Local Emergency Planning Committee
Chairpersons/Staff Contacts Meeting Synopsis

January 4, 2007
Ramada Hollywood Beach Resort
101 North Ocean Drive
Hollywood, Florida 33019

In Attendance:
George Danz, Chairman
Manny Cela
Richard Delp
Debbie Thayer
Richard Smith
Chris Rietow
Edye Rowell
Dwayne Mundy
Heather Golightly
Richard Knoff
Milton Hill
Michael Arnold
Jennifer Hobbs
Kimberly Loewen
Mike Linkins
Chuck Carter
Ernie Hiers
Bill Lofgren
Bruce Porter
John Gibbons
Chris Bushman
Kathryn Boer
Carlos Gonzalez

Chairman Danz called the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) Chairs/Staff Contacts meeting to order. Introductions followed the Pledge of Allegiance and all in attendance were welcomed.

Training Task Force (TTF) Update – Chief Don Perdue
Chief Don Perdue reported on the following items discussed at the TTF meeting:

The TTF members reviewed the 2006 Strategic Plan Action items and provided updates accordingly. The TTF will hold a one-day strategic planning session on April 11, 2007, to identify the goals and objectives for the next five years.

Chief Perdue stated that Mr. James Webster, of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), gave a presentation regarding the October 6, 2006, hazardous materials incident in Apex, North Carolina. Mr. Webster gave an overview of the incident and discussed lessons learned.

Chief Perdue noted that the TTF will recommend to the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) that a letter of appreciation and plaque be presented to Mr. Randall Napoli, retiring from State Fire Marshal’s Office and Mr. Ernie Hiers, retiring Chair of the District 8 LEPC, for their years of service.

Chief Perdue reported that the TTF will request the SERC send a letter to the Domestic Security Oversight Council requesting assistance to obtain radio frequencies for the regional hazardous materials response teams. He noted that the Incident Commander uses a dedicated channel to communicate to the hazardous materials team during an event. Each team has received radios funded by the U. S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in an effort to achieve interoperability; however, there is no dedicated frequency for these radios at this time.

Chief Perdue reported that the TTF is requesting the SERC send a letter to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement or the DHS requesting an individual secure portal on the Homeland Security Information Network to be used by the District Response Teams to store data such as standard operating procedures, facility emergency plans, and facility site plans.

Finally, the reassessment of the thirty-five hazardous materials response teams was completed in December. The results will be provided to each LEPC for the teams in their district. A final report will be provided to the SERC at the April meeting.

CAMEO Issues – Ms. Sheri Powers
Ms. Powers stated that CAMEO Issues has been a standing agenda item for quite some time and recommended that CAMEO Issues be removed as a standing item on the LEPC agenda unless there are pertinent issues for consideration. The committee concurred without a vote being taken.

Ms. Powers also mentioned that Mr. Dwayne Mundy conducted CAMEOfm training at the State Emergency Operations Center focusing on ALOHA modeling for chemical releases.

Ms. Kathyrn Boer acknowledged DEM staff members Mr. Tim Date and Ms. Susan George for their assistance with the Palm Beach County Hazards Analyses.

District Reports

In addition to the Hazmatters, the Districts reported the following:

District 1: Ms. Deborah Thayer stated that a CAMEOfm class is planned for March 28-30, 2007.

District 2: Mr. Chris Rietow stated the District 2 LEPC is working on a district–wide hazards analyses database. The District 2 LEPC is working with the City of Tallahassee Fire Department to sponsor a 3-day Clandestine Drug Lab course for March 28-30, 2007.

District 3: Mr. Dwayne Mundy reported that the LEPC is using Hazardous Materials Awareness Week as the focus for a public-private sector outreach and education campaign. The LEPC is working with the municipalities, counties and school boards in the district to proclaim the week of January 21-27, 2007 as Hazardous Materials Awareness Week.

District 4: Ms. Heather Golightly reported that the LEPC is sponsoring an ALOHA and CAMEO class for Hazardous Materials Technicians on January 11, 2007.

District 5: Mr. Michael Arnold reported that LEPC staff attended the capability assessment of the Citrus County Fire Rescue Hazardous Materials Response Team located in Homosassa, Florida.

District 6: Ms. Jennifer Hobbs introduced Ms. Kimberly Loewen who was filling in as the LEPC staff contact for District 6 and reported on the health status of Ms. Teri Hunalp. Ms. Loewen reported that the LEPC is beginning to prepare for this year’s Biennial Exercise. The LEPC will be conducting a Tabletop Exercise in Lake County in June 2007.

District 7: Mr. Chuck Carter reported that the LEPC and the Polk County Health Department conducted a Tabletop Exercise involving a Pandemic flu scenario in Polk County.

