The Lewis and Clark County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) is a County entity created pursuant to SARA Title III (SARA is the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act. Title III of SARA is specifically named the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act of 1986).

The primary purpose of the Committee is to implement SARA Title III in Lewis and Clark County, but it has broader purposes as follows:

• Enhance environmental protection
• Enhance public health and safety
• Work to understand the hazards in the community, develop emergency plans in case of an accidental release or natural disaster, and look for ways to prevent accidents.

The LEPC has additional functions that include the following:

• Gathering and reviewing existing community and facility emergency plans annually
• Reviewing and updating of emergency operation plans
• Coordinating local response capabilities
• Checking and/or inventory of emergency response equipment in the community
• Identifying financial resources
• Coordinating with other LEPC and Emergency Management
• Conducting a hazard analysis
• Managing and providing information for citizens
• Providing information to facilities
• Promoting public awareness of EPCRA, community chemical hazards, and emergency response expected from the public
• Researching and applying for grant opportunities

The LEPC is open to the public and the meetings usually occur on the third Wednesday of each month at the Disaster and Emergency Services Coordinators Office located at 3425 Skyway Drive, Helena, MT, 59602.