HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001 10 30 Fax to Orlando Sentinel
*************** -COMM. JOURNAL- ******************* DATE OCT-30-2001 ***** TIME 15:06 ********
MODE = MEMORY TRANSMISSION
START=OCT-30 15:03
EI~D=OCT-30 15:06
FILE NO.=034
STN NO. S~t!I1,- ABBR NO. STATION NAM2~ NO. PAG~S__~ON
""0 ~ C:~4'
-CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS
************************************ -
- ***** -
407 327 4753- *********
CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA
1126 EAST STATE ROAD 434
WINTER SPRINGS, F~ORIDA 3270s.-27l,l9
Telephone (407) 327-1600
,
FACSIMILE
COVER
SHEET
DATE:
October 30, 2001
TO:
Robert Perez
Orlando Sentinel
FROM:
Commissioner Cindy Gennell
TELEPHONE: (407) 327-1800
FACSIMILE: (407) 327-4753
(including this CQver sheet)
COMMENTS:
CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA
1126 EAST STATE ROAD 434
WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA 32708-2799
Telephone (407) 327-1800
"
FACSIMILE
COVER
SHEET
DATE:
October 30,2001
TO:
Robert Perez
Orlando Sentinel
FROM:
Commissioner Cindy Gennell
FACSIMILE:
(407) 321-7435
TELEPHONE: (407) 327-1800
FACSIMILE: (407) 327-4753
NUMBER
OF PAGES:
[}] (including this cover sheet)
COMMENTS:
Local Emergency Planning Committees
in Your Community byDeniselmbler
Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) are
key in Florida's successful implementation of the
Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-
Know Act (EPCRA), established in 1987. The EPCRA leg-
islation was passed by Congress in response to a chemi-
cal spill in Bhoupal, India, that killed more than 3,000
people and injured thousands more due to poor plan-
ning and lack of community awareness. EPCRA is ad-
ministered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) and is implemented by the Florida Department of
Community Affairs.
The purpose of the law is to encourage emergency
planning efforts at the state and local levels and to in-
crease the public's access to information about the po-
tential chemical hazards that may exist in their com-
munities. Formed under Section 301 of EPCRA, the
Florida LEPC districts were established by the State Emer-
gency Response Commission (SERC) and share the same
geographical boundaries as the state's 11 Regional Plan-
ning Councils (RPCs). The SERC is a governor-appointed
commission composed of representatives from environ-
mental organizations, private industry, local and mu-
nicipal governments, and first-responder agencies.
In recognizing the RPCs, the Florida Legislature stated
in 1993 that their geographical structure benefits local
communities. That is because the RPCs, and therefore
the LEPCs, are Florida's only multi-purpose regional
entities that are in a position to plan for and coordi-
nate intergovernmental solutions to problems on
greater-than-local issues, provide technical assistance to
local governments, and meet other needs of the com-
munities in each region.
The Department of Community Affairs contracts each
year with the individual RPCs to provide professional
support for the LEPCs in the execution of their respon-
sibilities pursuant to the EPCRA legislation. These re-
sponsibilities involve developing and conducting re-
gional hazardous materials exercises, coordinating re-
gional emergency response plans, performing public
outreach, providing technical assistance to industry and
serving as the regional repositories for EPCRA facility
chemical reports.
Each LEPC consists of approximately 30 volunteer
members representing one of 18 occupational catego-
ries such as emergency management, hazardous-materi-
als facility owner, first aid, firefighting, and elected and
non-elected local officials. LEPC members are nominated
by the LEPC chairman, and the appointments are ap-
proved by the SERe. The LEPC typically meets once a
quarter and submits quarterly activity and financial re-
ports to the Department of Community Affairs. Chair-
men and the LEPC staff contacts meet quarterly with
24 Florida League of Cities
department staff to exchange ideas and address issues
of joint concern. The quarterly meetings are held the
day prior to the SERC meetings to allow the LEPC repre-
sentatives the opportunity to present key issues that may
require action by the SERe. LEPC committee members
form subcommittees that focus on such issues as com-
munity education and awareness, training needs for the
region and LEPC membership participation. LEPCs are
also responsible for submitting summaries of district
activities for HazMatters, a quarterly newsletter presented
to the SERC and posted on the SERC Web site at http://
www.dca.state.fl.us/cps/SERC/serc.htm .
The 11 LEPCs in Florida are among the most active
and productive in the nation. To complement their
EPCRA-related activities, the LEPCs receive funding
through a grant from the U.S. Department of Transpor-
tation for first-responder training and regional commu-
nity planning projects. These funds enable the LEPCs
to accomplish various planning projects that enhance
community safety and awareness, as well as provide
hazardous-materials response training to volunteer and
professional first responders.
