Ripley County Local Emergency Planning Committee, herein after referred to as the LEPC, is a County entity created pursuant to SARA Title III, The Committee has been created by Governor Evan Bayh's Executive Order Number 89-13, and had statuary authority conferred by the Senate Bill 392 of the Indiana Legislature, signed into law by Governor Bayh.

The primary purpose of the Committee is to implement Sara Title III in Indiana, but its broader purpose is to enhance environmental protection and public health and safety as these are affected by chemical hazards in Indiana. This legislation makes it mandatory for local emergency planning committees to prepare an emergency plan for possible releases of hazardous substances.

The LEPC's primary responsibility is to develop and maintain an emergency response plan for hazardous material releases. Other functions of the LEPC are:

1. Conduct hazardous materials exercises (involving first responders) to train personnel and further refine and  revise the plan

2. Facilitate community awareness of the varied issues associated with hazardous materials.

3. Provide an office for records of facilities subject to SARA Title III reporting requirements.