Preparing and preventing HazMat spills

• The EPA’s Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Office (CEPPO) is active in counterterrorism efforts (http://www.epa.gov/ceppo/index.html)
• Planning for HazMat releases has been required since 1986 under EPCRA.
• The EPA has guidelines to assist local planning for intentional releases of toxic substances (http://www.epa.gov/swercepp/factsheets/lepcct.pdf).
• Planning allows:
• Increased security near vulnerable facilities
• Equipment deployment
• Personnel readiness
• Each state has a State Emergency Response Commission (SERC). Connecticut’s is administered by the state DEP (http://www.dep.state.ct.us/index.htm>) though much of the planning is actually done on a local level.
• The Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) (http://www.99main.com/~leoc/hazardou.htm) for the town of Ledyard has been recognized for a high level of achievement.