The initial task of the Mesa County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) was to develop an Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) that would allow local emergency responders to prepare for and efficiently respond to chemical emergencies in their communities.

LEPCs are required to review, test and update the plan annually. The Emergency Operations Plan includes procedures for immediate response to a chemical accident, ways to notify the public about actions they take and the schedule and strategy for testing the EOP.

After the plan was written and reviewed by the Colorado State Emergency Response Committee (SERC), Mesa County LEPC was required to publicize the plan through public meetings or newspaper announcements and solicit public comments, as well as let the public know of any other LEPC activities of interest.

The LEPC is responsible for reviewing emergency releases and hazardous chemical inventory information submitted by local facilities and making this information available to the public upon request.

The Mesa County LEPC typically meets on the second Thursday of each month from noon to one o'clock in the Red Cross Annex (5th and Gunnison Avenue).