Chicago LEPC

• The Next Chicago LEPC Meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 from 10:00 AM to 12:00PM; Meeting to be held at OEMC 1411 W Madison St, Room 465, Chicago, IL 60607
  You must be an active LEPC member to attend the session.  See Membership information page and apply to become an LEPC member.  Future meeting dates are:  June 13, 2023, September 12, 2023, and December 12, 2023
• The Suburban Cook County LEPC Meeting are usually held at the Bedford Park Library. However, CHECK WEBSITE FOR UPDATED INFORMATION.   http://www.suburbancooklepc.com/  
• TIER II REPORTS ARE DUE ANNUALLY BETWEEN JAN 1 & MAR 1 FOR THE PREVIOUS YEAR: Owners and operators of facilities that have hazardous chemicals on hand in quantities equal to or greater than set threshold levels must submit Tier 2 forms between January 1 and March 1 for the previous calendar year in accordance with local, state, and federal laws.  Tier II Reports must be filed electronically via the CP3 (Chicago) and IEMA (Illinois) Reporting Portals.  More information on reporting is presented below.   

The purpose of the Chicago Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) is to provide oversight and management of provisions of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA Title III), and the Emergency Preparedness and Community Right-To-Know Act (EPCRA) of 1986 in Chicago.  Our mission is to provide inter-agency and organizational planning for the emergency response to hazardous materials.

The committee’s intent is to represent member agencies and organizations and the community’s interests.  Members include: elected state and local officials; law enforcement; civil defense; firefighters; first aid; public health and health care organizations; local environmental organizations; hospitals; transportation; broadcast and print media; community groups; owners and operators of facilities subject to the requirements of the Emergency Planning and Right-To-Know Act.

The Chicago LEPC meets quarterly.  Officers are elected annually by the LEPC membership.

Submission of Tier II reports is required under Section 312 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 (EPCRA). The purpose of this report is to provide State, local officials, and the public with specific information on potential hazards. This includes the locations, as well as the amount, of hazardous chemicals present at your facility during the previous calendar year.

Per Federal Law, facilities covered by requirements must submit an Emergency and Hazardous Chemical Inventory Report to 1) the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), 2) the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC),  and the local fire department annually.

Owners or operators of facilities that have hazardous chemicals on hand in quantities equal to or greater than set threshold levels must submit Tier 2 forms between January 1 and March 1 for the previous calendar year.

1) Chicago LEPC Tier II Reporting:

Local Chicago Municipal Code requires that owners and operators electronically submit the information required under Section 11- 4-1200(B) by entering the required information in the Hazardous Materials and Survey Information sections of the CP3 Portal:

Chicago’s Public and Private Partnership (CP3) Portal (www.preparedchicago.com)

If you have not previously created a CP3 account, you must first create an account, and then you can register your facility(s) and/or tenancy(s). To expedite access approval, when creating an account, you are encouraged to use a company email address. Please note that submission of the Tier II report as an attachment into the CP3 portal will not satisfy the submission requirements based on the Chicago Municipal Code. All relevant fields must be populated within the CP3 portal. Failing to abide by these requirements may result in fines up to $500 for each offense. Each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate and distinct offense to which a separate fine shall apply. Please review the Rules. If you have questions related to electronic submission of Tier II information, please send email inquiries to: Tier2report@cityofchicago.org, or contact the Chicago LEPC Secretary, Terry Sheahan, at 312-745- 3133.

2) Illinois SERC Tier II Reporting:

Illinois is requiring facilities to use the Tier 2 Manager On-Line Filing System. Only Tier 2 Manager submissions will be accepted. Submit Tier 2 Reports through the:

IEMA Online Tier 2 Manager Reporting System

For additional information, contact the IEMA Tier II Administrator at: 217-782-8719. Send email inquiries to: ema.tier2mgr@illinois.gov
Webpage: https://www2.illinois.gov/iema/preparedness/serc/pages/serc_tier2.aspx

Additional References:

• Illinois State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) Tier II Reporting
• Chemical Inventory Reporting in Illinois
• Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA)

• What is the Local Emergency Planning Committee?
• Why was the LEPC formed?
• Who serves on the LEPC?
• What is required in a plan?
• How do you know what to plan for?

What is the Local Emergency Planning Committee?

The Local Emergency Planning Committee is a group of individuals from specific agencies and interested community members who assure planning and resource capabilities for Chemical Emergencies in Chicago.

Why was the LEPC formed?

Back in 1985 after a chemical incident in India that killed and injured thousands of people, there was concern whether a similar kind of incident could happen here in the United States.  In answer to rising attention, President Ronald Reagan signed the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act into law on October 16, 1986. Title III of that Act is known and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA).

Who serves on the LEPC?

Members are selected from agencies and businesses who have an interest in, or who play an active role in response to chemical emergencies. They assist in the formation and annual review of an Emergency Plan that is required by the law.

What is required in a plan?

The plan covers the response to incidents involving Hazardous Materials. These plans cover who will respond and what roles they have in public safety, containment, clean-up and recovery from an incident.

How do you know what to plan for?

Each facility that maintains an inventory of specified amounts of a chemical that is classified as a hazardous substance by federal standards is required to report that to certain agencies. The reports are called Tier Two reports and they are due prior to March 1st of each year. These reports list the chemical name, amounts stored, storage information and the hazards associated with the specific substance.

