As part of the EPA's Superfund Amendments and
Reauthorization Act (SARA), Congress decreed that facilities
that use large quantities of hazardous chemicals must inform
the local community of their presence and work with local
fire departments to plan for accidents and releases. These
requirements to inform the Public of chemical use and storage
are known as Emergency Planning and Community Roght to Know
Act (EPCRA).
Specifically, regulations require the following:
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Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPC) be established
by fire and police departments, working with community
chemical users;
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Facilities must notify the LEPC when chemicals are
released;
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Facilities must submit chemical inventories to the
LEPC and state officials to help in planning for
releases.
In order to comply with there regulations, EMP requires
chemical users on campus to fill out a specific chemical
inventory each year, tabulates the data, and submits it
to the Cambridge LEPC and state officials. A chemicals database
by building and room enables the fire department to know
what materials are in a building in the event of a fire.
MIT also has representatives from different departments
attend the Cambridge LEPC to develop and coordinate emergency
procedures. Representatives from the Medical Department,
the Environmental, Health and Safety Office, The Nuclear
Reactor, and MIT Police participate on LEPC subcommittees
and in mock emergency preparedness drills.
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