District 8: Mr. Ernie Hiers stated that he has submitted his resignation as Chair of the District 8 LEPC to take a job in North Carolina. Mr. Bill Lofgren reported that the LEPC is planning to initiate a series of 25 How-to-Comply Workshops to help facilities develop an all hazards approach to disaster preparedness. The workshops will be held in January and February 2007.

District 9: Mr. John Gibbons reported that the District 9 conducted a CAMEO course in Cape Coral, Florida. Mr. Gibbons explained that Hazardous Materials Awareness Week plans are still in progress.

District 10: Ms. Kathyrn Boer mentioned that the LEPC is conducting a HAZWOPER refresher class in July, 2007.

District 11: Mr. Carlos Gonzalez reported that he has resigned his position as the LEPC staff contact and Mr. Manny Cela will be the new staff contact.

Other Business

1) HMIS Distribution - Mr. Donald Kunish provided the LEPCs with a compact disc containing the Hazardous Materials Information System (HMIS) database. Mr. Kunish indicated that the facilities were annotated as to which Section 302 facilities were required to have a hazards analysis prepared this contract period.

2) State Emergency Response Commission LOGO Design Contest - Mr. Sean Loughlin reported that in an attempt to give the SERC a new look and to celebrate Florida Hazardous Materials Awareness Week, staff announced a SERC logo design contest to generate alternatives to the existing logo used by the SERC. The designs were received from regional planning councils, counties, the Division of Emergency Management, the Department of Community Affairs and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. LEPC Staff and Chairs were requested to select their top three choices. The logos and their recommendation would be presented to the SERC on Friday.

3) District 11 Biennial Exercise Presentation - Chief Don Perdue gave a presentation on the exercise held on June 27, 2006 at the City of Hallandale Beach Gulfstream Park called “Citizen Shield”. The exercise scenario consisted of a simulated release of chlorine from a railroad tanker car.

4) Florida State Fire College Database Report - Mr. Dwayne Mundy reported that in order for the Fire College to certify training, the LEPCs must have their courses and instructors approved by the Fire College. There was discussion about developing a list or database of training and providers that are used in each district to assist others seeking specific training. It was decided to submit this information to Ms. Powers at the Division of Emergency Management to develop a consolidated list and post on the SERC’s website.

5) Hazardous Materials Training Issues - Mr. Bill Lofgren pointed out that District 8 LEPC is going to have the CAMEO Companion guide copied and would like to know whether other LEPCs would like to have copies as well. The CAMEO Companion book was developed by the Arizona Emergency Response Commission and is designed to provide a written help resource for all CAMEO users. Mr. Lofgren stated that the larger the order, the better the price. If anyone is interested, please let him know.

6) Federal Update – Ms. Powers reported that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published two final rules adjusting the reportable quantity for several Section 304 chemicals. She stated that the rule raised the reportable quantity for Isophorone Diisocyanate from 100 pounds to 500 pounds to match the Threshold Planning Quantity, which was adjusted in 2003. The other rule raised all but one the reporting quantity of 28 individual carbamates and five carbamate-related hazardous waste streams. Ms. Powers also announced that the EPA will not pursue proposed rulemaking for alternate year reporting under Section 313, Toxic Chemical Release Inventory (TRI). TRI reports will continue to be due to EPA and the SERC every July 1.

Mr. Kunish advised that the Chemical Safety Board released its preliminary findings regarding the January 11, 2006, hazardous materials incident at the City of Daytona Beach - Bethune Point Wastewater Treatment Plant. The incident involved a methanol tank explosion and fire which resulted in the death of two workers and severely injuring another. The preliminary findings are available at the Chemical Safety Board’s website: www.csb.gov.

7) Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Training (HSEEP) Training - Since most of the LEPC staff coordinators were trained in HSEEP, a number of changes have been made to the format. The U. S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is offering a Train-the-Trainer module upon request. There is also a new on-line course which must be taken as a prerequisite to enrolling in HSEEP training. New HSEEP documents and training now include Exercise Planning and Preparation. Mr. Lofgren stated that he has contacted Ms. Linda McWhorter of the Division of Emergency Management to request that additional training be made available in Florida. The DHS requires a 60-day lead time for planning and all requests for training must go from the State Administrative Agent (SAA) no later than the second Tuesday of each month. A minimum of 25 students are needed, and preferably 50, in order to justify costs of the training which is underwritten by DHS with the exception of actual venue location expenses. Mr. Lofgren indicated that the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council would be willing to host this training, if necessary.

8) EPCRA Reporting Deadline – Ms. Powers reported that the annual mailout to facility owners/operators was completed in December 2006 reminding them of the March 1 annual reporting deadline for Tier Two

Issues for SERC

The LEPC supports all of the issues raised by the TTF (see above). No other business was identified requiring SERC attention.

Schedule Next Meeting

The next LEPC meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 12, 2007 in Tallahassee, Florida
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