Local emergency planning committee 101

Presented by Missouri Emergency Response Commission Bill Pippins Michael White Regional Planner/ Trainer

Missouri Emergency Response Commission Who? What? Why? How?

Let’s begin with Why? Each year, more than 1400 hazardous chemical emergencies are reported in Missouri

Examples of Incidents Four men died when a gasoline tanker ran off I-44, exploding and striking another vehicle Sixteen employees at an industrial plant where treated for exposure to ammonia fumes One Hundred gallons of hydrochloric acid ate through a pipe and spilled at an industrial site 800 school children were evacuated due to a natural gas line rupture Flooding washed a large group of propane tanks from their foundations and carried them down river A late night leak forced 1500 people from their home Four boxes of a highly toxic fungicide were stolen from a facility’s fenced storage area. A barge ruptured, spilling about 4000 gallons of gasoline into the Missouri River There are over 1000 reports of gasoline leaking annually

75% of chemical releases reported each year occur at fixed facilities Although it may be hard to plan for transportation releases, it is very important to be prepared for them.

Our main reason for LEPC’s is 1. RESPONDER SAFETY 2 Our main reason for LEPC’s is 1. RESPONDER SAFETY 2. SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC We try to accomplish the above with the guidance of EPCRA

The Federal Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act of 1986 (EPCRA) requires local officials to plan for Hazardous Chemical releases.

Planning Objectives… Identifying chemical risks that can be reduced or eliminated Improving public safety by lessening the chance that the chemical release will further deteriorate Reduce damage to the environment through faster, more effective responses

HOW does Local Emergency Planning Work? In order to have effective planning, local officials need to know the identity and the locations where chemicals are stored in the community.

HOW does Local Emergency Planning Work? In order to have effective planning, local officials need to know the identity and the locations where chemicals are stored in the community.

EPCRA requires facilities with reportable quantities of hazardous chemicals to report the identify and quantity on hand to the local fire department and the Local Emergency Planning Committee.

When must a substance be reported? If the characteristics of the substance pose hazards to people or the environment If a reportable quantity per the EPA’s “List of Lists” EPA LIST OF LISTS Consolidated List of Chemicals Subject to the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act (EPCRA) and Section 112(r) of the Clean Air Act

EPA List of Lists Consolidated list of chemicals subject to reporting requirements of EPCRA and section 112f of the Clean Air Act List alphabetically and by Chemical Abstract Service Number (CAS) Provides Threshold Planning Quantity For Extremely Hazardous Substances LEPC’s must develop emergency response plans and facilities must notify LEPC and MERC of quantities on hand

EPA List of Lists cont’d Threshold Planning Quantity(TPQ)- If TPQ is met then facility must report via Tier II to MERC, LEPC and local fire department Extremely Hazardous Substances Reportable Quantity (EHS RQ)- For chemicals on the EHS list that are released above reportable quantities, the facility must report the release to DNR, the LEPC and the National Response Center Facility should assign a facility POC to the LEPC

WHO has to report? Any facility with Threshold Planning Quantities of hazardous chemicals. Gas stations if more than 1600 gallons of gasoline or 1360 gallons of diesel fuel are present Swimming pools if more than 100 lbs of Chlorine is present Drinking water or sewage treatment plants if more then 100 lbs of Chlorine are present Propane and LPG suppliers if more than 10,000 lbs are present Ammonia if more than 500 lbs are present Most Solvents if more than 10,000 lbs are on hand

These chemicals may fall into one or more of the following classifications Flammable- May ignite easily at low temps Reactive- May combine with other chemicals or substances to produce toxic gases or explosive reactions Corrosive- Can corrode other materials including metals, or solids. May cause tissue or skin burns Toxic- May harm or cause death to living organisms. Harm may occur immediately or years after a person is exposed Radiological-Causes illness or burns with exposures

Transportation of Chemicals On an average day, there are 180,000 shipments of Hazardous Chemicals in the U.S. Transporters carrying TPQ of chemicals must mark the containers with visible placards. NFPA 704 Fixed Facilities Each Hazard has a level from 0 to 4 Transportation Placard 4 Digit Number or Signal Word

