Each Wisconsin county is designated as an emergency planning district and has a Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) to administer the local program. LEPC membership includes local elected officials, members of emergency response agencies (fire, law enforcement, EMS, health, etc.), and representatives for transportation, public works, the media, community groups, environmental groups, and operators of affected facilities.

LEPCs are responsible for receiving and maintaining filings of facility submissions. They also maintain a county-wide emergency response plan, develop and maintain facilities’ off-site emergency response plans and the county’s hazard analysis for both fixed facilities and transportation. LEPCs assess the county hazmat response resources and equipment, respond to public requests for information under “community right-to-know” law, and conduct hazmat training and exercises. Wisconsin has annual exercise requirements and the LEPC attempts to involve facilities, response agencies, and other local officials in the exercises.

The county-wide emergency response plan includes: the county hazard analysis summary, a list of facilities storing hazardous materials, identification of transportation routes for extremely hazardous substances (EHS), procedures for notification or releases, response to releases, procedures for sheltering and evacuation, and a schedule for training and exercising.

Individual facility off-site plans include: facility name and location, name of facility emergency planning coordinator with 24 hr. contact phone number, list of primary emergency responders, list of resources available from/at facility, list of outside resources available, hazard analysis of the facility with a vulnerability zone for release of EHS stored at facility, identification of special facilities (i.e., schools, hospitals, nursing homes, day care centers, etc.) within the zone, population protection procedures (sheltering and evacuation) and attachments. These plans are developed and maintained by the LEPC and they send a copy of the plan to the fire department, which would respond to an incident at the facility. The plans are also reviewed by WEM.

Currently there are 2671 facility off-site emergency response plans that have been developed by county LEPCs. Each of Wisconsin’s 72 LEPCs also has developed and maintained the comprehensive county-wide emergency response plan. Most county LEPCs have completed their off-site facility plans and are now in the update process of those plans. In 2025, WEM reviewed approximately 877 plans and plan updates. LEPCs include farms in the planning process, as needed.