Meeting Minutes of August 27, 2015

Transcription

1 SOUTHWEST FLORIDA LOCAL EMERGENCY PLANNING COMMITTEE (DISTRICT IX) Meeting Minutes of August 27, 2015 The Southwest Florida Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) met in Fort Myers at the offices of the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council, 1926 Victoria Avenue, Fort Myers, Florida The following primary and alternate members were present during the proceedings which began at 9:32 a.m. LEPC Members Present Nicolas Araica, Bonita Springs Fire & Rescue (Alt.) Connie Bowles, Lee Memorial Health System Emergency Services Captain Mark Calderini, Sarasota County Fire Department Lina Cerquera, FDEP Chief Ed Dwyer, Estero Fire Rescue District John Findley, Sonic Automotive Rhonda Holtzclaw, Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) Todd Kerkering, City of Sarasota Police Department Zachary Lindgren, Bonita Springs Fire & Rescue Nancy McGovern, Lee Memorial Health System Bruce Porter, Retired Law Enforcement - LEPC Chairman Rick Reeby, Ostego Bay Oil Spill Co-Op Rocky Rhodes, Lee Memorial Health System Kimberly Rider, Enterprise Group Sgt. Kenrick Roguska, Charlotte County Sheriff s Office Wayne Sallade, Charlotte County EOC Joanne Semmer, Ostego Bay Oil Spill Co-Op (Alt.) Chief Dan Sieber, San Carlos Fire Department Earl Stockton, Mote Marine Sandra Tapfumaneyi, Lee County Emergency Management Dawn Thomas, Lee Memorial Health System (Alt.) Ken Treffinger, Sarasota County Fire Department Bruce Weinstein, Environmental Consultant Teresa Zilko-Miller, Lee County Government Others Present Tom Bamford, USCG/USCG Auxiliary Tom Bates, Cypress Cove Kristen Chardo, Independent Consultant Bing Crosby, US Dept. of Homeland Security/NPPD Nichole Gwinnett, Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council LEPC Staff Tom Higginbotham, Fort Myers Fire Department Thomas Tomlins, Iona Fire District Doug Wolfe, Response Technologies Corp. District 9 LEPC August 27, 2015 Meeting Minutes Page 1

2 Training Chair Mathew Marshall requested that he be excused due to a scheduling conflict. Mr. Findley provided the invocation prior to the beginning of the meeting. AGENDA ITEM #1 CALL TO ORDER Chairman Porter called the meeting to order at 9:32 a.m. Following the opening of the meeting, the Pledge of Allegiance was recited and introductions were made. Chairman Porter requested that everyone sign in on the sign-in sheet. AGENDA ITEM #4 Minutes of the May 28, 2015 Meeting Chairman Porter entertained a motion to accept the draft LEPC meeting minutes of May 28, A motion was made by Mr. Stockton to approve the minutes of the May 28, 2015 LEPC meeting as presented and was seconded by Mr. Findley. The motion passed unanimously. Chairman Porter presented the item. AGENDA ITEM #5 Thomas Yatabe Award Nominations A motion was made by Chief Sieber to recommend John Gibbons for the Thomas Yatabe Award and was seconded by Mr. Sallade. The motion passed unanimously. Chairman Porter asked the committee if there were any nominations for the Thomas Yatabe Certificates of Appreciation. No nominations were made at this time. Chairman Porter stated that if any of the members would like to recognize someone to send that information to LEPC Staff by the deadline. AGENDA ITEM #6 Southwest Florida LEPC Membership Update Ms. Gwinnett presented the item as it was presented within the agenda packet. Ms. Tapfumaneyi announced that Sam Harvey had taken a position with FEMA in Boston. Chairman Porter noted that it has been requested that Tom Higginbotham become the alternate for Assistant Fire Chief Randy Jordan for the Fort Myers Fire Department. Ms. Gwinnett explained that she would forward the proper paperwork to Mr. Higginbotham and his appointment would be placed on the December LEPC agenda for approval. District 9 LEPC August 27, 2015 Meeting Minutes Page 2