This information is sent to the local fire department serving the facility, the Local Emergency Planning Committee and to the State Emergency Response Commission. The information on the report is then reviewed by the agencies to assure that the plan covers any threats that may arise from these hazards and that proper resources are maintained to respond to an emergency situation involving these substances.

Certain chemicals that can do excessive harm to public safety and the environment are listed as Extremely Hazardous Substances or EHS’s. EHS’s are given lower reporting amounts called Threshold Planning Quantities or TPQ’s which require reporting for amounts as low as 10 pounds up to 500 pounds or more of these chemicals.

Risk Management Plan (RMP) Rule Overview

Section 112(r) of the Clean Air Act Amendments requires EPA to publish regulations and guidance for chemical accident prevention at facilities that use certain hazardous substances. These regulations and guidance are contained in the Risk Management Plan (RMP) rule.The information required from facilities under RMP helps local fire, police, and emergency response personnel prepare for and respond to chemical emergencies. Making RMPs available to the public also fosters communication and awareness to improve accident prevention and emergency response practices at the local level. The RMP rule was built upon existing industry codes and standards. It requires companies that use certain flammable and toxic substance to develop a Risk Management Program.

Who must submit an RMP?

Facilities holding more than a threshold quantity of a regulated substance in a process are required to comply with EPA’s Risk Management Program regulations. The regulations require owners or operators of covered facilities to implement a risk management program and to submit an RMP to EPA. See: General Risk Management Program Guidance.

What information must an RMP include?

Each facility’s program should address three areas:

• Hazard assessment that details the potential effects of an accidental release, an accident history of the last five years, and an evaluation of worst-case and alternative accidental releases;
• Prevention program that includes safety precautions and maintenance, monitoring, and employee training measures; and
• Emergency response program that spells out emergency health care, employee training measures and procedures for informing the public and response agencies (e.g the fire department) should an accident occur.

How often must facilities submit an RMP?  

The plans are revised and resubmitted to EPA every five years.

What chemicals must be reported under RMP?

The rule includes a List of Regulated Substances under section 112(r) of the Clean Air Act, including their synonyms and threshold quantities (in pounds) to help assess if a process is subject to the RMP rule or the general duty clause. Where the Clean Air Act Section 112(r) program has been delegated to a state, that state may have additional requirements for the federally listed chemicals, and/or additional listed chemicals.

Additional information about the EPA Risk Management Program is available at: http://www2.epa.gov/rmp  and EPA Risk Management Program http://www2.epa.gov/rmp/risk-management-plan-rmp-rule-overview

911:  Call 911 to report an emergency involving: any crime, medical situation, fire, or
hazardous material incident that is in progress; or any crime that has just occurred and if the suspect is still on the scene, or if there is a possibility of apprehension; and any personal injury accident or any accident including any of the above situations.

311:  Call 311 to report non-emergency City service needs, check the status of previous service requests, obtain information regarding City programs or events, and file non-emergency police reports.

Tips for Calling 911 and 311

• Information for Tier II Filers in Illinois:
  http://www.illinois.gov/iema/Preparedness/SERC/Pages/default.aspx

• U.S. EPA Pages and Documents:
  Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know
  http://www2.epa.gov/epcra
  

• EPA Consolidated List of Chemicals Subject to the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act (EPCRA), Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) and Section 112(r) of the Clean Air Act
  http://www2.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-03/documents/list_of_lists.pdf
  

• EPA Tier II Chemical Inventory Reports / Tier2 Submit Software, Forms and Instructions:
  http://www2.epa.gov/epcra/tier-ii-forms-and-instructions
  

• Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) Overview:
  http://www2.epa.gov/epcra/what-epcra
  

• EPA Superfund Program
  http://www2.epa.gov/superfund
  

• EPA Emergency Response Website
  http://www2.epa.gov/emergency-response#InfoCenter

• EPA Chemicals in Your Community
  http://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi/20015G3U.PDF?Dockey=20015G3U.PDF
  

• DHS Critical Infrastructure: Chemical Security
  http://www.dhs.gov/critical-infrastructure-chemical-security

• DHS Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS)
  http://www.dhs.gov/chemical-facility-anti-terrorism-standards
  CFATS Tip Line: (877) 394-4347
  CFATS Help Desk: (866) 323-2957
  Questions re: CFATS: CSAT@dhs.gov

• DHS Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Fact Sheet
  CFATS Fact Sheet

• DHS Appendix A to Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards
  6 CFR Part 27: Appendix to Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards

• DHS Chemical Security Brochure
  Chemical Security Brochure…In the wrong hands

• Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA)
  http://www.illinois.gov/iema/Pages/default.aspx

• Illinois Emergency Management Agency Hazardous Materials Incident Reports
  http://tier2.iema.state.il.us/FOIAHazmatSearch/

• Illinois Emergency Management Agency (SERC)
  http://www.illinois.gov/iema/Preparedness/SERC/Pages/default.aspx

• Chemical Inventory Reporting Requirements in Illinois
  https://chicagolepc.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/chemical-inventory-reporting-for-illinois.pdf
  

• US Department of Transportation (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
  http://phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat
  

• City of Chicago Office of Emergency Management & Communication (OEMC)
  http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/oem.html
  

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Chemical Safety Information
  http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/chemical-safety/

• We would like to gratefully acknowledge SET Environmental, Inc. for their generous support which has made this website possible.
• SET Environmental provides environmental management services to a nationwide client base. https://www.setenv.com/