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	THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY MASSACHUSETTS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
Argeo Paul Cellucci Governor Jane Swift Lieutenant Governor Jane Perlov Secretary
	400 Worcester Road Framingham, MA 01702-5399 Tel: 508-820-2000 Fax: 508-820-2030	Stephen J. McGrail Director

Michael L. Smith, Chairman
Framingham LEPC
10 Loring Drive
Framingham, MA 01702

RE: Congratulations!

Dear Chief Smith,

On behalf of the Massachusetts State Emergency Response Commission (SERC), I would like to congratulate the Town of Framingham for achieving Full Certification for your Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC). You can be proud of the hard work and accomplishment that you and the members of the LEPC have made to achieve this level.

Approximately four years ago, the SERC set out to develop a process to gauge how effective the LEPCs were across the state and to provide guidance on how an LEPC functions. The end result of this project was the Massachusett I EPC Certification Process.

The Framingham LEPC is certified as a Full LEPC for three years from this date. By June 18, 2004, the Framingham LEPC will be required to re-apply for Full Certification to the SERC. Listed below are recommendations and suggestions the SERC has for the Framingham LEPC to work on during the next three years:

Need to provide data about transportation routes to facilities containing extremely
hazardous substances.

Need to work on identifying and describing additional facilities (public safety agencies utilities, public meeting places - city hail, civic center etc.) included in the plan that are subject to additional risk due to their proximity to facilities with extremely hazardous substances.

Need to continue training all emergency responders and other personnel, who may be involved with a hazardous materials event, to the appropriate level and to provide actual number of employees for each department trained to awareness.

Need to list abutter LEPCs.

Need to review and update the Framingham plan on an annual basis (see below for suggestions on assisting in plan development/review).

Need letter from the CEO of Framingham certifying the plan.

Need to develop and conduct exercises of the hazardous materials emergency plan, including critiques and after action reviews of the plan for changes. This must be done on an annual basis.

Need to continue working on risk reduction activities and community outreach.

The LEPC is now eligible to apply for SERC planning and training grants to assist in continuing to carry out the responsibilities of the LEPC. In addition, the LEPC is eligible for assistance in developing exercises and attending regional and national conferences related to this program.

The SERC is committed to helping your LEPC succeed and continue moving forward in this program. Several new resources are available to help the LEPC in its responsibilities:

o Electronic Filing of Tier II information from industry
o Computer software for planning and emergency response (CAMEO, ALOHA, MARPLOT)
o Federal Guide for Hazardous Materials Training for Public Sector Employees
o Federal Guidance for Reviewing Hazardous Materials Emergency Plans (NRT- 1 A)
o Massachusetts SERC Website (www.state.ma.us/mema)

The roles and responsibilities of LEPCs continue to change and grow. Some of the new areas LEPCs are getting involved in include: other emergency planning and response issues (hurricanes, tornadoes, winter storms, etc), the Clean Air Act regulations, deliberate chemical releases and terrorism. If you or the LEPC are interested in any of these materials, please contact Elaine Denniston, our SERC Coordinator at 508-820-2000 or check the SERC Website at the address listed above.

Once again, on behalf of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, I would like to congratulate and thank you and the LEPC for the tremendous work and commitment you have made to this program. We apologize for the delay in getting this letter out to you and appreciate your patience. The SERC looks forward to working with you in the future.

Sincerely,

Stephen J. McGrail, Chairman
Massachusetts State Emergency Response Commission

Cc: George P. King, Jr., Town Manager of Framingham John M. Kahn, Chairman, Board of Selectmen

Kevin Tully, MEMA Area I Director