Local Emergency Planning Committee

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

Read the 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.  

Tier II Reporting

The Massachusetts Statewide Emergency Response Commission (SERC) was established to promote chemical emergency preparedness and prevention through collaboration and planning. The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) requires facilities to maintain material safety data sheets for any hazardous chemical used or stored in the workplace.

Facilities covered by the reporting requirements of EPCRA must submit annual Tier II reports to their Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), Local Fire Department, and the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC).

How to Submit Your Tier II Report to Somerville LEPC

Please send your .t2s file to tier2chemicalreports@somervillema.gov by exporting a .t2s file from the Tier II Manager application. Do not send PDFs. 
 

• Environmental Protection Agency: https://www.epa.gov/emergency-response
• Massachusetts State Emergency Response Commission: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-state-emergency-response-commission-serc
• Mystic Regional Local Emergency Planning Committee: https://www.mysticrepc.org/

To request public information from the LEPC, click the link below.