oregon serc & lepc: what it means to your community
TRANSCRIPT
Introduction
Emergency Planning & Community Right to Know Act
(EPCRA) Overview
SERC/LEPC History
SERC/LEPC Working Group
Oregon Community Right to Know Act (CR2K)
Overview
Where are we today
Questions
AGENDA
1986 – Superfund Amendment & Reauthorization Act (SARA Title III) establishes Emergency Planning & Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA)
EPCRA has two main goals
Requires and supports emergency planning for chemical releases
Provide local government and citizens with information about hazardous substances in their communities
EPCRA OVERVIEW
EPCRA establishes the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC)
Designates Emergency Planning Districts
Appoints Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) for each district
Confirms members to the LEPC
Provides comment on local community response plans
EPCRA OVERVIEW
1985Interagency Hazard Communication Council (IHCC) is assigned SERC responsibil ities
2005IHCC is legislatively abolished (HB2101). SERC responsibilities are assigned to the State Fire Marshal
2006OSFM staff works with county and local leaders to develop community based LEPCs around Oregon until staff was cut due to funding shortfall in 2011.
2012 State Fire Marshal makes it a priority to bring Oregon into full compliance with EPCRA, assigning 2 FTE to facilitate SERC/LEPC activities
OREGON SERC/LEPC HISTORY
2013 - An OAR is drafted that would:
Establish Emergency Planning DistrictsEstablish LEPCs
2014 – Identified issues with OAR as it was drafted. Four stakeholder meeting were held around the state.
The consistent theme we heard was a need for better collaboration in the process and more flexibility in the OAR.
OREGON SERC/LEPC HISTORY
The SERC/LEPC Working group consist of representatives from
Oregon Offi ce of Emergency ManagementLocal Emergency ManagersOregon Emergency Management AssociationOregon Fire Chiefs AssociationFire/Regional HazMat TeamsOSFM Staff
SERC/LEPC WORKING GROUP
The group was tasked with making recommendation to the State Fire Marshal on –
Boundaries for Emergency Planning Districts
What should an LEPC look like?
Participate in drafting an OAR that meets the intent of
EPCRA
If there is a need for a standing SERC Executive Committee
Group began monthly meetings in May 2014
SERC/LEPC WORKING GROUP
SERC Executive Committee ORS 453.520 Requirements/Limitations Advisory/Support Organization Need SERC Executive Committee
Purpose Composition Bylaws
Duties and Responsibilities Membership Meetings Voting
Authorization
WORK GROUP EFFORTS
Oregon Administrative Rules 837-095 Establish SERC Executive Committee Designate Emergency Planning Districts
Counties Regions
Local Emergency Planning Committees Formation Membership Leadership Duties and Responsibilities
HazMat Emergency Preparedness (Broadly) HazMat Response Plan Development (Specifically)
Organizational Policies and Procedures
WORK GROUP EFFORTS
Oregon Community Right to Know and Protection Act (CR2K)
Reporting of hazardous substances at fixed sites
Intent Improve health and safety by increasing knowledge about
locations of hazardous substances and their hazards.
Provide information to emergency planners, responders, and public.
Improve planning activities, informed emergency response, better public awareness.
COMMUNITY RIGHT TO KNOW
Recent U.S. Incidents
October 2012 – East Rutherford, NJ. Dust Explosion 7 Injured
June 2013 – Geismar, LA. Chemical Mfg. Explosion/Fire 2 Killed
April 2013 – West TX. Fertilizer Plant Fire/Explosion 14 Killed
January 2014 - Charleston, WV. Chemical release into water supply
Is there potential for such incidents to occur in Oregon?
COMMUNITY RIGHT TO KNOW
Many facets to Emergency Management
Flood Earthquake RR Derailment Structure Collapse Explosion Fire Pandemic Outbreak Hazardous Materials ???
COMMUNITY RIGHT TO KNOW
Rudolph Giuliani when asked how NY dealt with 9/11.
New York city already had separate plans for each of the different incidents resulting from the attacks. They just never implemented all of them at the same time before.
Timothy Gablehouse “Each Community with hazardous materials is one event away from a long term catastrophe.”
Pre-planning is important
Planning causes positive outcomes
CR2K Data can help you in your pre-planning eff orts
CR2K staff is committed to helping you
COMMUNITY RIGHT TO KNOW
OAR became eff ective January 1, 2015
OSFM staff has resumed working counties interested
in developing LEPCs
The SERC Executive Committee hold its fi rst meeting
early summer 2015
WHERE WE ARE TODAY
What does this mean for Emergency Managers?
OSFM took feedback – created working group
EPCRA protects fi rst responders, planners and citizens
(right to know)
LEPC’s – bringing the community together
LOCAL PERSPECTIVE