The North Central Florida Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) and many local governments have proclaimed the week of February 25 through March 3, 2001, as Hazardous Materials Spill Prevention Week. Educating the public is important to increasing chemical safety in our communities.

One goal of Hazardous Materials Spill Prevention Week is to let the public know that the LEPC and emergency responders are now working with facilities that have chemicals to prevent releases from happening. A new federal law requires many facilities with chemicals to have a written spill prevention program and to file an electronic summary with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Florida was one of the first states in the country to be approved for carrying out this program at the state level.

The week also reminds citizens that they have a "Right-to-Know" about risks from hazardous materials stored in our communities. The LEPC provides public access to chemical inventories and emergency plans. LEPC Chairman John Hudson said, "The public and facilities both benefit from a local dialogue being established to prevent releases and reduce risks."

Spill prevention and Right-to-Know information can be obtained by calling LEPC coordinator Dwayne Mundy at (352) 955-2200 ext. 108 or by visiting the LEPC web page at www.ncflepc.org.