requirement, then Governor John Ashcroft established the Missouri Emergency Response Commission (MERC). The MERC is responsible for supervising and coordinating the activities of the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC). These activities are, but not limited to, the establishment of procedures for receiving and processing public requests for information collected under the requirements of Title III and the development of a hazardous materials response plan for the LEPC's jurisdiction. So, in compliance with SARA, Title III, and the MERC, St. Louis County established the St. Louis County Local Emergency Planning Committee (STLC LEPC).

This listing reflects the official membership of the St. Louis County Local Emergency Planning Committee. The individuals have been appointed by the St. Louis County Executive and approved by the St. Louis County Council, consistent with Ordinance #16278, amending Chapter 703, Title VII SLCRO 1974 as amended. The Committee consists of two representatives from each of twelve community areas and six members at large, the Chairman is an Ex-Officio member. Legal Counsel is provided through the County Counselor's Office and LEPC By-laws designate the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Secretary as LEPC Officers. The Chairman appoints the LEPC Coordinator and LEPC Assistance Coordinator positions.