WHAT is a Local Emergency Planning Committee? Under EPCRA each state was required to establish a State Emergency Response Commission which in turn established Local Emergency Planning Committees. LEPC’s initial task was to develop an Emergency Response Plan for chemical emergencies Publicize the plan in their community Receive emergency release and chemical inventory information submitted by local facilities

WHAT is a Local Emergency Planning Committee? Establish and publicize procedures for the public to receive chemical hazard information Serves as the focal point in the community for information and discussions about hazardous chemicals planning, and health and environmental risks. Educate the public concerning chemical risks Work with facilities to minimize chemical risk to the community

Local Emergency Planning Committee Resources Assessment Executive Committee Officers & Subcommittee Chairs Medical and Health Data Collection and Management Education and Media Evacuation and Sheltering Exercise and Evaluation

WHO Makes up an LEPC? Elected state and local officials Law enforcement agencies Emergency Management agencies Fire Departments Emergency Medical Services Health Departments and Hospitals Hospitals Facility Representatives Media Citizens

Each entity has a role to play in response to a chemical emergency WHO Makes up an LEPC? This broad spectrum of members is essential for representation of the various points of view necessary to formulate a truly workable emergency plan Each entity has a role to play in response to a chemical emergency

LEPC Partnership The Public Sector Governmental Entities Business and Industry

LEPC Partnership The LEPC is the regulated community and the regulators, the first responders and the health care providers, government agencies and the general public, all working toward a common goal of hazardous chemical planning and safe response.

Emergency Response Plans 1. Identification of facilities subject to the requirements of this section that are within the LEPC’s district 2. Identification of routes of transportation likely to be used for transport of hazardous materials 3. Identification of facilities that may be affected by a hazardous materials event due to their proximity to facilities that store hazardous materials 4. Methods and procedures to be followed by facility owners and operators and local emergency and medical personnel to respond to any release of hazardous materials.

Emergency Response Plans 5. Designation of a community emergency coordinator and facility emergency coordinators, who shall make determinations necessary to implement the emergency plan. 6. Procedures providing reliable, effective and timely notification by the facility emergency coordinators and the community emergency coordinator to persons designated in the emergency plan and the public that a release has occurred 7. Methods for determining the occurrence of a release and the area or population likely to be affected by such release. 8. A description of emergency equipment and facilities in the community and identification of persons responsible for the equipment and facilities

Emergency Response Plans 9. Evacuation plans, including provisions for a precautionary evacuation and alternative traffic routes 10. Training programs, including schedules for training local response and medical personnel 11. Methods and schedules for exercising the emergency plan.

State Emergency Response Commision Template

Hazardous Materials Plans must comply with EPCRA. The State Emergency Response Commission Template is EPCRA Compliant. MERC is working on the capability of a hosted plan that can be updated online once per year with little additional work.

Suggestions for LEPC meetings “Work” Your Emergency Response Plan Tour facilities in your community Do Tabletop exercises with your plan Invite guest speakers Read a section of your emergency response plan Update the plan once per year Create a yearly training plan Discuss CEPF and HMEP grant documents

Hazardous Materials Emergency Planning Grant Received 30 Application with 20 Extensions Granted Competitive Process now in place that will allow for more training to be brought to the entire state. Training will be coordinated state wide to maximize the training Hazardous Materials Teams must sign off on the Application in order to open lines of communication and make sure that both local responders and Hazmat Team are working together. This is a Federally funded grant program

Chemical Emergency Planning Fund Grant State grant in which the MERC Commission determines the criteria of the grant. Based on Tier II reporting facilities in your LEPC MERC is reviewing funding needs for Hazmat Response in Missouri

For More Information Contact Missouri Emergency Response Commission 1-800-780-1014

What Does the Rest of the LEPC Universe Look Like? Let’s Look At EPA’ s LEPC Survey

Missouri Emergency Response Commission Michael White Bill Pippins Thank You!