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Golden Rules for Communities The following excerpt was from an article "The Practical Evaluation of Local Emergency Planning and Preparedness" written by the National Association of SARA Title III Program Officials. While the primary responsibilities lie with the industry, there are important responsibilities for stakeholders at the local level. An important aspect of making the facilities safer to the community in which they exist is the communities’ involvement with prevention and preparedness objectives Be aware of the risks in your community and know what to do in the event of an accident. Members of communities near hazardous installations, and others that might be affected in the event of an accident, should make sure that they understand the risks they face and what to do in the event of an accident to mitigate possible adverse effects on health, the environment and property (e.g., understand the warning signals, and what actions are appropriate). This involves reading and maintaining any information they receive, sharing this information with others, and seeking additional information as appropriate. Communicate and co-operate with other stakeholders on all aspects of accident prevention, preparedness, and response. The community should not pressure the industry, but instead there should be an open policy between the community and the industry, and a shared objective of reducing the likelihood of accidents. The potentially affected public should receive information needed to support prevention and preparedness objectives, and should participate in decision making related to hazardous installations, as appropriate. Participate in decision-making relating to hazardous installations. The laws in many communities provide opportunities for members of the public to participate in decision-making related to hazardous installations, for example by commenting on proposed regulations or zoning decisions, or providing input for procedures concerning licensing or siting of specific installations. Members of the public should take advantage of these opportunities to present the perspective of the community. They should work towards ensuring that such opportunities exist whenever appropriate, and that the public has the information necessary for effective participation. Know the hazards and risks at installations in your community where there are hazardous substances. The community should undertake, in co-operation with other stakeholders, the hazard identification and risk assessments needed for a complete understanding of the risks to the public, the environment, and property in the event of an accident. Hazard identification and risk assessments should be undertaken from the earliest stages of design and construction, throughout operation and maintenance, and should address the possibilities of human or technological failures, as well as releases resulting from natural disasters or deliberate acts (such as terrorism, sabotage, vandalism, or theft). Such assessments should be repeated periodically and whenever there are significant modifications to the installation.