Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness (HMEP)
Forecasted
Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness (HMEP) supports Illinois LEPCs with transportation emergency planning, exercises, and commodity flow studies to improve handling of hazardous materials incidents.
Funder: Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA-OHS)
Due Dates (Anticipated): April 2027 (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: FFY 2022 terms: 80% federal reimbursement, 20% match of total project cost; 36-month performance period
Summary: Supports Illinois LEPC hazardous materials transportation emergency planning, exercises, and commodity flow studies.
Key Information: Local governments apply on behalf of LEPCs that meet IEMA’s membership, bylaws, meeting, and public-notice requirements.
Description
The Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness (HMEP) program is administered in Illinois by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security. It seeks to improve safe and efficient handling of hazardous materials incidents, strengthen implementation of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), and address the distinctive challenges of transportation emergencies.
The planning grant supports Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) in developing, improving, and carrying out hazardous chemical transportation emergency plans under EPCRA and 49 USC 5116a. The FFY 2022 guidance identifies three priorities: maintaining certified LEPCs and their transportation emergency plans, testing those plans through drills and exercises, and determining hazardous materials flow patterns. Activities include transportation-route assessments, response-capability assessments, plan improvements informed by exercises, and commodity flow studies for rail, highway, or waterway routes.
