The primary mission of the Fayette Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) is to develop and implement a community emergency response plan for releases of Extremely Hazardous Substances (EHS); provide an interface between facilities handling EHS and the public; and provide education for appropriate protective actions to the community.

Community Right-to-Know and the Fayette LEPC

Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA or SARA Title III) was passed by Congress in 1986. The state counterpart law for Kentucky is found in KRS Chapter 39. SARA Title III has two main purposes: it establishes authorities for emergency planning and prepardedness at the community and state level; and provides local governments and the public with information about hazardous chemicals in their community through reporting measures. Most importantly, SARA Title III has established new relationships among levels of government, industry, institutions, environmental groups, the press and citizens.

A key portion of SARA Title III requires the following of facilities that handle Extremely Hazardous Substances:

• Develop plans to respond to accidental releases.
• Immediate notification of public officials when releases occur.
• Making chemical hazard and inventory data available to the public.
• Making toxic chemical release information available to the public.

EPCRA establishes Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPC) which implement or oversee compliance with the first three requirements. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) implements and oversees compliance with the last requirement.

Lexington, Kentucky, is located in Fayette County in the heart of the Bluegrass Region. The state's second largest city is surrounded by scenic, world-famous horse farms. Lexington and Fayette County merged into a single urban county government on January 1, 1974. The merger was a culmination of an effort to develop a more efficient use of resources for joint programs in planning, parks and public safety. A Mayor and 15-member legislative body administer the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government.