Planning projects completed in the past include com-
modity flow studies, facility hazards analysis summa-
ries and shelter-in-place education enhancement. A com-
modity flow study provides a survey of the types of and
frequency with which a hazardous material is trans-
ported over major roadways through an LEPC district.
For the facility hazards analysis summary, a one-page
information sheet is created providing key information
on each facility in the LEPC district using or storing
extremely hazardous substances (EHSs) for first respond-
ers to use when responding to a fire or a release at the
facility. Shelter-in-place enhancement involves perform-
ing outreach to the community on procedures for shel-
tering in place and evacuating in the event a hazardous
material is accidentally released from a facility.
Several districts have recently completed projects that
their LEPC decided would enhance that region's haz-
ardous materials program. The District 3 LEPC developed
a hazardous-materials regional response team, District
11 organized and hosted a hazardous-materials confer-
ence, and District 5 organized and hosted a Compre-
hensive HAZMAT Emergency Response Capability Assess-
ment Program (CHER-CAP) exercise partially funded by
the Federal Emergency Management Agency. (See page
26.) This was a regional exercise used to test communi-
cations, command structure and the ability to respond
to a hazardous-materials incident. Also, from 1998 to
2000, several LEPCs hosted "Safety Streets," an event co-
ordinated under the Accidental Release Prevention and
Risk Management Program that allowed local industry
representatives to inter-
face with the commu-
nity to discuss the haz-
ards presented and the
safety precautions in
place at their facilities.
LEPCs played a pivotal role in bringing fa-
cility representatives and the community to-
gether. Many LEPC staff contacts perform haz-
ards analysis updates for the facilities in their region stor-
ing or using EHSs and, along with Department of Com-
munity Affairs staff, attend audits of facility accidental
release prevention risk management plans. These activi-
ties promote community safety, inform the public and
aid facilities in mitigating against an accidental hazard-
ous-materials release.
LEPCs function through the voluntary support and
participation of the local community. They provide valu-
able training to first responders, assist industry in plan-
ning for and mitigating accidental releases, and keep
the public informed. If you would like to learn more
about your LEPC, a map listing the 11 LEPCs in Florida
is provided, or you may access the SERC Web site at
http://www.dca.state.{l.us/cps/SERC/serc.htm for additional
information Dn the EPCRA program. _
Denise 1mbler is the planning manager for the Florida
Hazardous Materials Program with the Department of
Community Affairs.
District
1
Local Emergency Planning Committees
2
WEST FLORIDA REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL
LEPC Chairperson: Richard Delp / Staff Contact: Terry Joseph
Post Office Box 486 . Pensacola 32593-0486
(850) 595-8910's/c 695-8910 FAX: (850) 595-8967
e-mail address:josepht@Wfrpc.dsUI.us
APALACHEE REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL
LEPC Chairperson: RIchard Smith / Staff Contact: Nell fleckenstein
314 E. Central Avenue, Room 119 . Blountstown 32424
(850) 674-4571 sic 771-4417 FAX: (850) 674-4574
Tallahassee Office (850) 488-6211 FAX: (850) 488- 1 61 6
e-mail address: arpc@thearpc.org
NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL
LEPC Chairperson: John Hudson / Staff Contact: Dwayne Mundy
2009 N.W. 67 Place, Suite A . Gainesville 32653
(352) 955-2200 ext. 108 sic 625-2200 FAX: (352) 955-2209
e-mail address: mundy@ncfrpc.org
NORTHEAST FLORIDA REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL
LEPC Chairperson: Michael Chlada / Staff Contact: Lori Abramson
9143 Phillips Highway, Suite 350 . Jacksonville 32256
(904) 363-6375 ext. 147 sic 874-6350 FAX: (904) 363-6356
e-mail address: fabramson@nefrpc.org
WITHLACOOCHEE REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL
LEPC Chairperson: Milton Hili / Staff Contact: Charlotte Neupauer
1241 S.w. 10th Street. Ocala 34474-2798
(352) 732-1315 ext. 229 sic 667-1315 FAX: (352) 732-1319
e-mail address:/epc5@at/antic.net
EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL
LEPC Chairperson: Jennifer Hobbs / Staff Contact: Teri Hunalp
631 Wymore Road. Maitland 32789
(407) 623-1075 ext. 335 sic 334-1075 FAX: (407) 623-1 084
e-mail address: teri@ecfrpc.org
3
4
5
6
f7"'7"
JJ 0 =1 o~t?
