Agencies & Support Data Home Page| The Coffee County Local Emergency
Planning Committee (LEPC) was founded in 1987 and was created as a result of Federal and
State legislation. Under the Federal law, the county LEPC' s are responsible for developing a local contingency plan to address responses to hazardous materials incidents within their districts. The LEPC is also responsible for ensuring compliance with chemical reporting requirements under the law. The LEPC receives and maintains the chemical inventory data from the many chemical storage facilities in the county; which include industrial sites which use and/or store chemicals, as well as oil wells and gasoline service stations. These facilities must report each year and submit quantities, locations, and chemical composition of chemicals stored. This information is vital to the safety of police and fire personnel as well as to the community at large. Citizens may request access to inventory reports and emergency plans developed under the "Right- to Know" law. There are disclosure protections for trade secret chemical names and confidential locations. |
The Coffee County LEPC is a
committee of unpaid volunteers. LEPC members include representatives from the following
groups: elected state and local officials; law enforcement; emergency management; fire
fighting; first aid; hospital; health; local environmental; transportation; broadcast
and/or print media; community groups; and owners and operators of facilities. The LEPC
meets annually, or more often if necessary, in the Community Room of the Coffee County
Complex. Meetings are open to the public. The Coffee County LEPC actively supports HazMat and other personnel from around the county in attending training seminars and workshops, and conducts drills and emergency exercises that test the plan and the response of HazMat and other emergency personnel in simulated emergency situations. The LEPC maintains an office that is staffed as part of the Coffee County Emergency Management Agency. The business phone number there is 334-894-5415 or 334-894-5375. For the reporting of chemical spills or other matters which require immediate attention, you should call the fire, police or the sheriff's office. Information/Right-To-Know Issues There are more than 22 reporting facilities which store hazardous or dangerous chemicals in the county. |