The Berks County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) is the "planning arm" of the county's hazardous materials safety efforts (the SOG haz-mat team 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 facility operations and information on site-specific chemical hazards. The plan maps out transportation and evacuation routes, identifies facilities that store hazardous chemicals, identifies shelters, and compiles other emergency information that can be activated instantly.

The LEPC also is responsible for distributing chemical inventory information and off-site response plans to the public and ensuring that emergency responders are properly trained to address hazmat incidents.

For more information on the Berks County LEPC and the services provided, click on any of the links on the right side of this page.