The SUPERFUND Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) of 1986 was enacted into law by Congress on October 17, 1986, and contains Title III, the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986, which establishes requirements that federal, state, and local governments and industry must implement regarding emergency planning and community right-to-know reporting on hazardous and toxic chemicals. Pursuant to Title III, the Alaska State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) has designated the area within the boundaries of the Northwest Arctic Borough as a Local Emergency planning District and has appointed a Local Emergency Planning Committee. The Committee establishes procedures for handling public requests for information, and to develop an “All Hazards” Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), which among other things must:

Identify all-natural hazards in the District;
Identify facilities containing hazardous and extremely hazardous substances (H/EHS) in reportable quantities;
Identify transportation routes for EHS;
Establish emergency response procedures for natural and man-made disasters;
Designate a Community Emergency Coordinator to implement the plan and register company-appointed facility representatives (for facilities not represented in the committee membership) to participate in the planning process;
Establish emergency notification procedures;
Develop methods for determining the occurrence of a release of hazardous substances;
Complete an inventory of community emergency equipment and identify the individual(s) responsible for it;
Develop evacuation plans;
Describe and schedule a training program for emergency response personnel;
Establish methods and schedules for exercising emergency response plans.

The NWAB is currently reorganizing the LEPC. A public notice will be sent out for membership. If you have any questions, please contact the Director of Public Safety at 907-442-8226.