United States
                     Environmental Protection
                     Agency
                           Office of Solid Waste
                           and Emergency Response
                           (5104)
EPA 550-F-00-006
March 2000
www.epa.gov/ceppo/
v>EPA
Hazardous  Materials Education:
North Central  Florida LEPC
                      RMP Network is designed to share successful practices in RMP implementation, risk
                      communication, and use of the data. The projects detailed in RMP Network are easily
                      reproducible, low cost and promote partnership-building in the community. This fact
                      sheet does not provide extensive information about a project. Rather, it is intended  to
                      help stakeholders gene rate ideas, identify tools and pinpointfundingsourcesforaccident
                      preparedness and prevention initiatives.
                      Purpose

                      The North Central Florida Local Emergency Planning Committee annually holds a
                      Hazardous Materials Spill Prevention Week to educate the public about hazardous
                      chemicals stored and used in their community. The Clean Air Act Section 112(r)
                      Risk Management Program (RMP) expands the focus of the LEPC from primarily
                      planning for emergency responses to accidental hazardous materials releases to
                      playing an active role in preventing spills. Hosting a spills awareness week gives the
                      LEPC an opportunity to increase awareness of the requirements and opportunities of
                      this new program. In 2000, the LEPC distributed instructions on sheltering-in-place
                      and evacuation that the public maybe asked to take during a spill or chemical
                      release.

                      Outreach

                      Counties, municipalities, and school boards proclaim the week as a public education
                      effort. The LEPC district covers 55 local governments in 11 counties, covers 7,000
                      square miles, and serves a population of 434,000. The LEPC also posts information
                      on its website regarding the various activities that occur during Spills Week
                      Additionally, letters are sent to newspaper editors with a reminder that hazmat is an
                      important public safety issue and notices are placed about availability of chemical
                      use and storage information In 2000, the LEPC also will host a booth at the North
                      Central Florida Hurricane Response Exhibition, which features a hurricane hunter
                      aircraft.  In 1999, 6,000 individuals attended the Expo and attendance in 2000  is
                      expected to top 10,000.

                      Funding

                      The budget runs around $400, excluding staff time. Some funding was donated
                      directly by industry and the remainder was from funds obtained through a State fee
                      system setup under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act to
                      support hazmat planning. Florida annually collects nearly 2 million dollars from
                      companies that submit hazardous materials reports. Each of the State's 11 LEPCs
                      receive approximately $45,000 in funds.
      Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Office
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                    Benefits

                    Site-specific hazards analyses were updated using CAMEO software and available
                    Tier II information. The reports were distributed to facilities during spills awareness
                    week.  In the past, compliance seminars have been held and local governments were
                    encouraged to send employees to free hazmat awareness classes. Typically, requests
                    for right-to-know information increase following a spills awareness week. New LEPC
                    members have been recruited from people that learned about the organization during
                    an awareness week activity.  In 1999, over 200 people attended the Gainesville Safety
                    Street, which concluded Spill Prevention Week.  One-third of the attendees were
                    citizens seeking more information about the local impacts of the RMP program.

                    Available Materials

                    The Hazardous Materials Spill Prevention Week is the focal point of the LEPC's
                    public education and outreach efforts.  The following documents are available on the
                    LEPC  website at www.ncflepc. org:

                       •   LEPC proclamation for Hazardous  Materials Spill Prevention Week;
                       •   Resolution for cities, counties, and school boards;
                       •   Spill prevention/hazards analysis memo to facilities;
                       •  News release to the local media;
                       •   Letter to the  Editor about Spill Prevention Week;
                       •  Year 2000 Hurricane Hunter Exhibition; and
                       •  Annual public data availability notice (EPCRA Section 324)

                    You are encouraged to duplicate these materials to sponsor your own spills
                    awareness week.

             For more information, contact...

                    Name:        Mr. Dwayne Mundy
                    Organization:  North Central Florida LEPC
                    E-Mail:       mundy@ncfrpc.org
                    Telephone:    (352) 955-2200 ext. 108
Additional copies of this and other pubications in the RMP Network series are available from:

       National Service Center for Environmental Publications
       Phone:(800)490-9198
       Fax: (513)489-8695
       E-mail: ncepi.mail@.epa.gov

or you can download an electronic copy from the Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Office's
web site on the Internet athttp://www.epagov/ceppo.
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