42 U.S.C. § 11001 : US Code - Section 11001: Establishment of State commissions, planning districts, and local committees

Search 42 U.S.C. § 11001 : US Code - Section 11001: Establishment of State commissions, planning districts, and local committees

(a) Establishment of State emergency response commissions
Not later than six months after October 17, 1986, the Governor of
each State shall appoint a State emergency response commission. The
Governor may designate as the State emergency response commission
one or more existing emergency response organizations that are
State-sponsored or appointed. The Governor shall, to the extent
practicable, appoint persons to the State emergency response
commission who have technical expertise in the emergency response
field. The State emergency response commission shall appoint local
emergency planning committees under subsection (c) of this section
and shall supervise and coordinate the activities of such
committees. The State emergency response commission shall establish
procedures for receiving and processing requests from the public
for information under section 11044 of this title, including tier
II information under section 11022 of this title. Such procedures
shall include the designation of an official to serve as
coordinator for information. If the Governor of any State does not
designate a State emergency response commission within such period,
the Governor shall operate as the State emergency response
commission until the Governor makes such designation.
(b) Establishment of emergency planning districts
Not later than nine months after October 17, 1986, the State
emergency response commission shall designate emergency planning
districts in order to facilitate preparation and implementation of
emergency plans. Where appropriate, the State emergency response
commission may designate existing political subdivisions or
multijurisdictional planning organizations as such districts. In
emergency planning areas that involve more than one State, the
State emergency response commissions of all potentially affected
States may designate emergency planning districts and local
emergency planning committees by agreement. In making such
designation, the State emergency response commission shall indicate
which facilities subject to the requirements of this subchapter are
within such emergency planning district.
(c) Establishment of local emergency planning committees
Not later than 30 days after designation of emergency planning
districts or 10 months after October 17, 1986, whichever is
earlier, the State emergency response commission shall appoint
members of a local emergency planning committee for each emergency
planning district. Each committee shall include, at a minimum,
representatives from each of the following groups or organizations:
elected State and local officials; law enforcement, civil defense,
firefighting, first aid, health, local environmental, hospital, and
transportation personnel; broadcast and print media; community
groups; and owners and operators of facilities subject to the
requirements of this subchapter. Such committee shall appoint a
chairperson and shall establish rules by which the committee shall
function. Such rules shall include provisions for public
notification of committee activities, public meetings to discuss
the emergency plan, public comments, response to such comments by
the committee, and distribution of the emergency plan. The local
emergency planning committee shall establish procedures for
receiving and processing requests from the public for information
under section 11044 of this title, including tier II information
under section 11022 of this title. Such procedures shall include
the designation of an official to serve as coordinator for
information.
(d) Revisions
A State emergency response commission may revise its designations
and appointments under subsections (b) and (c) of this section as
it deems appropriate. Interested persons may petition the State
emergency response commission to modify the membership of a local
emergency planning committee.