Cobb County Resource Council, Inc. Dedicated to Hazardous Materials Safety in Cobb County, Georgia

Could This Happen In Cobb County? “Hecht said Chatham County industries didn’t cooperate much in helping fight the fire. The Savannah Fire Department ran out of firefighting foam and had to go out of state for refills. After the fire was out, some Savannah area industries came forward to say they had foam.” Randy Hecht of the Chatham Emergency Management Agency as quoted in a October 17, 1996 Atlanta Journal/Constitution article on the April 1995 Powell Duffryn Terminal Fire in Savannah, Georgia.

Questions to Consider Do you know… What sort of hazardous materials your neighboring facilities have or produce? What sort of emergency response capabilities your neighbors have? If your neighbor would let you borrow emergency response equipment or supplies if you had an emergency? What the capabilities of the local professional Hazardous Materials Response Teams are? If the local professional responders know what your emergency response capabilities are?

Who We Are The Cobb County Resource Council, Inc. is a non- profit membership corporation, designed to assist you in answering these questions and to develop a network for sharing of information and response supplies among Cobb County private industries, government facilities, emergency response organizations and any other facilities or organizations in Cobb County with an interest in Hazardous Materials Safety.

If You Answered “No” To Any Of The Questions, Then… A voluntary group where members agree to assist each other in emergencies through loan of supplies and/or equipment. A voluntary group where members agree to assist each other in emergencies through loan of supplies and/or equipment. A group is formed with a membership agreement that limits liabilities, provides for supply reimbursement, etc. A group is formed with a membership agreement that limits liabilities, provides for supply reimbursement, etc. Cobb County Emergency Response organizations are also involved with the group. Cobb County Emergency Response organizations are also involved with the group.

How It Works Members prepare inventories of emergency response supplies/equipment they would be willing to loan to others in an emergency. Members prepare inventories of emergency response supplies/equipment they would be willing to loan to others in an emergency. A pre-signed agreement (membership agreement) spells out how companies must reimburse each other for loaned/borrowed equipment/supplies and provides liability protections to the providing member. A pre-signed agreement (membership agreement) spells out how companies must reimburse each other for loaned/borrowed equipment/supplies and provides liability protections to the providing member. Each member receives the inventory of all other members along with contact names, numbers, etc. Each member receives the inventory of all other members along with contact names, numbers, etc. Periodic meetings are held to exchange ideas/information. Periodic meetings are held to exchange ideas/information.

Example Company A has a chemical spill that is not serious enough to call in the county Hazardous Materials Response Team. Company A has a chemical spill that is not serious enough to call in the county Hazardous Materials Response Team. As Company A is cleaning up the spill, they run out of absorbent pads. They refer to their membership inventory book and see that Company B maintains an inventory of absorbent pads. As Company A is cleaning up the spill, they run out of absorbent pads. They refer to their membership inventory book and see that Company B maintains an inventory of absorbent pads.

Example (cont.) Company A contacts Company B to obtain more absorbent pads. This will likely take less time than having to order absorbents through a supply house, enabling Company A to complete the clean-up of their spill faster. Company A contacts Company B to obtain more absorbent pads. This will likely take less time than having to order absorbents through a supply house, enabling Company A to complete the clean-up of their spill faster. Because of the pre-existing membership agreement, Company B knows that Company A will reimburse them in a timely fashion. Because of the pre-existing membership agreement, Company B knows that Company A will reimburse them in a timely fashion.

Where Did The Idea Come From? The Ashland Oil late 80’s major spill into the river near Pittsburgh resulted in Congress passing a new law, the Oil Pollution Act of The Ashland Oil late 80’s major spill into the river near Pittsburgh resulted in Congress passing a new law, the Oil Pollution Act of This law required facilities that transfer petroleum products on or near water to prepare response plans and certify that they have response equipment and capabilities to handle their worst potential spill. This law required facilities that transfer petroleum products on or near water to prepare response plans and certify that they have response equipment and capabilities to handle their worst potential spill.

Where Did The Idea Come From? Not many companies had or wanted to have and maintain all of the equipment necessary to handle a major spill, so Cooperative Response Groups among industries were established in numerous places, particularly along the Ohio River. Not many companies had or wanted to have and maintain all of the equipment necessary to handle a major spill, so Cooperative Response Groups among industries were established in numerous places, particularly along the Ohio River. The membership agreement and information from one of these cooperative response groups (Three Rivers Pollution Response Council, Inc., Imperial, Pennsylvania) was used as the starting point for developing the ideas for a resource council in Fayette County, Georgia. We have used the Fayette County work as our starting point. The membership agreement and information from one of these cooperative response groups (Three Rivers Pollution Response Council, Inc., Imperial, Pennsylvania) was used as the starting point for developing the ideas for a resource council in Fayette County, Georgia. We have used the Fayette County work as our starting point.

Benefits Establishes a network among local industry and local emergency responders. Establishes a network among local industry and local emergency responders. For little cost, provides the potential for a significant amount of resources if needed in an emergency. For little cost, provides the potential for a significant amount of resources if needed in an emergency. Provides an organizational structure that is ideal for information sharing, joint drills, etc. Provides an organizational structure that is ideal for information sharing, joint drills, etc. Is a positive step for industry in terms of public relations. Is a positive step for industry in terms of public relations. Having such a group in place should be of benefit as industries finalize their Risk Management Plans as required by the EPA Accidental Release Rules Having such a group in place should be of benefit as industries finalize their Risk Management Plans as required by the EPA Accidental Release Rules [i.e. 112 (r)].

Cobb County Resource Council, Inc. A legal non-profit membership corporation incorporated in Georgia in 1998

Cobb County Resource Council, Inc. Two membership levels Regular – This level has full voting rights in the organization and representatives may be officers. (Facilities or organizations with significant hazardous materials or response capabilities or significant interest in the management of the Council). Associate – This membership level does not have voting rights. (Facilities or organizations without significant hazardous materials but with an interest in Hazardous Materials Safety).

Cobb County Resource Council, Inc. Structure Group headed by a five member Board of Directors (chosen by the membership). Council has four elected officers (Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer). Council holds quarterly meetings. Decisions made by a majority (51% or greater) vote of a quorum of members at scheduled meetings.

Cobb County Resource Council, Inc. Membership Requirements A facility or organization with interests in Cobb County. Sign a copy of the Resource Council Agreement (which provides for the liability protections and cost recovery agreements the Council offers.) Payment of the annual membership fee $500 for regular members $250 for associate members Pays for the administrative expenses of the Council (copying, postage, legal fees etc.) Provides a source of funding for local member emergency response organizations (upon decision/vote of membership) Provides funding for sponsorship of joint training/drills.

The Next Step Review the proposed Council Agreement and discuss with your management. Review the proposed Council Agreement and discuss with your management. Let us know if your company is interested. Let us know if your company is interested. The Council is only as good as its membership. We hope you will consider joining!

For Additional Information Council Officers – Chairperson – Mike Flowers, Cobb County Fire & Emergency Services, (770) Vice-Chairperson – Richard Cunningham, Brenntag, (678) Secretary – Cindy Garrett, Cobb County Fire & Emergency Services, (770) Treasurer – Jim Parsons, Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority, (770) Member at Large – Kelly Caldwell, Marietta Fire Department, (770)