3 A motion was made by Ms. McGovern to approve the transmission of the membership requests to the Florida DEM and Florida State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) for consideration. Chief Sieber provided a second which unanimously carried. AGENDA ITEM # LEPC Meeting Schedule Ms. Gwinnett presented the item. Chairman Porter stated that the proposed meeting schedule was done for planning purposes and could be amended as necessary. A motion was made by Captain Calderini to approve the 2016 LEPC meeting schedule as presented and the motion was seconded by Mr. Kerkering. The motion passed unanimously. AGENDA ITEM #8 Discussion on Presentations for the 2016 LEPC Meetings Ms. Gwinnett presented the item by stating that if there was a specific topic which the committee would like to have presented at a future LEPC meeting to contact her and she would make the proper arrangements. Chairman Porter stated that in the past the LEPC avoided sales pitches. AGENDA ITEM #9 Presentation on the USCG s Role within the Community Thomas Bamford, Seventh Coast Guard District Chairman Porter introduced Mr. Bamford of the Seventh Coast Guard District. Mr. Bamford gave a PowerPoint presentation on the USCG s role within the community. Mr. Reeby stated to Mr. Bamford that he had mentioned environmental responses in his presentation and approximately 13 years ago in Rookery Bay there was an old vessel beached and was leaking diesel fuel. He said that it was all through the press that no one within Collier County responded to all of the derelict vessels that were leaking fuel into the watershed. He then noted that he was calling around and somehow he reached the USGC in Sarasota and they responded to the incident. He then stated that he was told that the USGC didn t respond to any fuel leaks less than 50,000 gallons. After the USGC responded and cleaned up the spill, he was told that a lot of people were upset that the incident was titled federalized ; meaning that the USGC wasn t supposed to deal with such a tiny incident, but there was no one else within Collier County that would respond. There were questions rose asking who made the USGC respond to such an incident; but what they didn t know was that the USGC was the only ones who would respond. Mr. Reeby asked Mr. Bamford if the USGC Auxiliary would respond to such an incident. Mr. Bamford explained that such incidents would go to the Marine Safety Detachment (MSD) Unit, located on Colonial. He explained that Lee County is currently spending millions to remove the derelict/abandoned boats. He then explained that the call would go into the USGC Station who District 9 LEPC August 27, 2015 Meeting Minutes Page 3

4 would contact Sector and then Sector would contact MSD, who would also be in contact with EPA. There is also the national hotline, which is responsible for acquiring assets for that particular incident or routing it to the correct party. Mr. Bamford explained that he was personally involved with a spill at South Seas Marina, where one of the large motor yachts was pumping out fuel from the bilge and ended up being over 5,000 gallons. The Sheriff s department was contacted who in turn contacted Captiva Fire Department and they contacted Sea Tow since they had all the equipment to deal with such an issue. The captain wasn t onboard and the owner was out of town; the individual who was on the boat at that time was out on the stern of the boat spraying soap into the water in trying to disperse the spill. At that time, pictures were taken of the individual spraying soap into the water and samples of the fuel were taken. The USGC stated that it was the fastest case that they ever closed. He explained that once the dispersement was used it became a criminal offense. As a result, the captain lost his license and it was a $50,000 fine for both the boat and the cleanup. Ms. Cerquera explained that with any significant quantity on a navigable waterway, which is anything that creates a sheen, at that point the National Response Center is contacted, DEP would be notified and the contact at the State Watch Office would be notified. So there is both a state and federal agency reviewing the incident. At that point, FDEP would coordinate with each other as to whether or not they enter into unified command or not and who would be the lead agency. Usually on a navigable waterway, the USCG would take the lead. Being that it was in a pristine environment there are plans on how the response would be handled and what resources are available as part of the reserve to respond to that specific area. Mr. Bamford announced that there is a program which began at RSW where the USGC has teamed up with TSA and that program has gone national. Ms. Tapfumaneyi stated that Mr. Bamford has been a great partner within the Lee County EOC. She has been with the EOC for approximately three years and it has been great being able to have a primary contact from the USGC Auxiliary in order to coordinate various issues. Chairman Porter announced that the State of Florida is in the forefront of working and coordinating with the USGC. The State Emergency Response Commission (SERC), through Marco Island Fire Chief Mike Murphy, is in the process of forming a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the USGC for training in emergency response. Washington D.C. is aware of the MOU and Florida is in the forefront of coordinating response activities with both the USGC and State of Florida. It was noted that under OSHA regulations, if there is an active spill where the fuel is coming out there is a requirement of a minimum 24 hour certification in order to respond to the spill. AGENDA ITEM #10 LEPC Logo Shirts It was announced that the LEPC Logo shirts information was included in the agenda package for member s consideration. District 9 LEPC August 27, 2015 Meeting Minutes Page 4

