Subcommittees

To coordinate all of the LEP activities more efficiently, all committee members are involved with a subcommittee.  The following subcommittees have been established with the summary of tasks being defined.

• Planning - Acts as a coordinating body for determining potential reporting facilities.  This subcommittee follows established guidelines for developing and reviewing off-site response plans and continues the implementation of a "Knox Box" system throughout the county to assist first responders in obtaining useful facility information during a hazardous materials event.  The boxes, which contain facility response plans, maps, telephone contacts, and other pertinent facility information are located in a convenient location near the entrance to the facility and are available 24 hours a day.
• Outreach and Training - Acts as a coordinating body for achieving public awareness of Title III requirements and information.  The subcommittee develops programs to meet the specific needs of emergency coordinators, community groups, industrial associations and any other groups or individuals requesting information about SARA Title III.

Exercises

The LEPC, through the cooperation of industry, local emergency response personnel, the Berks County Department of Emergency Services, and the Berks County Special Operations Group has tested response capabilities and furthered the cause of informing industry and the public about the importance of SARA Title III's planning requirements.  Exercises are evaluated and critiqued by outside consultants who identify opportunities for improvement as well as noteworthy positive attributes.  Lessons learned from these exercises help those agencies involved become better prepared for an actual event should one occur.