Improving Your Community’s Environmental Chemistry (NAPSA)—A foundation committed to chemical education is working at the local level with community groups to improve chemical safety awareness. The Chemical Educational Foundation, a non-profit organization, bestows the Community Awards for Chemical Safety in recognition of the LEPC that exhibits innovative educational programs, a commitment to com- munity partnerships, and consumersafety awareness outreach. LEPCs are organizations that work on thelocal level as a link between industry, federal, state, and local governments and citizens. Established under the EPA's Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), LEPCs prepare and maintain comprehensive emergencyplans. Each LEPC provides a forum for all membersof the community to come together and discuss existing hazards, potential hazards and the necessary responseplans. LEPCs are composed of a wide variety of community members, including: local governmentofficials, * schools, chemical industry leaders, media, regulatory agencies, private citizens, and local first responders, such as law enforcement, fire department and hospital personnel. The Community Awards for Chemical Safety competition is A national award program recognizes community organizations that raise awareness about public safety and hazardous chemicals. open to all LEPCs across the country. The Community Award for Chemical Safety seeks to honor those LEPCs that represent the standard of excellence in public safety partnerships and chemical awareness. Award-winning programs have included the creation of a citizen survey to measure the commu- nity’s understanding of emergency response procedures; conducting emergency response drills and providing information regarding shelter-in-place procedures. The shelter-in-place program illustrates the proper procedures to follow in an emergency at home, school or work. To learn more about LEPCs or submit your community’s organization for the Community Awards for Chemical Safety, contact the Chemical Educational Foundation at www.chemed.org.
