Mid-America Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC)
The Mid-America Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) brings private industry together with public emergency response agencies in the Kansas City metropolitan region. The purpose of the LEPC is to help reduce the community’s risks from accidents involving hazardous chemicals.
The Mid-America LEPC includes representatives from fire departments and districts, law enforcement agencies, emergency medical services agencies, private industry, city and county emergency management officials, the media and state and federal agencies. <Membership Roster> <Bylaws>
Businesses that work with or house hazardous materials are encouraged to participate in the LEPC. For more information, contact Erin Lynch, 816/701-8390.
The LEPC focuses on four primary work areas: planning, training, education and outreach, and "getting acquainted" — building familiarity among people and resources across jurisdictions and disciplines.
Emergency Response Planning
Chemicals are used by public and private facilities throughout our metropolitan area. These chemicals are used to provide essential services, like clean water, and to manufacture goods at area industries. Chemicals such as gasoline are transported daily along the area's highway and rail systems. Although companies that handle or transport these chemicals in the Kansas City area have excellent safety records, we need to plan for, and be capable of responding to, accidental releases of these chemicals.
The LEPC prepares and regularly updates a hazardous materials emergency response plan for the eight-county, bistate metropolitan area. The plan provides guidance to local communities to prepare for and respond to hazardous materials incidents.
Mid-America LEPC Service Area
The state of Missouri requires each county to form a local emergency planning committee to carry out the requirements of the federal law. Cass, Clay, Jackson, and Ray counties and the city of Kansas City, Missouri, formed a multi-county LEPC in 1987 with administrative support provided by MARC. Platte County joined the Mid-America LEPC in 1996.
In 2010, members of the Mid-America LEPC unanimously approved a merger with LEPCs in Johnson, Leavenworth and Wyandotte counties.
Funding
The Mid-America LEPC is funded through fees paid by companies that are required to report the presence of hazardous materials at their facilities. A portion of the fees paid by companies to the Missouri Emergency Response Commission are provided annually to the Mid-America LEPC. In addition, the Mid-America LEPC receives other state grants and local contributions from Jackson County, Missouri.
Officers
Chair - Deputy Chief Donna Maize, Kansas City, Mo., Fire Dept.
Vice Chair - Mike Klender, Assistant Manager, KCMO Water Service Dept.
Second Vice Chair - Mike Wilson, the City of Kansas City, Kansas Fire Dept.
Subcommittees
Plans Subcommittee, led by Mike Klender, KCMO Water Service Dept.
Industry Subcommittee, led by Greg Moerer, Bayer CropScience
School Subcommittee, led by Dr. Bob Hull, Olathe School District, and Jon Brady, NKC School District
Transition Subcommittee led by Chief Dave Williams, NKC Fire Dept.
Public Outreach Subcommittee, led by Deputy Mike O'Neal, Platte County Sheriff's Dept.
Training Subcommittee, led by Mike Jenkins, NKC Fire Dept., and Gary Wilson, Overland Park Fire Dept.
Staff Contacts
Erin Lynch, 816/701-8390
Meeting Information
Regular meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month at 10 a.m.
All meetings are listed on the emergency services calendar and are open to the public.
Related Information
Pipeline Association for Public Awareness
EPA Excessive Heat Events Guidebook (1.75 MB pdf)
Emergency Response Guidebook Database
Download Cameo Software (Computer Aided Management of Emergency Operations)