Abstract

This is the final report on Phase 1 of this project, conducted between March and October, 1988, under Cooperative Agreement No. 814921. It addresses the issue of environmental risk communication under Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA). That act calls for the creation in each state of Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) which are to include representatives of local government; police, fire, hospital and other emergency response and public health agencies; facilities likely to use hazardous materials covered by SARA; community groups and the media. Each LEPC's initial responsibility has been to develop a comprehensive plan for responding effectively to emergencies created by the release of hazardous chemicals into the environment. These plans were to be completed by October 17. 1988. In addition to developing the plan, the committees have an important public information function. The LEPCs are to receive and store information formation on chemical hazards in the community from any facility that handles substances identified as hazardous by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). They are also charged with establishing and administering procedures for responding to public requests for information about these environmental hazards. This study examines a sample of Virginia LEPCs in their role as risk communicators under Title III.

Disciplines

Urban, Community and Regional Planning

Download

Share

COinS
 

URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/crp_fac/59