Section 301.310  EOP Submission and Review Requirements for Mandated ESDAs and Accredited ESDAs

a)         Each mandated ESDA and each ESDA eligible for and seeking accreditation pursuant to Section 301.510 of this Part shall biennially submit to IEMA for review and approval an emergency operations plan for their geographic boundaries that complies with the planning standards of this Part.

b)         The principal executive officer of the political subdivision and the ESDA coordinator shall review and approve the EOP submission not more than 60 days prior to the submission to IEMA.  The EOP submission shall include a statement, signed by the principal executive officer and the ESDA coordinator, that the plan has been reviewed and approved by all departments or organizations with assigned emergency responsibilities.

c)         Each ESDA shall review and update its EOP biennially, except the ESDA shall annually review and update the Hazardous Materials annex to the EOP based on the LEPC annual review of the LEPC chemical emergency response plan.

d)         Each ESDA shall submit a copy of its EOP, either personally with proof of submittal or by certified or registered mail, to IEMA in accordance with the review schedule established by IEMA.

e)         Within 30 days after submittal, IEMA shall review the plan and give written notification to the ESDA, either personally with proof of notification or by certified or registered mail, of IEMA approval or disapproval of the EOP in accordance with the planning standards set forth in this Part.

f)          If the EOP is disapproved, IEMA shall provide a written list of deficiencies and suggested means of remediation to the ESDA.  The ESDA has 60 days after receipt of the disapproval to remediate the plan and resubmit it to IEMA, either personally with proof of submission or by certified or registered mail. IEMA may arrange for technical assistance in remediating the plan.

g)         Within 30 days after receipt of the resubmitted plan, IEMA shall notify the ESDA and the principal executive officer of the political subdivision, either personally with proof of notification or by certified or registered mail, of its final determination of approval or disapproval.

h)         In the event that the ESDA fails to obtain IEMA approval of an EOP within the time frames established in this Section, IEMA may arrange for an EOP that complies with the planning standards of this Part to be written for the political subdivision in order to fulfill the IEMA mandate of ensuring statewide disaster preparedness.

i)          Upon approval of the EOP, IEMA will make and retain a copy of the approved plan in the IEMA regional office and return the original copy of the approved plan to the ESDA for retention. In addition, IEMA shall forward a copy of the approved plans of those ESDAs eligible for and seeking accreditation pursuant to Section 301.510 of this Part to the county or multiple county ESDA serving the county in which the ESDA eligible for and seeking accreditation is located.

j)          IEMA shall send a letter of approval to each mandated ESDA or accredited ESDA that has completed an EOP that complies with the planning standards of this Part.