Local Emergency Planning Committees
In response to emergency incidents involving hazardous materials, the U.S. Congress passed the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) in 1986. Title III of SARA is a free standing statute known as Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA). This act created the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) and a network of Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs).
Delaware’s Local Emergency Planning Committees
Delaware has four Local Emergency Planning Committees, one for each county and the City of Wilmington. The State Emergency Response Commission approves their membership, provides funding, guidance supervision and oversight. The funding is provided by a fee on hazardous materials used by companies in the state.
The State Emergency Response Commission is appointed by the Governor. Local Emergency Planning Committees report to the State Emergency Response Commission at their regular meetings.
Local Emergency Planning Committees are required to have broad representation from many groups, including State and local officials, media, law enforcement, fire services, EMS and health care, environmental and community groups, citizens, and industrial facilities that use hazardous materials.
SERC Local Emergency Planning Committees
New Castle County LEPC
Chairperson – Dave Irwin
P.O. Box 2998
Wilmington, Delaware 19805-0998
(302) 395-3633
(302) 323-4573
City of Wilmington LEPC
Chairperson – Representative Joseph DiPinto
Emergency Operations Center
22 S. Heald Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19801
(302) 576-3914
(302) 571-5491
Kent County LEPC
Chairpersons – Colin Faulkner and David Mick
Kent County Emergency Services Building
911 Public Safety Boulevard
Dover, Delaware 19901
(302) 735-3465
(302) 735-3473
Sussex County LEPC
Charles Stevenson
Sussex County Emergency Operations Center
21911 Rudder Lane
P.O. Box 589
Georgetown, Delaware 19947-0589
(302) 855-7810
(302) 855-7805
Public Meetings
All meetings of the Local Emergency Planning Committees are public and are posted on the state Public Meeting Calendar.
Emergency Response Plans
The Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA) requires that each Local Emergency Planning Committee prepare an emergency response plan for its district that includes information such as potential chemical hazards and procedures to be followed in the event of a chemical emergency. Contact each Local Emergency Planning Committee to review its emergency response plan.