NORTH
CENTRAL FLORIDA
LOCAL
EMERGENCY PLANNING COMMITTEE
2009 NW 67th Place,
Gainesville FL 32653-1603 -- (352) 955-2200 x108 -- fax 955-2209
|
NORTH
CENTRAL FLORIDA
|
NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA LOCAL EMERGENCY PLANNING COMMITTEE
draft - MINUTES - draft
| Progress Corporate Park Alachua, Florida |
May 12, 2000
9:30 A.M. |
|
MEMBERS PRESENT John Hudson, Chairman STAFF PRESENT Dwayne Mundy |
MEMBERS ABSENT James Aikman GUESTS PRESENT Mike Brimeyer, Syn Quest LabsAllan Preston, University of Florida - Physical Plant Risk Management Paul Urone, Retired University of Florida - Environmental Engineering |
1. INTRODUCTIONS
LEPC Chairman John Hudson welcomed everyone to the Progress Corporate Park and asked that they introduce themselves. He reported on the last LEPC Chair/staff and State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) meetings. Chairman Hudson discussed FEMA’s SHARE-CAP exercise program, Jim Mackris from EPA encouraging SERC involvement in terrorism planning, and updates on the legislative session
ACTION: It was moved by Charles Pults and seconded by Jeff Tucker, to approve the minutes of the February 18, 2000, meeting as printed. The motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Dwayne Mundy reported on the progress of establishing regional hazardous materials teams through an interlocal agreement. Mr. Mundy stated that all eight local governments have now adopted the Cost Recovery Ordinance and have signed the interlocal agreement. Mr. Mundy stated that currently the counties are in the process of filing the executed interlocal agreement with the county clerks.
Mr. Hudson reviewed the appointed members to the Regional Hazardous Materials Team. He stated that the organizational meeting of the team would be held on June 9 at 10:00 A.M. at the Progress Corporate Park. He reported the meeting would be called to order by Ray Kirkland, Mayor of Lake City, who is the Chairman of the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council.
Mr. Mundy added that staff’s recommendation to the Planning Council Chairman Mayor Kirkland would be to appoint John Hudson as the interim chairman of the regional team and that subsequently nominations and by-laws workgroups be appointed. He said that the team will be considered in affect once the by-laws are adopted at the second meeting.
First Responder Subcommittee Chairman Allen Blanton began the report on responder issues. Next, Mr. Mundy reported on the status of the HMEP planning project to compile a hazards analysis summary. He stated that Florida was given an early release of the latest CAMEO fix at the beginning of the month and that as of two weeks later it was still reported as being safe to use. Mr. Mundy said that the hazards analysis for all counties except Gilchrist were prepared in CAMEO for Windows. He stated that the summary would be completed the end of June so that it could be submitted with the plan update.
The Hazardous Materials Response Training program was discussed next. Dwayne Mundy reported that he was working with Florida Gas Transmission Company on sponsoring a train-the-trainer class for the new Florida operations level class. He added that that class will be held on June 1 and 2 at Gainesville Fire Rescue training building and Lee Newson will be the instructor.
Special Operations Chief Jeff Tucker reported on an advanced air monitoring class to be held on May 22 and 23. Chief Tucker indicated that this would be an advanced class aimed at hazardous materials technicians and will include a significant amount of hands-on work. He added that this class is being co-sponsored by Gainesville Fire Rescue and the LEPC.
Mr. Mundy summarized the proposed federal rule on the public distribution of the off-site consequence analysis collected under the Risk Management Program was included in the mailout. He concluded that this rule generally balances decreasing the risks of accidents through public disclosure of information and not increasing the risk of a terrorist attack through enhanced targeting.
The LEPC discussed that EPA will not be providing detailed vulnerable zone distances and populations on the Internet. The LEPC concluded that its comments should address specifics that would make the rule more acceptable to local emergency planning committees in general. Mr. Mundy added the rule eliminates the LEPC’s main concerns regarding locally using and providing parts of OCA data.
Mr. Mundy stated that a draft recommendation contains two main recommendations. The first recommendation is that upon request an LEPC would be provided free of charge a copy of a binder containing OCA information on all Section 112(r) sites in its district. The second recommendation was that under the proposed risk indicator system, that the EPA needs to provide the names of facilities that include a given address within the vulnerable zone. A discussion followed.
Mr. Charles Pults recommending adding to the draft letter, click here and EPA will send you a list of facility names that could impact your address and who to contact for additional information,. He also discussed an unresolved concern of the LEPC involving the different distances calculated under similar programs for the same facilities and chemicals.
It was the conclusion of the LEPC that RMP *Comp should be considered as the default program for use in preparing Section 302 Hazards Analysis.
