SERC Meeting Dates September 25, 2008 (tentative date for next meeting) March 6, 2008 (minutes will be available after approval at the Fall meeting) March 6, 2008 (pdf file of Agenda) November 9, 2007 (pdf file of approved Minutes) October 9, 2007 (Special Meeting) (pdf file of approved Minutes) March 8, 2007 (pdf file of approved Minutes)

Iowa Emergency Response Commission's Mission

The Iowa Emergency Response Commission's mission is to assist in improving communities' preparedness for handling chemical accidents, promoting cooperation among state and local government and industry, increasing public awareness of chemicals in the community and building information databases.

History of the Iowa Emergency Response Commission

The Iowa Emergency Response Commission was created by statute in 1989 after a requirement for a state commission was established by Congress in the federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986. Initially, the Commission established Iowa's 99 counties as Local Emergency Planning Districts with the option for multiple counties to merge as a single district. Pursuant to federal law, the Commission appoints members to a Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) in each district. The LEPCs have broad-based representation, including elected state or local officials, law enforcement, civil defense (emergency management), first aid (emergency medical services), fire fighting, health, local environmental, hospital, transportation, broadcast and print media, community groups and owners and operators of facilities subject to EPCRA's requirements.

The Commission is composed of 15 members appointed by the governor to a three-year term. Officers are elected in May of each year. Commission membership is made up of representatives from private industry, local government groups, and state agencies.

Member Breakdown


• 3 members representing facility owners and operators,
  
• 1 from the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship,
  
• 1 from Iowa Workforce Development,
  
• 1 from the Department of Justice,
  
• 1 from the Department of Natural Resources,
  
• 1 from the Department of Public Defense,
  
• 1 from the Department of Public Health,
  
• 1 from the Department of Public Safety,
  
• 1 from the Department of Transportation,
  
• 1 representative from Iowa's Local Emergency Planning Committees,
  
• 1 representative from the State Fire Services and Emergency Response Council,
  
• 1 representative from the Iowa Hazardous Materials Task Force, and
  
• 1 representative from the Governor's Office.

The current commission membership (pdf file)

The commission members representing the departments of Workforce Development, Natural Resources, Public Defense, Public Safety, and Transportation and one private industry representative designated by the commission shall be voting members of the commission. The remaining members of the commission shall serve as nonvoting, advisory members. Staff from the departments of Workforce Development and Natural Resources and the Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division of the Department of Public Defense serve as the SERC's administrative staff.

Funding for the activities of the commission come from the Iowa General Assembly, and grants from US EPA, US DOT and FEMA.