5 AGENDA ITEM #11 Southwest Florida LEPC Contingency Funds Update Ms. Gwinnett noted that the funds haven t changed from the last quarter. Chairman Porter announced if anyone would like to contribute to the LEPC s coffee and donut fund there is a donation container located on the table by the refreshments. AGENDA ITEM #12 4 th Annual HazMat Symposium Ms. Gwinnett presented the item. She also announced that any LEPC member who wishes to attend the symposium to please send her a registration request. She also noted that there have been discussions on how no shows would be handled. There has been an issue in the past where people have registered and then didn t show. She said that she expects that registration will open sometime in either September or October. Chairman Porter noted that every year the symposium has been getting larger with attendance and it is peak tourist season in January at Daytona Beach, the State has reserved blocks of rooms, no shows become very costly. Ms. Zilko-Miller noted that the LEPC s Training Subcommittee has been working on actual language on how to address no shows going forward. Chairman Porter explained that in the past this LEPC did have a no show billing policy. Captain Calderini explained that there are two issues; there are the HazMat classes and the actual symposium. Ms. said that she was fortunate enough to be able to attend the 2014 HazMat Symposium, but for the 2015 HazMat Symposium it was decided that the fees for registration and reservations were to be paid by the attendee and reimbursed by the LEPC. She noted that it became to be a problem for her, as a result she wasn t able to attend the 2015 HazMat Symposium. She asked if it has been changed for the 2016 HazMat Symposium. Ms. Gwinnett explained that District 9 has been awarded the FY15-16 HMEP Planning and Training Agreement, beginning October 1, so she would be able to make the proper arrangements for those members who will be attending. Mr. Wolfe announced that he was currently on the Competition Executive Committee and he was proud to announce that there will be a HazMat Competition at the 2016 Symposium. They are encouraging fire departments who have HazMat Technicians to build a 3-4 member team for the competition. There are no costs involved, including not having to register for the symposium in order to be able to participate within the competition; however, registering for the competition does not allow you to attend the symposium. He said that the registration should be coming out at the end of August for teams to begin registering with some basic rules and the full formal rules for the competition would be released on October 15. He noted that at last year s competition there wasn t anyone representing Southwest Florida. Captain Calderini said that as a consideration, if there is a regional team that could muster a 3-4 member team he would like to see the LEPC give them preference to get them there and also register them for the symposium so that they can do both. District 9 LEPC August 27, 2015 Meeting Minutes Page 5

