All Hazards
Local Emergency Planning Committee

Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) evolved from federal legislation passed in 1986 known as the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA or SARA Title III). Grant County's LEPCs undertake an all-hazards approach, planning for all types of emergencies.

LEPCs include representatives from government, industry, elected officials, environmental groups and others:

AirLiquide Electronics Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railroad City of Ephrata City of Warden Columbia Basin Hospital Columbia Colstor — Moses Lake Columbia Colstor — Quincy Double Diamond Fruit Eka Chemicals Ephrata Fire Department Ephrata School District General Dynamic-OTS Genie Industries Grant County Board of County Commissioners Grant County Emergency Management Grant County Fire District 3 Grant County Fire District 4 Grant County Fire District 5 Grant County Health District Grant County PUD Grant Transit Authority Katana Summit ConAgra — Warden ConAgra — Quincy LaserFab

Lenrock Microsoft, Inc. Monsanto Mortenson Construction Moses Lake Fire Dept. Moses Lake Industries National Frozen Foods — Moses Lake National Frozen Foods — Quincy Norco Air Separation Plant Performix Nutrition Systems REC Silicon Simplot Grower Solutions — Moses Lake Simplot — Moses Lake Takata The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints - Warden Warden Police Dept. Warden School District Washington State Dept. of Labor & Industries Washington Potato Washington State Patrol Western Polymer Wilbur Ellis — Quincy Williams Pipeline Yellowstone Pipeline Co.

Because of the widespread geography of Grant County and differing community risks, Grant County has five LEPC chapters, which each meet regularly to address concerns and conduct business. Click on the links below for specific information and meeting times & locations:

Moses Lake

Ephrata

Royal Slope

Grand Coulee	Quincy Valley	Warden
Presentations
National Emphasis Program (NEP) PPT 534KB
Pipeline Public Awareness  PPT 516KB
Biogas Pipeline Presentation PPT 273KB
Process Safety Management by Manny Vela - Moses Lake Industries PPT 5MB
Emergency Responses to Hazardous Materials Releases - DOSH PPT 2.7MB WSP Roles and Responsibilities  PPT 727KB
Confined Space Training PPT 3MB
Introduction to AMR PPT 170KB
National Weather Service PPT 3361KB
Confined Space Training PPT 2MB HAZMAT Program Manager

LEPCs have incorporated the planning requirements of Title III into the county’s Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan developed by Grant County Emergency Management.

Businesses using or generating certain quantities of materials on the EPA's Extremely Hazardous Substance list must report to the LEPC and their local fire departments. 

Who does the emergency planning?
Any business which uses, manufactures, stores or transports hazardous materials is required to have procedures for safe handling of these materials as well as emergency response procedures.

Hazardous Materials
Hazardous materials have one or more of the following characteristics:

• Corrosive

• Flammable

• Poisonous

• Toxic Fumes

Many solids, gasses and liquids used in the production of fuels, medicines, plastics, and other products and processes in our community are classified as hazardous. Hazardous materials are used. stored and transported daily throughout the country.

Under most circumstances, these materials are handled safely.  However, when improperly handled, disposed of or released these substances can become hazardous to people and the environment necessitating coordinated planning for emergencies. 

Community Right to Know
The LEPCs have established a Community Right to Know Program which incorporates the chemicals reported to the LEPC by local businesses.

This program is based upon the 1986 Title III of SARA. This legislation requires local planning by businesses and response agencies (such as fire departments) whenever hazardous materials are involved. SARA also requires the establishment of a system in each community that informs citizens of chemicals used, manufactured or stored locally.

Workers Right to Know
Laws exist which require a Hazard Communication Standard also known as the Worker Right to Know program.  Employers are required to inform employees of chemical hazards present in the workplace.

For more information about Worker Right to Know, contact the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries Safety and Health toll free information at: 800.423.7233.

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