Mark Moore - Chairperson
Phone:
903-237-2522
Fax:
903-753-3560
Email:
Mark Moore
The LEPC is a product of federal legislation passed in the wake of the Bhopal disaster in India, where thousands of people died because of an accident involving hazardous chemicals. To prevent similar occurrences in our communities, Congress passed the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), also known as Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA), in 1986. EPCRA establishes requirements for businesses and for federal, state, and local governments regarding emergency planning and community right-to-know (CRTK) reporting for hazardous chemicals. The CRTK provision in EPCRA helped increase awareness about the presence of chemicals in their communities and releases of these chemicals into the environment. Many State legislatures also enacted CRTK laws that are consistent with federal law. As a result, States and communities, working with industry, are better able to protect public health and the environment. Congress enacted the EPCRA regulations to benefit communities. The Gregg County LEPC is made up of representatives from state and local government, emergency management, fire, law enforcement, emergency medical services, public health, environmental groups, education, media, community groups, local industry, transportation and facility owners and operators.