As the emergency coordinator for Chemical Emergency Preparedness Advisory Committee (CEPAC), FCEM&HS is responsible for conducting the annual CEPAC/LEPC exercise to test the county’s hazardous materials response plan.  According to Section 3750.04 of the Ohio Revised Code, Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) must annually conduct an exercise of their hazardous materials plan in a recurring four-year exercise cycle.  This exercise provides responders with an opportunity to evaluate the current response plan in a non-threatening environment. The exercise year is based on the State Fiscal Year, July 1st through June 30th of the following year.

The most realistic test of the plan is an actual response to a release.  As such, an actual event can qualify as an exercise.  An actual event is defined as an incident that is reported in accordance with ORC 3750.06. The LEPC can use up to two actual events in lieu of conducting an exercise in any two years within the four-year cycle.
 

CEPAC Four Year Cycle Requirements 

• Complete at least one full-scale exercise; the remaining three years can be any type of exercise including additional full-scale exercises based upon local program need.
• Activate and evaluate the county’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC).
• Demonstrate, at a minimum, the number of objectives needed per exercise.
• Consider no more than two actual incidents for exercise credit in the four-year cycle.
• Include local emergency response and medical personnel in each exercise.
• Develop an exercise scenario that will involve either a facility that is subject to the county’s hazardous materials plan or a transporter of hazardous materials as defined by regulations adopted under the “Hazardous Materials Transportation Act.”