Discuss, consider, and take appropriate action on the submission of a grant provided through the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for the Williamson County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), administered by the Office of Emergency Management, in the amount of  $140,769.00. The request is for a 12 month grant funded position to analyze and plan for chemical emergencies, software to analyze threats and risk, and a rugged laptop.

TCEQ is providing approximately $4.5 million in grant funding to Texas LEPC's at 100%. The current level of available funding is for the FY16 grant period only, following years may only be at $200 thousand annually and may require a local match. The Emergency Planning Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) of 1986 provides federal mandates for hazardous materials facilities and LEPC planning requirements. New technologies have now made possible the ability to perform site specific analysis to include but not limited the potentially affected areas, population, socio-economic, vulnerable populations, languages spoken, critical infrastructure, etc.. By identifying key information prior to an incident, targeted plans can be developed to address the specific issues resulting is faster response decision making and increased public safety. Williamson County has approximately 250 facilities that are reporting chemical on-site for manufacturing, agriculture, or distribution.