The Vermont Statutes Online
The Statutes below include the actions of the 2024 session of the General Assembly.
NOTE: The Vermont Statutes Online is an unofficial copy of the Vermont Statutes Annotated that is provided as a convenience.
Title 20 : Internal Security and Public Safety
Chapter 001 : Emergency Management
(Cite as: 20 V.S.A. § 32)-
§ 32. Local emergency planning committees; creation; duties
(a) One or more local emergency planning committees, created under EPCRA, shall be appointed by the State Emergency Response Commission. “EPCRA” means the federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 11001–11050.
(b) All local emergency planning committees shall include representatives from the following: fire departments; local and regional emergency medical services; local, county, and State law enforcement; other entities providing first responders or emergency management personnel; media; transportation; regional planning commissions; hospitals; industry; the Vermont National Guard; the Department of Health’s district office; and an animal rescue organization, and may include any other interested public or private individual or organization. Where the local emergency planning committee represents more than one region of the State, the Commission shall appoint representatives that are geographically diverse.
(c) A local emergency planning committee shall perform all the following duties:
(1) Carry out all the requirements of a committee pursuant to EPCRA, including preparing a local emergency planning committee plan. The plan shall be coordinated with the State emergency management plan and may be expanded to address all-hazards identified in the State emergency management plan. At a minimum, the local emergency planning committee plan shall include the following:
(A) Identifies facilities and transportation routes of extremely hazardous substances.
(B) Describes the utilization of first responders and other emergency management personnel and emergency response procedures, including those identified in facility plans.
(C) Designates a local emergency planning committee coordinator and facility coordinators to implement the plan.
(D) Outlines emergency notification procedures.
(E) Describes how to determine the probable affected area and population by releases of hazardous substances.
(F) Describes local emergency equipment and facilities and the persons responsible for them.
(G) Outlines evacuation plans.
(H) Provides for coordinated local training to ensure integration with the State emergency management plan.
(I) Provides methods and schedules for exercising emergency plans.
(2) Upon receipt by the committee or the committee’s designated community emergency coordinator of a notification of a release of a hazardous chemical or substance, ensure that the local emergency plan has been implemented.
(3) Consult and coordinate with the heads of local government emergency services, the emergency management director or designee, persons in charge of local first responders and other local emergency management personnel, regional planning commissions, and the managers of all facilities within the jurisdiction regarding the facility plan.
(4) Review and evaluate requests for funding and other resources and advise the State Emergency Response Commission concerning disbursement of funds.
(5) Work to support the various emergency services and other entities providing first responders or emergency management personnel, mutual aid systems, town governments, regional planning commissions, State agency district offices, and others in their area in conducting coordinated all-hazards emergency management activities. (Added 1989, No. 252 (Adj. Sess.), § 25; amended 2005, No. 209 (Adj. Sess.), § 24; 2021, No. 20, § 122; 2021, No. 52, § 15; 2023, No. 143 (Adj. Sess.), § 9, eff. July 1, 2024.)
