ABSTRACT
Executive Order 12856 requires federal agency compliance with the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) of 1986 and the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 and establishes federal agency goals and compliance date requirements. Initially, federal agencies were excluded from EPCRA because of the Standard Industrial Code applicability clause. EPCRA requires the governor of each state to designate a State Emergency Response Commission (SERC). Many SERCs include public agencies and departments concerned with issues relating to environment, natural resources, emergency services, public health, occupational safety, and transportation. The SERC must designate local emergency planning districts and appointed Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPC) for each district. The LEPC must include, as a minimum, elected state and local officials, police, fire, civil defense, public health professionals, environmental, hospital, and transportation officials, as well as representatives of facilities subject to the emergency planning requirements, community groups, and the media.
