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Conference on Emergency Planning and Response Coming to Kansas City Aug. 16-19

Release Date: 08/03/2007
Contact Information: Kim Olson, (913) 551-7458, olson.kim@epa.gov

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Environmental News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


(Kansas City, Kan., Aug. 3, 2007) – An emergency response conference in Kansas City on August 16-19 will offer updated information on hazardous materials, emergency planning and environmental risks to communities in Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri.

The Local Emergency Planning Committee/Tribal Emergency Response Commission Conference will be at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center Hotel, 2345 McGee St., Kansas City, Mo. The conference is co-sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7, in conjunction with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, private industry, and tribal, state and local governments.

A local emergency planning committee (LEPC) is a group that unites emergency services, such as police and fire departments, with local industries and others to plan for, prevent and respond to emergencies and environmental hazards. About 350 registered LEPCs assist communities in the four Region 7 states. Tribal emergency response commissions (TERCs) are similar groups that serve the nine tribal nations in Region 7.

Conference attendees will participate in various technical sessions covering such topics as chemical accidents, homeland security, health and medical issues, federal/state response and the basics of emergency planning.

The opening keynote speaker is Dennis Mileti, professor emeritus at the University of Colorado at Boulder. His book, “Disasters by Design,” summarized a national effort to assess knowledge and policy in the U.S. for hazards and disasters. Mike Smith, an international instructor and consultant for the U.S. military and the Fire Service, is the closing presenter.

The conference will include an award ceremony to acknowledge the exceptional work of Region 7 LEPCs and TERCs and the industries involved in protecting Region 7 communities.

More information about the conference is available from EPA’s Steve Wurtz at (913) 551-7315. Wurtz can also be contacted through Region 7’s toll-free hot line at (800) 223-0425 and by e-mail at wurtz.stephen@epa.gov.