Hazconnect Provides EPCRA One-Stop Shop
The One-Stop Shop approach centers around an online collaboration system with features for every actor to effectively meet its mandates. Hazconnect provides one-stop reporting for business, and eliminates the burden of report collection and management for LEPCs and fire departments, while allowing them immediate access to the submissions. Emergency planning and analytical reports provide critical information when it is needed.
SERCs have a range of responsibilities under EPCRA. They establish LEPCs, and provide oversight and support. They are responsible for reviewing LEPC emergency plans and ensuring coordination across emergency planning districts. SERCs collect and manage reports from facilities and must have procedures for processing information requests from the public. Hazconnect helps fulfill these all responsibilities in a comprehensive, fast, and convenience way.
One of the issues SERCs face is motivating their LEPCs. Alleviating the burden of routine records management tasks for LEPCs allows LEPCs to focus their typically limited resources on core planning responsibilities and community involvement. This support goes a long way toward motivating the LEPCs. And periodic training on the capabilities of the system, which can be provided by Hazconnect, can help to maintain that motivation. Not only is the system helpful in motivating LEPCs, but it can help with industry as well. The many features of the system effectively reduce the reporting burden on facilities, and help them avoid certain compliance issues. This can encourage facilities to engage more cooperatively, which is advantageous for the SERC and LEPCs and EPCRA implementation overall.
Data quality and facility compliance are improved through the centralized approach. Numerous flexible search and query capabilities make filling public requests easy. A public data portal provides a streamlined way to provide 24x7 self-service for public users. The Planning and Response features streamline hazard analysis and emergency plan development. The GIS/mapping features provide spatial awareness. Facilities can be mapped in relationship to other sites like water sources, environmental sites, hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and other risk sites. ALOHA plumes and buffer zone maps identify vulnerability zones for planning or possible evacation.
If your State has not currently established centralized one-stop reporting, or would simply like to explore the many benefits, Hazconnect can work with you to discuss the options. And if funding is an issue, Hazconnect has worked with many states, and can provide insight into potential funding sources. Hazconnect can connect you with others successfully using grant funding for Hazconnect services.
If your state is already using Hazconnect, there may be multiple additional modules and enhanced capabilities that are available or are being developed. Hazconnect can work with you to discuss potential enhancements. Some states have started with a basic approach, and then added capabilities over time. And after working with EPCRA reporting, some states have expanded into using the Hazconnect approach to better manage a variety of permitting related programs.
A One-Stop Shop may be the best way to centralize and energize your program into delivering higher compliance numbers and improved community safety.