49-124. Emergency planning districts; local emergency planning committees

A. The commission shall designate emergency planning districts to facilitate preparing and implementing district emergency plans. If appropriate, the commission may designate cities, towns, counties or multi-jurisdictional planning organizations as such districts. The commission may also enter into intergovernmental agreements with other states or political subdivisions of other states to establish multi-jurisdictional planning districts. The commission may revise its designation of emergency planning districts as necessary.

B. The commission, after designating emergency planning districts, shall appoint members of a local emergency planning committee for each emergency planning district. The governmental entity for the city, town, county or multi-jurisdictional planning organization encompassing the district shall provide administrative support for the local emergency planning committee and shall nominate persons for initial appointment to the committee. On establishment of the committee, the committee chairman on a majority vote of the committee may nominate subsequent committee members. Each committee shall include, at a minimum, representatives from each of the following groups or organizations:

1. Elected state and local officials.

2. Law enforcement, civil defense, fire fighting, first aid, health, local environmental, hospital and transportation personnel.

3. Broadcast and print media.

4. Community groups.

5. Owners and operators of facilities subject to the requirements of this article.

C. The committee shall appoint a chairman and shall adopt procedural rules by which the committee shall function including the requirements set forth in section 301 of title III.

D. The commission, as it deems appropriate, may modify its designations of emergency planning districts or its appointments to the emergency planning committees. Members of the public may petition the commission to modify the membership of a local emergency planning committee.