7
CENTRAL FLORIDA REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL
LEPC Chairperson: Ed Higby / Staff Contact: Burt Mckee
Post Office Drawer 2089. Bartow 33831
(863) 534-7130 ext. 104 sic 549-7130 FAX: (863) 534-7138
e-mail address: bmckee@cfrpc.org
TAMPA BAY REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL
LEPC Chairperson: Ernie Hiers / Staff Contact: Bill Lofgren
9455 Koger Boulevard, Suite 219 . St. Petersburg 33702-2491
(727) 570-5151 ext. 248 sic 513-5066 FAX: (727) 570-5118
e-mail address: bil/@tbrpc.org
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL
LEPC Chairperson: Bruce Porter/ Staff Contact: John Gibbons
Post Office Box 3455 . North Fort Myers 33918-3455
(941) 656-7720 sic 749-7720 FAX: (941) 656-7724
e-mail address: jgibbons@swfrpc.org
TREASURE COAST REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL
LEPC Chairperson: Brian Hanley / Staff Contact: Bruce Pisani
301 East Ocean Boulevard, Suite 300 . Stuart 34994
(561) 221-4060 sic 269-4060 FAX: (561) 221-4067
e-mail address: pisoni@tcrpc.org
SOUTH FLORIDA REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL
LEPC Chairperson: George Danz/ Staff Contact: Alex Schore
3440 Hollywood Boulevard, Suite 140. Hollywood 33021
(954)985-4416 s/c473-4416 FAX: (954)985-4417
e-mail address:oschore@sfrpc.com
8
9
10
11
Quality Cities - September/October 2001 2S
OJ
ne Florida emergency-prepaiednes~ group recently had a golden
opport~nity t~ test and cr.itiq.ue its .disaster preparedness processes
by stagmg a dIsaster exerCIse mvolvmg a leak of hazardous materi-
als. Of the many lessons learned from the exercise, probably none was more
significant than being made aware of the intense levels of interagency co-
operation that are needed to successfully address such an emergency.
In Florida, a system has been established to enable local communities to
address their own disaster preparedness needs. Local Emergency Planning
Councils (LEPCs) are designed to facilitate emergency planning efforts at
the local level, assist with regional coordination, and assist local emergency
responders address hazardous-materials public safety issues. All states have
LEPCs. In Florida, the LEPCs are organized in conjunction with the 11 Re-
gional Planning Councils.
The District 5 LEPC, representing Citrus, Hernando, Levy, Marion and Sumter
counties, was created in 1988 in response to legislation provided by the Emer-
gency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act. The Withlacoochee Re-
gional Planning Council, in existence since 1973, provides the necessary staff
support for the District 5 LEPC with funding from the Florida Department of
Community Affairs, Division of Emergency Management.
On April 7, 2000, it was announced to the State Emergency Response
Commission that the District 5 LEPC had been selected by the Federal Emer-
gency Management Agency (FEMA) to implement the FEMA National CHER-
CAP Program in Region IV. (CHER-CAP stands for "Comprehensive Hazmat
Emergency Response-Capability Assessment Program" and was established
by FEMA to assist local communities in improving their hazardous-materi-
als response capabilities. "Region IV," meanwhile, is a FEMA designation
referring to an eight-state region in the southeastern United States.)
CHER-CAP uses the skills and resources of local, state and federal entities
and industry to identify and address local jurisdictions' hazardous-materials
preparedness needs. It is also intended to enhance the community's ability
to operate within the national response system as described in the National
Contingency Plan. The Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. De-
partment of Transportation are key federal partners in CHER-CAP.
While CHER-CAP focuses on is-
sues specific to hazardous-materials
preparedness and response, it also
reinforces preparedness for all haz-
ards by drawing together the key
partners from the public and private
sector at the local level. It gives re-
sponders from all disciplines -
firefighting, emergency medical ser-
vices, law enforcement, public works,
health, environment, volunteer or-
ganizations and industry - a forum
to plan, train and work together
demonstrating skills and discovering
opportunities for improvements in
preparedness and response. Because
it joins public and private sector par-
ticipants, CHER-CAP can add a tech-
nological hazards component to the
disaster preparedness process.
Upon receiving the news of District
5's selection, Milton Hill, our District
5 chairman, and I came back from
Tallahassee with a sense of pride to
have been selected and a feeling of
enthusiasm for beginning the process.
Although we anticipated that the
process would be time-consuming
and would require a districtwide com-
mitment; little did we know just how
inadequate our thoughts on the is-
sue of time and effort would be! Once
reality set in, the LEPC sought assis-
tance from Lee Newsome, Emergency
Response Educators and Consultants,
lne. (EREC), a local company that we
knew had expertise in exercise pre-
paredness. After 10 months of hours
upon hours of preparation and meet-
ings after meetings, "C-Day" finally
arrived on February 17, 200l.
