In 1987, the Wyoming State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) was created through executive order. Among the SERC's duties were designating local emergency planning districts within the state and appointing a local emergency planning committee (LEPC) to serve each district. LEPCs are required to develop an emergency response plan, review it annually, and provide information about chemicals in the community to citizens.

LEPC membership must include the following (at a minimum):

• Elected state and local officials
• Police, fire, civil defense and public health professionals
• Environment, transportation and hospital officials
• Facility representatives
• Representatives from community groups and the media

Mission Statement

The mission of the Big Horn County LEPC is to comply with the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act (EPCRA) under the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA); EPCRA is commonly known as SARA Title III. We are unique in that we are a multifaceted tool and forum for all emergency responders and their respective agencies/departments; for industry, local governments, health and welfare, school districts, and other concerned organizations or individual citizens; that will enable us to identify, plan for, mitigate, coordinate training, and respond to all incidents which may include: hazardous materials accidents and/or releases, wild land and other types of fire, natural disasters which may include flooding, tornados, severe storms, and earthquakes; highway and rail transportation accidents, terrorist activity, and civil disturbances which could affect the overall health and well being of the citizens of our county.

• The LEPC will also be the advising agency for Homeland Security Grant Funds as directed by and to the Big Horn County Commissioners.
• The LEPC will also act as the Citizen Corp Council and will be NIMS/ICS and NRP compliant.
• The LEPC is operated by the active membership as an open forum to know each other individually, to know each other's equipment and capabilities.
• The LEPC is committed to the safety of the county by ensuring and identifying proper resources and planning needed for any type of emergency, and by providing leadership and support to reduce the loss of life and property from all types of hazards, through an emergency management program of preparedness, response, mitigation and recovery.

Responsibilities

• Identify facilities using hazardous materials
• Identify transportation routes being used for hazardous materials shipment
• Describe emergency response procedures
• Designate community and facility coordinators
• Outline emergency notification procedures
• Describe methods for determining the occurrence of a release
• Describe community and industry emergency equipment and facilities
• Outline emergency evacuation plans
• Identify special risk facilities (i.e., hospitals, nursing homes, schools, etc.)
• Describe a training program for emergency response personnel
• Review methods and schedules for training exercises
• Review Emergency Operations Plans (specifically the Hazardous Materials Response Plan in Volume B of the County Emergency Operations Plan) regularly
• Make information available to the public in accordance with Community Right-to-Know legislation
• Ensure all facilities required to submit Tier II reports are submitting such reports
• Keep the State Emergency Response Commission advised of LEPC activities
• Conduct public meetings at least twice a year
• Recommend disbursement of grant funds
• Act as Citizen Core Council (CERT) for Big Horn County
• Will be compliant with NIMS, ICS, NRP Plans

Meetings - 2020 Schedule

Click Here for Printable Schedule

LEPC meetings are usually held on the 4th Thursday of the month and called to order at 7:00pm, unless otherwise noted below.

Committee Officers

Chairman: Dave Neves, Commissioner

Vice-Chairman: Ken Blackburn, Sheriff

Treasurer: LaRae Dobbs, Emergency Management Coordinator

Secretary: Keela Mangus

Subcommittees

• Budget & Finance
• Communications
• Court Room Security
• Exercise
• 911 - Communications/Mapping
• Safe Schools
• THIRA
• Tier II
• Weather Alert & Action