Local Emergency Planning Committee

LEPC

Emergency Planning was created as Chapter 3750 of the Ohio Revised Code (ORC) in December 1988. The federal regulations under EPCRA are listed in 40 CFR, Part 355. Ohio's implementing regulations can be found as Chapter 3750 of the Ohio Administrative Code (OAC). (The SERC provides current copies/revisions of the ORC & OAC to LEPCs. Additional copies of these documents are available from Ohio EPA at minimal costs.)

EPCRA outlines the composition, jurisdiction and responsibilities of the SERC and LEPCs and defines four basic types of reporting. These are:

EHS Notification
Emergency Spill/Release and Emergency Planning
Notification Chemical List and Annual reporting
Toxic Chemical Release Reporting

Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) were established by the US Congress in 1986 under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA). Triggered by the 1984 Bhopal, India disaster, LEPCs serve as a collaborative bridge between local industries, government, and the public to manage chemical hazards and ensure community safety.

Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) memberships are federally mandated and state-appointed roles. Members represent community groups, industry, and government, serving to draft hazardous materials response plans. Since you are in Newark, Ohio, your county’s LEPC is regulated by the Ohio State Emergency Response Commission (SERC).

Licking County LEPC meets quarterly in a calendar year.

Next Meeting

July 16, 2026. 11:30am

Licking County Health Department

Hazardous material (hazmat) warning systems rely on a multi-tiered approach using localized sensors, the Emergency Alert System (EAS), and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA). These networks instantly transmit critical instructions—like mandatory evacuations or shelter-in-place orders—directly to local broadcast channels, sirens, and mobile devices within the affected geographic radius.

Planning and Preparedness

Effective hazmat preparedness requires knowing whether to shelter in place or evacuate. If caught outside, always stay uphill, upstream, and upwind, moving at least a half-mile away. Avoid touching any spilled substances and follow official local emergency alerts

https://epa.ohio.gov/divisions-and-offices/air-pollution-control/state-emergency-response-commission

Licking County LEPC and LCEMA provide plan updates each calendar year for the Hazmat plan (Annex O). This document is located in the Licking County EOP.

Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) in Ohio develop hazmat response plans, track extremely hazardous substances, and coordinate community right-to-know reporting. In Newark, OH, the Licking County LEPC operates out of the local Emergency Management Agency (LC-EMA), located at 285 Wilson St.

For general inquiries or to view emergency planning documents, you can contact the Licking County EMA office at (740) 670-5431 or visit the official Licking County LEPC portal. The broader Licking County Emergency Management site hosts county-wide preparedness guidelines and local alert registrations. For a comprehensive list of emergency coordinators and 24-hour spill-reporting lines throughout the state, refer to the Ohio Local Emergency Planning Committee Information directory.

Licking County LEPC Membership

Roster on file in Emergency Management Office.