Community preparedness through transparency and collaboration
Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC)
The Somerville Office of Emergency Management and the Somerville LEPC work collaboratively with all town public safety agencies to maintain the required levels of preparedness and response to potential hazardous material incidents and also investigate and recover from any hazardous material releases that may occur within the city.
The next meeting of the Somerville LEPC will take place in April, 2026. View the most recent meeting information from October 28, 2025 here.
Contact Information
Main Line: 617-625-6600 ext. 8408
oem@somervillema.gov
Address
259 Somerville Ave.
Somerville, MA 02143
William Fisher
Director, Office of Emergency Management
wfisher@somervillema.gov
Lauren Mahoney
Deputy Director, Office of Emergency Management
lmahoney@somervillema.gov
Employee Directory
What is an LEPC?
An LEPC is composed of members which represent a cross-section of the community, including public safety officials, local officials, state emergency management officials, public health professionals, broadcast and print media, as well as representatives from facilities subject to EPCRA planning requirements.
What is EPCRA?
In 1986, Congress passed the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-know Act (EPCRA), which requires that each state to appoint a State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) to provide oversight and regulation of hazardous materials. On the local level, EPCRA mandates participation and direction of a Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), to work in a collaborative fashion with manufacturers and consumers of hazardous materials to prevent and plan for potential chemical and hazardous material related emergencies.
Committee Members:
Committee Chair
- William Fisher, Director of Emergency Management
Committee Vice Chair
- Lauren Mahoney, Deputy Director of Emergency Management
Committee Secretary
- Renee Mello, Workers' Compensation Safety Manager
Public Law 99-499 Title III, of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to Know Act of 1986 (EPCRA), Section 324(a), states that certain information developed under EPCRA, as well as the reports submitted by facilities under EPCRA, should be available to the public.
The following Somerville Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) documents are on file and available for public viewing:
- Follow-up emergency release notices / reports, filed by facilities within Somerville after any chemical release
- Available by request
- Hazardous chemical inventory in Somerville
- Per EPCRA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is required to publish a list of extremely hazardous substances (EHSs). Currently, the EPA recognizes 355 EHSs
- Material Safety Data Sheets and/or list of hazardous chemicals stored in or used by specific facilities within Somerville
- Available by request
- Complete list of reported chemicals in Somerville, or at a specific facility in Somerville
- Available by request
LEPC Bylaws
Agendas and Minutes
Public Meeting Agendas will be posted 48 hours prior to meeting time. Meeting minutes may be requested at any time and will be posted after approval.
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