Elkhart County LEPC

Information About Elkhart County Local Emergency Planning Committee

Elkhart County's Emergency Management team also heads the Local Emergency Planning Committee to develop, document, and review a plan for environmental emergencies that could occur in Elkhart County. The following (from the EPA's website describes this committee in detail:

From the EPA site:

Under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) must develop an emergency response plan, review the plan at least annually, and provide information about chemicals in the community to citizens. Plans are developed by LEPCs with stakeholder participation. There is one LEPC for each of the more than 3,000 designated local emergency planning districts. The LEPC membership must include (at a minimum):

• Elected state and local officials
• Police, fire, civil defense, and public health professionals
• Environment, transportation, and hospital officials
• Facility representatives
• Representatives from community groups and the media

Elements of the LEPC plan

Several elements and procedures are taken into consideration when creating a plan. Although not necessarily a complete list, some of the required piece of the plan includes:

• Identification of facilities and transportation routes of extremely hazardous substances
• Description of emergency response procedures, on and off-site
• Designation of a community coordinator and facility emergency coordinator(s) to implement the plan
• Outline of emergency notification procedures
• Description of how to determine the probable affected area and population by releases
• Description of local emergency equipment and facilities and the persons responsible for them
• Outline of evacuation plans
• A training program for emergency responders (including schedules)
• Methods and schedules for exercising emergency response plans

The LEPC is dedicated to providing a safe, effective, and efficient plan in the case of an emergency. Elkhart County will continue to review these plans as needs grow and change. The safety and well-being of our residents is our top priority, and this committee ensures a proper, well-timed, and executable plan is in place for an unforeseen environmental emergency.

Meeting Dates for 2023

Elkhart County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) will be held at the Elkhart County Health Department facility located at 608 Oakland Ave, Elkhart, IN 46516.

All meetings are open to the public.

LEPC MEETING Dates:

• February 20, 2024 at 1:30 pm
• April 16, 2024 at 1:30 pm
• June 18, 2024 at 1:30 pm
• August 20, 2024 at 1:30 pm
• October 15, 2024 at 1:30 pm
• December 17, 2024 at 1:30 pm