Calcasieu LEPC briefs Sulphur council on chemical emergency plan; seeks public input

Ronald Tower, vice chair of the Calcasieu Local Emergency Planning Committee, told the Sulphur City Council on Nov. 10 that the LEPC is responsible for annual review of the parish chemical emergency response plan and is actively soliciting public comments and input.

Tower said the committee’s purpose is to bring together community members, industry and government to plan responses to potential chemical emergencies. He identified committee leadership and said the LEPC’s public-education and information standing committee is working on revisions. Tower provided a website and email link for residents to review the plan and submit comments; he said the LEPC meets on the third Tuesday of each month and that meetings are open to the public.

“Read the plan,” Tower said during the council meeting, and asked residents who have questions about sirens, notifications or response procedures to raise them with the LEPC for inclusion in this year’s revisions. He thanked the city and the committee volunteers and encouraged residents to attend meetings or submit written comments.

The presentation noted the LEPC’s federal mandate to coordinate community chemical preparedness and emphasized the committee’s desire for broader public participation. Tower also identified two representatives attending from the City of Sulphur: Captain A.J. Powell of the Sulphur Police Department and Bethany Morgan from the mayor’s office.

The council did not take any formal action on the LEPC presentation; Tower said the committee will continue revising the plan and consider public input in upcoming meetings.

The LEPC provided a flyer and a web contact for submitting comments (website given during the presentation).