Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC)

Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC)

Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) logo The Boulder County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) works with the community to identify industrial hazardous materials and keep the community informed of the potential risk. All companies that have certain types and quantities of hazardous chemicals must report annually to the LEPC. If the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires your company to keep a Safety Data Sheet (SDS, formerly Material Safety Data Sheet, or MSDS) on file for any chemicals stored or used in the workplace, and the chemical(s) is stored in quantities equal to or greatest than the Threshold Planning Quantity (TPQ) for that chemical, then you must report it. The public is encouraged to participate in the process. For more information about the Boulder County LEPC, contact the Boulder Office of Disaster Management at (303) 441-3390 or lepc@bouldercounty.gov.

Tier II Facilities

Sections 311 and 312 of EPCRA are known as the community right-to-know reporting. Under these requirements, facilities report on all hazardous chemicals present on site, which include extremely hazardous substances established under Section 302 of EPCRA. Specifically, facilities are required to provide information on the physical and health hazards, as well as the amount, and location of all hazardous chemicals, which can be useful for local emergency planning.

Who should submit a Tier II report?

The reporting requirements of Sections 311 and 312 apply to the owner or operator of any facility required to prepare or have available a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) (or Safety Data Sheet (SDS)) for any hazardous chemical defined under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) and its implementing regulations. The requirements for MSDS (or SDS) can be found in the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) in 29 CFR Part 1900.

Reports are submitted through Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment reporting website.

To make any updates to Tier II information contact cdphe.ppsaratitle3@state.co.us
Boulder ODM/LEPC will receive all Tier II Reports from the State of Colorado.

What should you report for Tier II?

Facilities must report the inventory information for quantities of hazardous chemicals that were housed at the facility at any time during the reporting year that are greater than or equal to the threshold. All states require Tier II submission, and it is mandatory for all facilities. All substances and chemicals that require an SDS must be recorded. Do not be selective, record all the chemicals, that way you will have a full inventory list when you start generating your report.

Once the facility has a full list of chemicals, consult the Tier II chemical list for which ones must be reported. Of these chemicals, the aspects that should be listed in a Tier II report are listed below:

Physical and Health Hazards of each reportable chemical (all applicable).

  • Maximum Amount on Site (in pounds).
  • Average Daily Amount on Site (in pounds).
  • The number of days chemical/mixture was present on-site (i.e., 365 days).
  • Storage Types, Conditions, and Locations.
  • Under attachments add site maps and the company’s emergency plans.

Members of the public may request the emergency response plan, material safety data sheets, and inventory forms that have been submitted under EPCRA Section 324(b) to the LEPC. Any follow up emergency notices may subsequently be issued.

To submit a request please use the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) website.

Upcoming Meetings

Meetings are open to facilities, partners, and the public.

Wednesday, April 3, 9:30-11:30 am

Location: Boulder Office of Disaster Management, 3280 Airport Road, Boulder, CO
Topics: Chemlock Program, Dr. David Grisenti, CISA Chemical Security Inspector, and Clean Water Act
Updates, Bre Bockstahler, EPA Region 8

Tuesday, August 6, 10:00 am-Noon

Location: Boulder County Fire Training Center, 6055 Reservoir Road, Boulder, CO, 80301
Topics: Hazmat 101 for Industry: Boulder County Hazmat Team will have trucks and their equipment on display and will talk about the capabilities and operations of the Boulder County Hazmat Team.

Thursday, November 7th, 9:30-11:30

Location: Boulder Office of Disaster Management, 3280 Airport Road, Boulder, CO, 80301
Topic: Emergency Environmental Response Team Overview and Public Health Involvement in Hazmat Incidents

Interested in becoming a member of the Boulder County LEPC?
Email us at lepc@bouldercounty.org.
Facility tour of Circle Graphics in Longmont (July 2017)
LEPC Facility tour of Circle Graphics in Longmont (July 2017)
LEPC Facility tour of the City of Boulder's Wastewater Treatment Plant (October 2016)
LEPC Facility tour of the City of Boulder's Wastewater Treatment Plant (October 2016)

Online Resources