Hazardous Materials in Allen County
Allen County is continually at risk of a hazardous materials incident. The county has 302 fixed-site facilities with hazardous materials. The release of hazardous materials can occur at fixed sites. Yet, incidents on the highways or railroads are more likely to cause a release.
Why does this matter to me?
Ask yourself these questions:
- If a cloud of poisonous chemical gases was coming at you right now, would you know what to do?
- Has the government taken the necessary steps to protect you and your family in such an event?
- Are the facilities near you in compliance with any government requirements?
- Do the firefighters know which hazardous chemicals are present at facilities near you? Do they know these chemicals' amounts and locations? Can they effectively respond in case of an accident?
You (the public) have the right to know the plan for chemical emergencies where you live, travel, and work. Without proper emergency planning, hazardous materials incidents can overwhelm unprepared emergency response teams.
What is in place to protect my community?
To prepare for chemical spills and inform the public of safety issues related to chemical hazards, the US Congress passed The Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act (EPCRA). The EPCRA is a part of Title III of the Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA Title III).
In response to the EPCRA, Indiana created the Indiana Emergency Response Commission (IERC).
The Allen County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) enacts the EPCRA and the policies of the IERC.
Allen County’s LEPC creates plans, conducts exercises, and collects data on the hazardous chemicals in our area.
In short
- Federal Law > State Policy > Local Action
- EPRCA > IERC > LEPC
How are these chemicals categorized?
A hazardous material is any chemical that is a physical hazard or a health hazard as defined under 40 CFR Part 302. Hazardous materials also include:
- radioactive and non-radioactive materials
- explosives in reportable quantities
- other chemical hazards.
You can read the EPA's List of List (December 2022) . This list describes the chemicals that facilities must report according to the EPCRA, Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), and Section 112(r) of the Clean Air Act.