State Emergency Response Commission (SERC)

       On Oct. 17, 1986, the "Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986" (SARA) was enacted, containing new provisions for emergency planning and community right-to-know. Among these provisions is one which requires the governor of each state to appoint a State Emergency Response Commission.

     The Wyoming SERC was created April 17, 1987 through Executive Order 1987-3. In 2004, the Wyoming State Legislature passed the Wyoming Emergency Response Act. One of the provisions of this act was to establish the SERC in statute and expand their roles and responsibilities.

     The first meeting of the SERC, as established under the Wyoming Emergency Response Act, was held on Friday, Aug. 13, in Casper. This is an exciting time for the Commission they move forward in support of hazardous materials related issues. members (pdf) on the SERC represent mining, manufacturing, railroad, trucking, local government, medical, general public, emergency management, media, local law enforcement, emergency medical services, the Joint Tribal Council, fire services and the legislature.

     The following state agencies are also represented: Department of Transportation, Department of Health, UW Environmental Health and Safety, Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Fire Prevention & Electrical Safety and the Department of Agriculture. Don Huber, Worland Fire Chief, and State Emergency Response Commission member representing the fire services was elected as chairman. Joe Hunter, representing Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, was elected as co-chairman. Future projects for the State Emergency Response Commission to consider will include rules for the regional response teams, review of Local Emergency Planning Committee hazardous materials plans, and other projects that come to their attention. Review the SERC Bylaws

See the list of Wyoming SERC Members (pdf) or the list of Wyoming Local Emergency Planning Committees.

Among the SERCs duties are the following:

Designate local emergency planning districts within the state and appoint a local emergency planning committee (LEPC) to serve each of the districts;

Coordinate and supervise activities of the local committees;

Review local emergency response plans annually; and

Receive all chemical release notifications and inventory reports.

Download an application for an opening on the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) here.

For other information concerning SERC, e-mail Kim Lee or by phone (307) 777-5767.

Tier II Information Requests

Email for Tier II reporting is hls-wmd@wyo.gov

Tier II reporting requires reports be submitted for specific facilities and that each specific facility be identified by name and physical address; therefore, pursuant to 40 CFR370.30(c), a request for Tier II information must likewise identify a specific facility.

"Facility" is defined in 40 CFR370.2 as "all buildings, equipment, structure, and other stationary items that are located on a single site or on contiguous or adjacent sites and which are owned or operated by the same person . . . [and] shall include manmade structures as well as all natural structures in which chemicals are purposefully placed or removed through human means such that it functions as a containment structure for human use."

Tier II information is not tracked by the name of the owners or operators of the facilities subject to reporting requirements of 40 CFR370.20 and the Wyoming Office of Homeland Security (WOHS) is unable to honor requests for Tier II information for all facilities reported under the name of a particular owner or operator.

When requesting Tier II information a requisite statement of need must accompany the request.

To establish residency, the request letter must be notarized.

Historical Tier II Information

WOHS, on behalf of the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC), will fulfill request for Tier II information for a specific facility with the most current information reported for that facility. Tier II information is typically retained by WOHS for one calendar year or until more current Tier II information for a specific facility is submitted (the federal regulations set the reporting period for Tier II information as January 1 to December 31).

Pursuant to 40 CFR370.30(b), the provision of Tier II information that is not in the commission's possession (such as obsolete Tier II information from prior reporting periods) will be requested from the owner or operator of the specific facility by SERC if the request for such information included the requisite statement of need.

Tier II documents are now available for download:

Download the electronic filing cover sheet:
Microsoft Word format

Download the electronic Tier Two instructions:
.Microsoft Word Format

Download a blank/manual Tier II form:
Microsoft Word format
PDF format

SERC Planning District Rules


Tier II Facility Filing Information (New SERC Policies)

Wyoming is requesting facilities to use Tier2 Submit 2011 (links are above) and submit electronically:

The Wyoming State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) will not accept the American Petroleum Institute (API) "list of generic oil & gas industry chemical list" when reporting chemicals. Please be specific on chemical amounts in pounds and gallons when reporting. The Wyoming SERC encourages facilities to report the facility location in longitude and latitude to assist local first responders. Please see more information on Tier II reporting on the Wyoming SERC website at: http://wyohomelandsecurity.state.wy.us/serc.aspx

In addition to the electronic submission file from Tier2 Submit, the Wyoming SERC requests a completed electronic cover sheet and ONE page of the paper report bearing the official contact information and original signature. The SERC does NOT need a paper copy of the entire report if it is submitted in electronic format; however, paper may be needed by the local fire department and/or LEPC.

Links

TIER II EPA: http://www.epa.gov/emergencies/content/epcra/tier2.htm

Computer Aided Management Emergency Operations (CAMEO): http://www.epa.gov/emergencies/content/cameo/index.htm

List of Lists - EPA: http://www.epa.gov/emergencies/tools.htm#lol

National Response System (NRS): http://www.epa.gov/emergencies/content/nrs/index.htm

EPA Regional Contacts: http://www.epa.gov/emergencies/content/regional.htm

US Coast Guard Chemical Response Tool: Use it when you need to identify hazardous substances, assess their hazards, and plan or manage a response. It's also a companion quick reference for CAMEO Chemicals. http://chemresponsetool.noaa.gov/crt_home_page_1.htm

Right-To-Know Network: http://rtk.net/

United States Chemical Safety Board: http://www.csb.gov/

U.S. DOT Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (HMEP Grants): http://hazmat.dot.gov/training/state/hmep/hmep.htm