The Boston Local Emergency Planning Committee shall have the responsibility for the City of Boston, Massachusetts.

Membership

The Boston Local Emergency Planning Committee shall include representatives of each of the membership categories prescribed in the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act of 1986 (EPCRA). These categories include:

1, Elected state and local officials;
2. Law enforcement;
3. Civil defense (emergency management);
4. Firefighting;
5. first aid (emergency medical service)
6. health;
7. local environmental;
8. hospital;
9. transportation personnel;
10. broadcast and print media;
11. community groups;
12. facility owners and operators. There shall be representatives from facilities utilizing hazardous and extremely hazardous substances.

In addition to the required categories, membership of the Boston LEPC will also include representatives from

* Education: Boston Public Schools, Boston University, and Boston College,
* Boston Water Department,
* American Red Cross of Massachusetts Bay.
* Representatives from surrounding LEPCs,
* Massachusetts State Emergency Response Commission
* Representatives from the United States Environmental Protection Agency are encouraged to participate as affiliate members of the Boston Local Emergency Planning Committee.

The Boston LEPC encourages all facilities within the City of Boston to participate as members. The facilities with extremely hazardous substances are encouraged to participate in committee activity as well as those with a type of hazardous material usage. The committee also invites involvement representatives from the business community that may not use hazardous chemicals but could be impacted by hazardous material emergencies, or is interested in participating in the emergency planning process.

Representatives to the LEPC from City of Boston departments shall be appointed by the department head. Community groups within the City of Boston are encouraged to participate in the LEPC. The Chairperson will seek members from other categories as necessary. 

A membership list of the Boston Local Emergency Planning Committee shall be posted on the Committee's Internet website.

Officers

The officers of the committee shall include a chairperson and secretary. In the event of a vacancy, an election shall be held at the next scheduled meeting of the committee or at a special meeting. All committee members shall be eligible to vote.

Sub-Committees

Business of the Boston Local Emergency Planning Committee is generally conducted as a committee of the whole. The one permanent subcommittee will be the exercise planning committee. The chairperson may form additional sub-committees or special committees as needed.

Meetings

The Boston Local Emergency Planning Committee shall meet at least twice a year. Sub-committees shall meet as needed. At least two exercises of the plan shall be conducted each year. All meetings will be conducted in accordance with the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law.

Meeting notices shall be posted at Boston City Hall, City Hall Plaza, Boston at least one week in advance of the meeting. The notice will also be posted on the Boston LEPC Internet Website. All LEPC members shall be notified at least fifteen days in advance of a meeting. Notification to members may be by US Mail, facsimile or e-mail.

Any member wishing to place an item on the agenda shall contact the Chairperson at least one week prior to the scheduled meeting.

A quorum shall be fifty (50) percent of membership categories.

Records

All records of the committee shall be considered to be in the public domain. This does not apply to Tier II report information that has been submitted under the confidentially provisions if the EPCRA Law. The records of the Boston Local Emergency Planning Committee shall be held at the City of Boston Local Emergency Planning Committee Office, 115 Southampton St, Boston, MA 02118. Records include meeting agenda, meeting minutes, attendance, and exercise summaries.

The annual chemical inventory filing records will be maintained in the LEPC database. Updated information from the filings will be posted to the Boston LEPC Internet website. Copies of the information is available through the Right to Know request process as outlined in the plan.

By-Law Changes

These By-Laws may be changed by a simple majority vote. Any change of the By-Laws shall be required to be posted on the meeting agenda for which it is discussed.