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OUR HISTORY:

The Deer Park Community Awareness and Emergency Response (CAER) Team was formed in 1986 as a joint effort between local industry and the City of Deer Park. The Deer Park CAER Team helped develop a three-level CAER system to categorize the severity of chemical releases. It also supported installation of the CAER Line (281/476-CAER) which continues to provide the public with information about chemical releases. The CAER Code of Management Practices remains a key component of the Responsible Care program adopted nationally by the American Chemistry Council and locally by the East Harris County Manufacturers Association.

In October 1986, Congress passed Public Law 99-499, the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) Title III, also known as the "Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-know Act" (EPCRA). This federal law required the Governor of each state to appoint a State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) which divided each state into Local Emergency Planning Districts, each governed by a Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC). Most local planning districts were determined by city or county boundaries. The Deer Park LEPC is one of 18 LEPC's in Harris County and is one of the leading LEPC's nationwide.

OUR PURPOSE:

Under terms of our By-laws, the purpose of the Deer Park LEPC is to:

1.       develop, train, and test a hazardous substances emergency response plan for the City of Deer Park,

2.       develop procedures for regulated facilities to provide notification of a hazardous release to the LEPC

3.       develop procedures for receiving and processing community right-to-know requests from the public

4.       provide for public notification of committee activities.

OUR MEETINGS:

The Deer Park LEPC meets from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month (except July and December) in the City Council Chambers of Deer Park City Hall located at 710 East San Augustine in Deer Park, Texas. All of the LEPC's meetings and records are open to the public.

Minutes of our most recent LEPC meetings are available on our MEETINGS page.  To obtain a copy of our By-Laws or other public documents, please contact our LEPC Secretary/Treasurer by clicking on CONTACT US.

OUR MEMBERS:

The Deer Park LEPC is composed of more than 60 members which represent a cross-section of our community, including local elected officials, law enforcement, emergency management, firefighting, first aid, health care, hospitals, school officials, broadcast and print media, community and environmental organizations, and representatives of facilities and transportation sources (pipeline, rail, ship, or truck) subject to EPCRA requirements. All members are residents of (or conduct business in) the City of Deer Park, and agree to serve on one or more sub-committees. Members are appointed by the Mayor and approved by the Harris County Judge and the Texas State Emergency Response Commission (SERC).

To obtain the names and affiliations of our members, click our DIRECTORY.

OUR SUB-COMMITTEES:

Our LEPC is composed of four standing sub-committees; to learn more about each sub-committee, click on its name:

>       Communications
         Installs and maintains the various communications systems (outdoor alarms, radio, telephone, etc.) to warn residents and visitors of a release of any hazardous substance

>       Community Awareness
         Develops outreach programs to measure community attitudes and awareness levels and educate both children and adults about what to do during any chemical release

>       Emergency Response/Transportation Preparedness
         Updates and exercises the integrated emergency plans of the city, industry, school district, and other resources available to respond to any chemical release; develops information related to the transportation of hazardous substances by pipeline, rail, ship and truck through the city

>       Executive Committee
         Composed of the Officers and Chairs of each LEPC Subcommittee; develops long-term strategies, programs, and finances for the LEPC including a budgeting program to project operational needs and fund future projects

The Chair and members of each sub-committee are appointed by our LEPC Chairman. The Sub-committee Chairs and the LEPC officers (Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and Secretary/Treasurer) serve as an Executive Committee to coordinate activities of the standing and ad-hoc committees.

For more information about the Deer Park LEPC, contact our LEPC Secretary by clicking on the CONTACT US hotlink below.