November 14, 2017

Contact:
Melissa Foster, Director
Dept. of Emergency Services
(434) 455-4285
melissa.foster@lynchburgva.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: LOCAL EMERGENCY RESPONDERS RECEIVE

RESULTS OF IMPORTANT COMMODITY FLOW STUDY

With thousands of trucks, railcars and other vehicles traveling through the city each year, it is
critical for first responders to understand what cargo is coming into the city. In order to
determine this, the Lynchburg Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) recently
contracted with Blue Rock Enterprises, LLC, out of Castle Rock, Colorado to have a Commodity
Flow Study completed.

The Commodity Flow study provided detailed information about the types and quantities of
hazardous materials that travel through the City of Lynchburgs major highways on a daily basis.
The study was funded by the 2016 Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Grant which is
passed through to the localities by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM)
from the United States Department of Transportation.

The information from this study will allow local emergency responders and agencies to better
plan and prepare for potential incidents involving hazardous materials. The City of Lynchburg
will make this information available to surrounding counties, universities and colleges, and local
and state agencies who are also involved in emergency planning and preparedness in the area.
Representatives from Lynchburgs Department of Water Resources, Fire Department and
Department of Emergency Services, as well as the Virginia Department of Health, were involved
in this process. A copy of the completed report is available at
http://www.lynchburgva.gov/lynchburg-local-emergency-planning-committee.

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What are LEPCs?

In 1986, Congress passed a law that establishes requirements for businesses and for federal, state
and local governments regarding emergency planning and community right to know. This
followed the Bhopal Disaster in India where thousands of people died because of an accident
involving hazardous materials. LEPCs are links between citizens, industry and the government.
The role of an LEPC is to form a partnership with local governments and industries as a resource
for enhancing emergency preparedness, and in most cases, hazardous materials preparedness.
Membership comes from the local area representing various organizations, agencies,
departments, facilities and other groups within the area. Virginia has 114 LEPCs which include
cities or towns, counties or joint LEPCs (which include a cooperating group of a county and one
or more cities or towns).

For information regarding the Lynchburg LEPC, contact Melissa Foster, Department of
Emergency Services Director at (434) 455-4290. To learn more about the LEPC, visit
http://www.lynchburgva.gov/lynchburg-local-emergency-planning-committee