Plans

The LEPC has completed and annually updates a comprehensive emergency response plan for hazardous materials. The Cuyahoga County plan is called the SARA Plan. SARA refers to the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act, the federal law that mandated Emergency Planning and Community-Right-to-Know requirements in 1985. The plan must include certain features designed to enhance local emergency response capabilities. These features are outlined in Ohio Revised Code Section 3750.04. The SARA plan includes hazard analyses for over 250 facilities throughout Cuyahoga County that store or otherwise use Extremely Hazardous Substances (EHS). These analyses provide an estimate of the potential affected area in the event of a release of an EHS from these facilities.

In 1997 the LEPC conducted a workshop on population protection, and in 1998 co-sponsored a workshop on inherent safety practices that focused upon methods to prevent or reduce the number of emergency releases at these facilities.

General guidance for emergency planners and emergency response personnel can be found in the Ohio Hazardous Material Planning and Exercise Guidance Booklet, which can be downloaded from this site.

Exercises

The LEPC is required by Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3750 to complete an annual exercise of the SARA Plan. The exercise must test various plan provisions and is evaluated by the Ohio State Emergency Response Commission. Three types of exercise are used. A tabletop exercise is a verbal walk-through or discussion of the response procedures. It is designed to evaluate plans and resolve questions of coordination and roles. A functional exercise is a hands-on or physical demonstration of a specific function or operational capability. A full-scale exercise is also a hands-on test, but involves a test of the overall emergency management system. A full-scale exercise tests most or all of the emergency response functions outlined in an emergency plan. These exercises involve either simulation of events that might occur at a fixed facility or as a result of a transportation incident.

On May 7, 2008 the LEPC conducted a Hazardous Materials Table-Top exercise at the Red Cross, 3747 Euclid Ave., Cleveland.

On June 13, 2007 the LEPC conducted a functional exercise at the Bedford Heights Wastewater Treatment Plant, 25301 Solon Rd, Bedford Heights. Click here to read the press release.

On June 14, 2006 the LEPC conducted a functional exercise at the Crown Water Filtration Plant, 955 Clague Road, Westlake. Click here to read the press release.

On May 24, 2005. the LEPC conducted its annual disaster training drill from 9a.m. to noon at GE Advanced Materials, Quartz 22557 West Lunn Road, Strongsville.
Click here to exercise summary of details.

On May 19, 2004, the LEPC conducted a tabletop exercise at the Cleveland Fire Academy.
Click here to exercise summary of details.

On May 21, 2003, the LEPC conducted a functional exercise at Saint-Gobain Crystals in Solon.
Click here to view the press release describing the exercise and its participants.

On May 21, 2002, the LEPC conducted a functional exercise at the NASA Glenn Research Centers in Brook Park.  Click here to view the press release describing the exercise and its participants.

On May 31, 2001, the LEPC conducted a full-scale exercise at Praxair Distribution, Inc. in North Royalton. Click here to view the press release describing the exercise and its participants.

General guidance on exercise design and evaluation can be found in the Ohio Hazardous Materials Exercise and Evaluation Manual, which can be downloaded from this site.