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General Overview
The Maricopa County Local Emergency Planning Committee (MCLEPC) brings
together local governments, communities, academia, and industries as a
resource for enhancing hazardous materials preparedness. Local governments
are responsible for the integration of hazardous materials planning and
response within their jurisdictions. The committee serves as a focal point
for information and discussion about planning for emergencies involving
hazardous substances, as required under Public Law 99-499, the Superfund
Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA Title III), also known
as the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA). The
MCLEPC’s responsibilities include developing, training, and testing
a comprehensive emergency response plan for Maricopa County; developing
procedures by which regulated facilities notify the LEPC in accordance
with EPCRA; developing procedures for addressing requests from the public
under the right-to-know provisions of EPCRA; and giving public notice
of committee activities. The Maricopa County LEPC allows the public to
review and comment on the Maricopa County Hazardous Materials Response
Plan at its meetings. For more information about EPCRA or the MCLEPC’s
activities, call 602-273-1411 or email us at lepc@mail.maricopa.gov.
Industry
For information about filing the annual Chemical Inventory Report Form
(Tier II Report) and chemical spill reporting, visit the Arizona Emergency
Response Commission website at www.azserc.org
or send an email to azserc@azdema.gov
If a reportable release of an extremely hazardous substance or a hazardous
substance, as designated by the EPA, occurs at a facility, the facility
owner/operator/emergency coordinator must immediately notify the following
agencies:
- The local fire department through 911 or other appropriate number
if emergency response is required.
- The Maricopa County Local Emergency Planning Committee at 602-273-1411
(24-hour number), if there is a potential for off-site release.
- The Arizona Emergency Response Commission through the Arizona Department
of Environmental Quality Emergency Response Unit, 602-771-2330 (24-hour
number).
- If reporting a CERCLA regulated substance, call the National Response
Center at 800-424-8802 (24-hour number).
- The facility owner/operator/emergency coordinator must provide contact
information, incident location information and the following release
information: chemical, quantity released, time and duration of the release,
medium or media into which the release occurred, whether there was an
off-site release, source and cause of the incident, and known or anticipated
health risks. If reporting a transportation release, carrier/shipper
information should also be included. In addition, an accurate written
follow-up report of the incident must be submitted to the Arizona Emergency
Response Commission and the MCLEPC within thirty days
after the reportable release. This report should include actions taken
to respond to and contain the release and any known or anticipated acute
or chronic health risks associated with the release. If appropriate,
advice regarding medical attention necessary for exposed individuals
and measures that have been or will be taken at the facility to avoid
a recurrence of similar releases should also be included.
After additional information becomes known, the owner or operator must
update the notice in writing within seven calendar days
following discovery or development of the information. The Maricopa
County LEPC will review and approve the follow-up report and may request
further information if it feels the information provided was insufficient.
Public Access and Availability of EPCRA Information
Under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA),
any person may obtain chemical information with respect to a specific
facility by submitting a written request to the Commission or the Committee.
- Arizona Emergency Response Commission
Executive Director
5636 E. McDowell Road
Phoenix, Arizona 85008
Telephone: (602) 231-6326
Maricopa County LEPC
Executive Director
2035 N. 52nd Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85008
Telephone: (602) 273-1411
The requestor must provide the facility name and address and must also
indicate the type of information being requested such as: Chemical Inventory,
Material Safety Data Sheet, or Chemical Spill Information. The requestor
must provide their name, address, organization and phone number. If
the information is to be reproduced, the requestor must indicate if
the information requested will be used for commercial or noncommercial
purposes, as cost recovery fees apply and are calculated differently.
The information can also be made available for inspection in the department’s
office. The department, as administrative agency for the LEPC, must
permit access to data within a reasonable amount of time after the request
is made, so long as the access does not disrupt public business.
The intention of EPCRA is to increase the public's knowledge of and access to
information about the presence of hazardous chemicals in their local communities,
including chemical releases to the land, air, and water. Each emergency response
plan, materials data sheet, chemical list, chemical inventory report, follow up
emergency notice, or the LEPC emergency plan are all available for inspection
and/or copying during normal business hours. A request to inspect and/or
copy these EPCRA documents must be submitted in writing.
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