Why was the Commission Established?
The Emergency Planning Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) requires each state to have a State Emergency Response Commission (SERC), the Nevada SERC is established by Nevada Revised Statue (NRS) 459.738. The SERC has designated planning districts within the state as Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) to coordinate the activities of each planning district. Each county is a planning district and each county has a designed the LEPC with the approval of the SERC.
Membership/Mission
Currently the State Emergency Response Commission consists of up to 25 members appointed by the Governor representing state and local government organizations, private industry, and general public.
The mission of the State Emergency Response Commission is; "Protect the citizens of the State of Nevada against the negative effects of hazardous materials."
Functions
The State Emergency Response Commission Main Function includes: coordinate and supervise the
activities of the Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs); ensure each LEPC
has an approved Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Plan; collect chemical
inventory reports; provide funds through grants, and process
requests from the
public for information.
EPCRA specifies what kinds of chemical releases and quantities require notification, to who reports and notifications are required, and established threshold planning quantities. The provisions of EPCRA require industry to comply with reports of storage, manufacture and releases to specific agencies. Along with these reporting requirements, fee required by Nevada Administrative Code (NAC) 459.9918, 459.99181, 459.99182 and NRS 459.744 are collected and granted to state and local agencies to provide assistance in planning, training, and equipment activities to prevent, respond to, and mitigate hazardous material incidents.
Funding
The operations of the Nevada State Emergency
Response Commission (SERC) are funded from the Highway Fund pursuant to NRS
459.735. Grants provided by the State Emergency Response Commission are funded from federal grants,
fees collected on chemical inventory reports, and the sale and renewal of United
We Stand license plates. The State Emergency Response Commission does not receive funds from the State
General Fund.
SERC Brochure