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.
SERC Bylaws (pdf)
Planning District Rules (pdf)
On June 4, 2019, the EPA Administrator signed a final rule amending emergency release notification regulations under EPCRA. The amendments clarify that reporting of air emissions from animal waste at farms is not required under EPCRA. (Read more.)
Meetings
Members
Dale Heggem, Chair, Representing Department of Agriculture
Mark Pepper, Co-Chair, Representing Local Government
Clair Anderson, Representing Trucking
Aimee Binning, Representing Manufacturing
John Cattles, Representing Mining
David Fairbanks, Representing Medical Field
Clinton Glick, Representing E. Shoshone
Jeffrey Hankins, Representing Railroad
Taylor Jones, Representing Public
Kenneth Maston, Representing Emergency Medical Services
Byron Mathews, Representing State Fire Marshal
Enden Nelson, Representing Energy
Sheryl Roub, Representing Department of Health
Senator Tim Salazar, Representing Legislature
Mike Samp, Representing University of Wyoming
Harvey Spoonhunter, Representing N. Arapahoe
Jim Wamsley, Representing Fire Services
Paul "PJ" Wilber, Representing Department of Environmental Quality
Mission
Ensure the protection of the residents of Wyoming from the effects of Hazardous Materials including Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives by leveraging local, state, federal, tribal and private partnerships.
Vision
Through rules, oversight and sustained funding: Fulfill the statutory requirements of the SERC by increasing Hazmat education, Tier II and spill reporting, continuing education and training and outreach programs to all SERC partners and stakeholders.
Priorities
Ensure future viability of the TIER II reporting portal and continued growth of Tier II reporting in the state.
Utilizing EPCRA, propose legislation at the state level that extends authority to SERC and LEPCs for non complying TIER II facilities.
Utilize commodity flow studies for education, training, planning and exercises.
Support the Regional Emergency Response Teams through policy, training and exercises.
Build and increase SERC, LEPC and tribal partnerships.
Support local, state and tribal partners with Hazmat education, reporting and compliance efforts.
Build the identity of the SERC.
Education of the public, local, county and state government on LEPC and SERC.
Among the SERC's 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.