Since 1988, the Council has served as staff to the South Florida Local Emergency Planning Committee (SoFlaLEPC) which serves Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe counties. The LEPC was established pursuant to the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act (EPCRA), Title III of the EPA Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA). Congress enacted EPCRA to help local communities protect public health and safety and the environment from chemical hazards.

The LEPC, as established pursuant to Section 301 of Title III, shall:

• prepare regional hazardous materials emergency plans that indicate the facilities that use, produce, or store hazardous substances that are present in the jurisdiction
• serve as the repository for regional reports filed under Title III
• direct regional Title III implementation activities
• perform associated outreach functions to increase awareness and understanding of and compliance with the Title III Program.

The LEPC will also utilize United States Department of Transportation Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness (HMEP) Grant funds to conduct low cost or no cost hazardous material response training for public sector employees.

Staff coordinates regularly scheduled LEPC meetings, conducts How-to-Comply seminars, answers public inquiries regarding EPCRA compliance, maintains the chemical inventories for public inspection consistent with the Community Right-to-Know provisions of EPCRA, promotes hazardous materials awareness, and prepares and updates the comprehensive emergency response plan for the Region.

• State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) Executive Order 23-59
• Florida SERC Website