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
^ Printed on recycled paper
-------
Page 2
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.
Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Office ^> Printed on recycled paper
------- |