§ 31. State Emergency Response Commission; duties
(a) The Commission shall have authority to:
(1) Carry out all the requirements of a commission under the Emergency Planning and Community
Right-To-Know Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 11001-11050 (1986) (EPCRA).
(2) Adopt rules necessary for the implementation of EPCRA and for the reporting of hazardous
chemicals or substances, including setting minimum limits on the level of hazardous
chemicals to be reported.
(3) Designate and appoint local emergency planning committees.
(4) Review and comment on the development and implementation of local emergency plans
by the local emergency planning committee and provide assistance to that committee
in executing its duties.
(5) Review and comment on the comprehensive State Emergency Management Plan and the local
emergency planning committee plans.
(6) Meet with interested parties, which may include representatives of the carrier industry
shippers, and State and local agencies having an interest, responsibility, or expertise
concerning hazardous materials.
(7) Ensure that the State Emergency Management Plan will go into effect when an accident
occurs involving the transportation of hazardous materials. The Plan shall be exercised
at least once annually and shall be coordinated with local and State emergency plans.
(8) Jointly adopt rules concerning reportable quantities of economic poison as defined
in 6 V.S.A. § 911(5) with the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets. The Commission may enter into contracts
with governmental agencies or private organizations to carry out the duties of this
section.
(9) Recommend funding for awards to be made by the Commissioner for planning, training,
exercises, and response capabilities from funds that are available from federal sources
or through the Hazardous Substances Fund created in section 38 of this title. The Commission may create committees as necessary for other related purposes and
delegate funding recommendation powers to those committees.
(b) The Department of Public Safety shall provide administrative support to the State
Emergency Response Commission. (Added 1989, No. 252 (Adj. Sess.), § 24; amended 1993, No. 194 (Adj. Sess.), § 4, eff. June 14, 1994; 2003, No. 42, § 2, eff. May 27, 2003; 2005, No. 209 (Adj. Sess.), § 23; 2021, No. 52, § 14; 2023, No. 143 (Adj. Sess.), § 8, eff. July 1, 2024.)