6 Chairman Porter stated that the LEPC s funds could be used to send individuals to the symposium and also the competition, but he doesn t believe that the LEPC could just pay for the competition. AGENDA ITEM #13 FY14-15 HMEP Planning Project Commodity Flow Study Progress Report Ms. Gwinnett presented the item. AGENDA ITEM #14 Southwest Florida LEPC s Fire Departments Training Needs Assessment Due to the absence of the LEPC s Training Chair Matt Marshal, Captain Calderini announced that there are four classes slated for FY The plan is to have a HazMat Technician class, which the HazMat Symposium is part of the schedule; Propane Emergencies; and an ICS for HazMat class. He noted that the ICS HazMat class is a 24 hour instead of a one week course. A question was asked if there was an opportunity for training suggestions. Captain Calderini said that they probably would take suggestions; however, the four classes have been budgeted at $48,000. Ms. Cerquera suggested that a HazCat Kit training be held. There have been funds depleted from instrument maintenance, etc. and the HazCat Kit really goes back to the basics and old school by addressing and identifying chemicals in the field. It was felt that it would be a really good training to have locally, but didn t know exactly how it would benefit the fire departments. There is a HazCat training scheduled for the northeast district between Orlando and Jacksonville and was sponsored by the LEPC. Captain Calderini stated that he believed that the only limitations are that the training would have to fit within the hazardous materials safety requirements. Ms. Cerquera noted that the cost for the HazCat Kit training would be approximately $700 per attendee. Captain Calderini stated that he will bring that recommendation before the LEPC s Training Committee for their consideration. Ms. Cerquera suggested having the LEPC sponsor a HAZWHOPER Refresher and a 24 Hour Certification as it has done in the past. She noted that there was a large need in Collier County, the LEPC had sponsored the classes and certifications in the past, they are looking to have a refresher course held. She also noted that Sarasota County had expressed interest. AGENDA ITEM #15 SERC Hazard Analysis Work Group Update Due to the absence of the LEPC s Training Chair Matt Marshal, LEPC Staff gave a brief report on the status of the system for the supplemental environmental projects. She noted that the How to Guide for SEPs was included in the agenda packet. She also noted that it was the agency s responsibility to enter the information into the system, not LEPC staff. District 9 LEPC August 27, 2015 Meeting Minutes Page 6

7 AGENDA ITEM #16 Florida DEM Training Chairman Porter stated that all of the trainings offered by DEM are located on their website. AGENDA ITEM #17 Florida State Emergency Response Commission Meeting Update Ms. Gwinnett presented the item and explained that the HazMatters Newsletter, the July SERC meetings summary, and the Hazardous Materials Incidents were included within the members packets. Chairman Porter stated to the committee if anyone had any questions and/or items that wish to be brought before SERC to send the materials to LEPC staff. He noted that the next SERC meeting is scheduled for October 9. AGENDA ITEM #18 Florida SERC Training Task Force Update Captain Calderini stated that the LEPC s Training Chair, Matt Marshal, requested he give the highlights on what was discussed on the conference call held a couple of weeks ago. The discussion pertained to the training programs and the reimbursement process, along with what funds were available for the training programs. He said that the Training Committee discussed the draft of a process to request and hold education classes within the region. There are certain guidelines that are setup for the process and the funds are going to be used for the public sector employee training related to hazardous materials response. It would include tuition, travel reimbursement, facility rental and other related expenses. Captain Calderini stated that he had asked the question of what the other regions are doing and LEPC staff said that District 9 was setting the standard on this process. He then thanked the LEPC s leadership in their efforts. He announced that a goal is to have everything complete in time for the LEPC s December 4 meeting. The guidelines would be submitted to the LEPC for their approval at the December 4 LEPC meeting. Once the guidelines have been approved by the LEPC it starts the timeframe for submission of ideas from departments, agencies, etc. Then those recommendations would be submitted to SERC for their approval. Chairman Porter thanked the Training Committee for their efforts in creating a process so funds will not be returned to DEM due to the lack of trainings within the District, as what happened in the past. MEMBERS COMMENTS A question was asked if anyone was planning on attending the E-Plan class scheduled for early November. There was no response from the Committee. District 9 LEPC August 27, 2015 Meeting Minutes Page 7

8 No public comments were given at this time. PUBLIC COMMENTS ADJOURNMENT Ms. Gwinnett announced that the next meeting was scheduled for December 4, 2015 at 9:30 a.m. in the SWFRPC s conference room. There being no further business, the meeting was declared adjourned at 10:53 a.m. by Chairman Porter. Chairman Bruce Porter Approval Date The meeting was duly advertised in the August 10, 2015 issue of the FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE REGISTER, Volume 41, Number 154. District 9 LEPC August 27, 2015 Meeting Minutes Page 8