Established in 1987, the Philadelphia Local Emergency Planning Committee (PLEPC) is responsible for developing a comprehensive chemical emergency response plan for the City of Philadelphia.

The PLEPC meets quarterly to assess resources and capabilities for dealing with hazardous materials incidents and emergencies. The committee focuses on planning, preventing, and responding to these events effectively.

PLEPC activities are dedicated to protecting the health and safety of people, communities, and the environment from hazardous materials incidents. As such, PLEPC promotes community awareness and ensures the proper identification and inventorying of hazardous materials, storage sites, and transportation sites. It also provides information on chemical hazards and emergency plans to Philadelphians. The committee provides or sponsors seminars, workshops, presentations, and newsletters for government agencies, businesses, and the health care community.

The committee also works to meet the responsibilities of the Tier II Reporting Requirements set out in SARA Title III, Pennsylvania Act 165.

PLEPC Members

Members of the PLEPC include local agencies such as the fire and police departments, emergency medical services, health agencies, local civic and environmental groups, and the owners of industrial facilities.

Members of the PLEPC include local agencies such as the fire and police departments, emergency medical services, health agencies, local civic and environmental groups, and the owners of industrial facilities.

Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) Tier II Reporting Requirements

The LEPC Tier II Reporting Requirements provide step by step instructions for completing your Tier II Report. For more information, review Pennsylvania’s Tier II Reporting Requirements.

What is Tier II reporting?
Under the federal Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA), facilities using, storing or manufacturing more than a certain amount of hazardous chemicals on-site at any time during the 2023 calendar year are required to submit reports on their chemical inventories and pay fees to the state and local authorities. Please use the reference table below to assist in determining whether or not to file a Tier II report.

Tier II Reporting Changes 
Beginning January 10, 2012, Philadelphia Tier II facilities will only submit Tier II reports to the Pennsylvania Bureau of PENNSAFE’s PATTS website. This is the state Tier II reporting website that companies have been using when filing Tier II reports with the state and the website address is: http://www.lipatts.state.pa.us/submit. The local Philadelphia LEPC reporting website has been deactivated as the LEPC will receive Tier II data from the PATTS website for Tier II facilities.

Billing
Tier II facilities will continue to receive a bill from both the state and the LEPC. The current LEPC Tier II fees are as follows:

• $75.00/chemical
• $100.00 flat emergency planning fee for facilities storing Extremely Hazardous Substances (EHS) above the EPA’s Threshold Planning Quantity (TPQ)

Questions about local billing should be directed to the LEPC: LEPC@phila.gov.

Off-Site Emergency Response Plans

Facilities storing Extremely Hazardous Substances (EHS) above the EPA’s Threshold Planning Quantity (TPQ) will need to complete an Off-Site Emergency Response Plan that the LEPC has developed. Qualifying Tier II facilities can use the LEPC’s Emergency Response Plan (ERP) Template to provide facility-specific information (e.g., Facility emergency contacts, equipment, communications systems, etc.).

After completing this information, facilities will send the plan back to the LEPC at the following e-mail address: LEPC@phila.gov. The LEPC will complete the remaining plan and approve it. Once the plan has been approved by the LEPC, facilities will be sent the completed, approved plan and will be asked to upload the plan to the PATTS website.