The SUPERFUND Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) of 1986 was enacted into law by Congress on October 17, 1986, and contains Title III, the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986, which establishes requirements that federal, state, and local governments and industry must implement regarding emergency planning and community right-to-know reporting on hazardous and toxic chemicals. Pursuant to Title III, the Alaska State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) has designated the area within the boundaries of the Northwest Arctic Borough as a Local Emergency planning District and has appointed a Local Emergency Planning Committee. The Committee establishes procedures for handling public requests for information, and to develop an “All Hazards” Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), which among other things must:
- Identify all-natural hazards in the District;
- Identify facilities containing hazardous and extremely hazardous substances (H/EHS) in reportable quantities;
- Identify transportation routes for EHS;
- Establish emergency response procedures for natural and man-made disasters;
- Designate a Community Emergency Coordinator to implement the plan and register company-appointed facility representatives (for facilities not represented in the committee membership) to participate in the planning process;
- Establish emergency notification procedures;
- Develop methods for determining the occurrence of a release of hazardous substances;
- Complete an inventory of community emergency equipment and identify the individual(s) responsible for it;
- Develop evacuation plans;
- Describe and schedule a training program for emergency response personnel;
- Establish methods and schedules for exercising emergency response plans.
NALEPC Membership is as follows:
Category A – Elected Officials
- Seat 1: Elected Official – Clyde Ramoth, Assembly
- Seat 2: Elected Official – Clement Richards, Mayor
Category B – Responders
- Seat 1: Fire Department – Silvano Vivieros, Fire Chief, Kotzebue Fire Department
- Seat 2: Law Enforcement – Sgt. Tim Birt, Alaska State Troopers
- Seat 3: Emergency Medical Service – Vacant
- Seat 4: Environmental Health – Vacant
- Seat 5: Health Provider – Vacant
- Seat 6: Airport/DOT – Alvin Werneke, Kotzebue Airport Manager
Category C – Media
- Seat 1: Pierre Lonewolf, KOTZ Radio Station
Category D – Community Groups
- Seat 1: Ambler – Tristan Pattee
- Seat 2: Buckland – Tim Gavin
- Seat 3: Deering – Ron Moto
- Seat 4: Kiana – Dan Douglas
- Seat 5: Kivalina – Austin Swan
- Seat 6: Kobuk – Alex Sheldon
- Seat 7: Kotzebue – Derek Martin
- Seat 8: Noatak – Enoch Mitchell
- Seat 9: Selawik – Joeseph Arey
- Seat 10: Noorvik – Edward “Chip” Hailstone
- Seat 11: Shungnak – Billy Lee
Category E – Facility Owner/Operator
- Seat 1: Mining – Bob Chandler, Red Dog
- Seat 2: Bulk Fuel – Vacant
- Seat 3: Hospital – Erin Keith, Maniilaq
Category F – Emergency Planner
- Seat 1: Aggie Jack, EMS Program Manager, Maniilaq Health Center
Category G – Transporter
- Seat 1: Commercial Transporter – VACANT
Category H – Public-at-Large
- Seat 1: NAB Citizen – Walter Downey Seat 2. Kristen Walker, Public Services/NALEPC Coordinator, Northwest Arctic Borough
Category J – School District
- Seat 1: John Whade