The CHER-CAP full-scale exercise
was designed to be as close as pos-
sible to a real disaster. The field exer-
cise was designed to evaluate the
operational capability of the emer-
gency management systems in a
highly stressful environment, which
simulated actual response condi-
tions. To accomplish this realism re-
quired the mobilization and actual
movement of emergency personnel,
equipment and resources. The exer-
cise required the coordinated actions
of many agencies, tested a number
of emergency functions, and acti-
vated the local Emergency Opera-
tions Center. Realism was achieved
through on-scene actions and deci-
sions, simulated "victims," rescue re-
quirements, communication devices,
equipment deployment, and actual
resource and manpower allocation.
The full-scale exercise was designed
to test and evaluate most functions
of the emergency management plans
for those involved. Moreover, this
exercise was intended to show re-
sponse capabilities of participating
agencies, their needs and identify
potential problems that might affect
an actual response in the future.
All five counties under District 5
participated to some extent. Ocala
While the table-top scenario was not
the actual mock-disaster scenario, the
process proved very valuable in pre-
paring for the real exercise.
The exercise began on Saturday,
February 17, 2001, at approximately
9:00 a.m. with a farm delivery truck
attempting to beat a train to a cross-
ing. Hitting the track at an exces-
sive rate of speed, the truck's load
shifted and was spilled onto the
track. A number of items fell from
the truck, one of which was a 150-
pound cylinder, which became
lodged beneath the train's engine.
Thanks to the cooperation of a local
railroad company, we were able to
play with the "real thing." The con-
tents of the cylinder were a mixture
(pretend, of course!) of chloropicrin
and methyl bromide.
The initial 911 call was delivered by
a privately owned vehicle that was fol-
lowing the truck. The second call was
initiated by the train crew to report the
incident, while the third call was placed
from a day care center adjacent
to the railroad tracks. The exer-
cise was under way!
The exercise location was
specifically selected due to its
close proximity to the day
care, an assisted living facility,
two churches, a private school,
businesses and a heavy resi-
dential population.
Seventeen evaluators, re-
spected professionals in their
field from outside of Region 5,
were brought in to view and as-
sess the exercise. FEMA's evalua-
tion criteria required that specific areas
be evaluated; examples include "Haz
Mat Teams," "Emergency Operations
Center," "Incident Command System,"
"Law Enforcement," "Emergency Medi-
cal Services," "Medical Facility, Com-
munications," "Public Information"
and "Population Protection Actions."
Following the mock-disaster, an
exercise critique was conducted.
During the critique, each evaluator
spoke regarding his or her observa-
tions. The critique also offered an
opportunity for dialog exchange
between the evaluator and the spe-
cific response entity. Additionally,
following the submission of the Af-
(Marion County) was chosen because
of the extensive transportation net-
work that criss-crosses the county (In-
terstate 75, Highway 40, Highway
441/301/27, an airport, a railroad) and
the heavy industry/transportation of
associated hazardous materials cur-
rently developing within the county.
Prior to the actual exercise, on
January 12, 2001, a "table-top" exer-
cise was conducted. It was not a tra-
ditional table-top exercise. Ques-
tions were thrown out with differ-
ent situations, and the groups
worked within their disciplines to
come up with the answers and see
what other disciplines they affected.
ter-Action Report to FEMA and the
Florida Division of Emergency
Management, the response entities
were provided a copy of their writ-
ten evaluation along with specific
recommendations.
While many valuable lessons were
learned during the planning process
and exercise, perhaps the greatest
learned was the extent of coordina-
tion that will be required in the event
of a real disaster.
More than 30 agencies participated
in the planning process and various
elements of the exercise. During the
exercise, approximately 250 people
were participating at various locations
throughout the City of Ocala, Marion
County and adjacent counties.
District 5 response agencies became
more familiar with each other's re-
sources, made new connections and
developed a lasting knowledge of
how to work together to protect all
of our communities. It is our hope
to truly capitalize on the CHER-CAP
experience by holding our next
CHER-CAP Exercise Committee Meet-
ing in February 2002. At that time,
we will review the training efforts
that have been implemented as a
result of the recommendations by
the evaluators during the exercise.
For additional information on the
Local Emergency Planning Councils or
CHER-CAP, you may contact me by
phone at (352) 732-1315, ext. 229, or by
e-mail at01eupauer.lepc50wrpc.cc. -
Charlotte S. Neupauer is the District 5 LEPC
coordinator which is administered by
Witl1lacoocl1ee Regional Planning Council.
Quality Cities - September/October 2001 27