ACTION: It was moved by Charles Pults and seconded by Cliff Chapman that Chairman Hudson be directed at the next LEPC Chair/staff meeting to encourage the use of RMP *Comp for use in updating Florida’s Hazards Analysis and send the comments to the EPA as modified. The motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Kenneth Allen raised the question that photo identification are required at federal reading rooms but not at local or SERC reading rooms. After a discussion, it was decided that this was an issue that should be brought up in an anticipated conference call between the Florida LEPCs and DEM.
Chairman Hudson reported that the Plan Review Subcommittee had met in Lake City and reviewed the plan and made recommendations and identified a number of areas to be updated. Mr. Mundy reported that Plan Review Subcommittee Chairman Joe Flanagan previously had reported that he was unable to attend todays meeting.
Mr. Mundy reviewed the proposed substantial changes to the LEPC Emergency Response Plan. Mr. Mundy stated that the biggest changes involved designating Gainesville Fire Rescue as the only Regional Hazardous Materials Response Team in the district. Mr. Mundy added that PCS Phosphate was previously recognized with this title, however, due to the criteria being developed by the State Emergency Response Commission that it would be better to call the PCS Phosphate team an important resource available to local governments. The group discussed the specifics and future goals for the State Emergency Response Commission teams and how to best align them with LEPC efforts
Mr. Roger Brower questioned why the hurricane studies previously prepared by the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council were being eliminated. Mr. Mundy reported that the Regional Planning Council has been cut out of the loop of hurricane planning and that County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plans are now the best source of shelter information. A brief discussion followed on shelter studies, evaluations and needs in the North Central Florida district.
Mr. Mundy reported that a draft of the entire update was and is available on-line if anyone would like to reviewing the minor changes in detail. The group discussed that it is the goal of the LEPC that the Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Plan be placed on-line, with the exclusion of site- specific hazards analysis information.
ACTION: It was moved by Charles Pults and seconded by Cliff Chapman to approve the update of the 2000 Local Emergency Response Committee Response Plan. The motion passed unanimously.
VII. MEMBERSHIP REPORTS, NOTIFICATIONS AND INFORMATION REQUESTS
Membership Committee Chairman Dennis Fleetwood reported that now is the time for nominations for the next two-year terms on the LEPC. He reported that nominees are still needed in the print and broadcast media, and state and local elected officials categories.
Mr. Hudson reported that he has someone interested in the broadcast category. It was discussed that the responsibility for making the nominations is the duty of the Chairman so that if you find somebody who would fit in those categories please notify staff.
Mr. Hudson reported that the LEPC’s Hazardous Materials Spill Prevention Week has been used by the U.S. EPA as an example of a successful public education project that is worth copying. Mr. Mundy reported that the RMP*Network article on our LEPC is available from the U.S. EPA and information is also included on the North Central Florida Hurricane Response Exhibition. That was the highlight of this years spill prevention week.
Nominations Committee Chairman Paul Kramer reported on the recommended nominations of officers for next term. Mr. Kramer recommended John Hudson as Chairman, Charles Pults as Vice-Chair of Public Information, and Allen Blanton as Vice-Chair of First Responders. Mr. Kramer reported that these are re-appointments of the current officers. He also added that Edye Rowell is nominated as Chair-elect and that this is a new position.
ACTION: It was moved by Paul Kramer and seconded by Roger Brower that the recommendations of the Nominations Committee be accepted by the LEPC. The motion passed.
Mr. Mundy reported that since the last meeting there has been two additional releases involving anhydrous ammonia. Mr. Jeff Tucker discussed a transportation accident outside of Gainesville involving a nurse tank of anhydrous ammonia. Mr. Mundy reported a release of 2,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia from a nurse tank at a farm in Bradford County. He stated that release is being investigated as a possible violation of reporting requirements under Section 304 of Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA). The group discussed that it would be a good idea to hold a compliance seminar for anhydrous ammonia users in July to address the problem of ammonia incidents not being properly recorded as required under State and Federal law.
Mr. Hudson reported that the District 11 LEPC was holding a HazMat 2000 Conference in Dania Beach on June 14, 15, and 16. He stated that the Florida TRANSCAER Committee was offering mini TRANSCAER workshops composed of four classes of an hour and a half each and that the next closest one would be on June 27 or 28 in Tallahassee. Mr. Hudson reported that we are working on bringing the DuPont CAER Car to our district again next year.
Mr. Mundy reported on the distribution of the 2000 Emergency Response Guide Books and that they have been distributed to our counties. He stated that extra books are available to support public sector training classes.
The LEPC decided to meet on August 18, 2000, to start at 9:30 A.M. at the Progress Corporate Park, if available.
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