The Berks County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) is the "planning arm" of the County's hazardous materials safety efforts (the Special Operations Group is considered the "response arm").  The primary responsibilities of the LEPC are to develop off-site emergency response plans for facilities that manufacture, store, or process hazardous materials.  These plans are intended to provide emergency responders with an understanding of the facility's operations and information on site-specific chemical hazards.  The plan maps out transportation and evacuation routes, identifies facilities that store hazardous chemicals, identified shelters, and compiles other emergency information that can be activated instantly.