Oregon Local Emergency Planning Committees

“Providing Opportunities for Improvement in Preparedness and Response”

Agenda

Where We’ve Been

Where We Are Today

Looking To The Future

What’s Working

Assistance Available

Where We’ve Been 1984 – Bhopal India incident

1985 – Institute West Virginia incident

1985 – Oregon begins collecting hazardous substance information from facilities

1986 – Federal EPCRA established

1986 – Oregon integrates EPCRA information into the Hazardous Substance Information Survey

Where We’ve Been 1986 – Governor assigns SERC

duties to the Interagency Hazard Communication Council (IHCC)

SERC / IHCC designate entire state as single planning district, establish LEPC 1986 – 2005 Single statewide LEPC

struggles to address EPCRA directives

2005 – IHCC abolished, SERC duties reassigned to State Fire Marshal

Where We’ve Been 2007 – State Fire Marshal directs staff to

begin transition to localized LEPCs

2011 – 9 LEPCs developed at the county level, recession issues impede progress

SERC support maintained for existing LEPCs Program and personnel moved to Administration

2013 – Changeover in Personnel

2014 - 10th LEPC developed and promotion to additional counties begins

2015 - Planning Districts codified in OAR 837-095 at county / multi-county level

Where We Are Today Eight LEPCs involved in

emergency plan development projects Clatsop County plan completed in

April 2014Plan developed by EM personnel

All facilities included in the plan

Reviewed by the SERCSeries of recommendations made

Annual review now due

Where We Are Today Three LEPCs using multi-year process

to complete the plan requirements Mid-Valley (Linn/Benton) on second year of

plan development utilizing contractor Five high-priority facilities included in first draft of the plan

Plan completed in September 2014 utilizing contractor

Reviewed by the SERC, recommendations made

Contactor being used for second phase to include an additional five facilities during 2015

High priority placed on evacuation component

Where We Are Today Three LEPCs using multi-year

process to complete the plan requirements (cont.)

Lane County in first year of multi-year plan development Inclusion of high priority facilities

Utilizing interns from the University

Conducting walk-throughs of facilities in addition to plan development

Using meetings for Q&A / work sessions

Where We Are Today Three LEPCs using multi-year

process to complete the plan requirements (cont.)

Columbia County hires contractor to collect information from subject facilities Information to be incorporated into plan template

Project being overseen jointly by LEPC and Fire Defense Board

Where We Are Today One LEPC involving all facilities

in single year project (cont.) Umatilla County utilizing

contractor Collect information from subject facilities

Incorporate information into planning template

Project overseen by LEPC

Where We Are Today One LEPC addressing plan

development through grass-roots effort Lincoln County utilizing LEPC to develop

plan Toledo FD leading the effort

Use meetings to review planning elements

Coordinate with subject facilities and answer questions

Facilities review their plans to address applicable planning element

Other elements to be addressed by the LEPC, in general

Where We Are Today Morrow County

Submitted application to hire contractor during 2015-16 grant cycle

Anticipate doing all facilities in single year project

Multnomah CountyHas identified organization to

manage grant funds

Will submit application during 2016-17

Where We Are Today Klamath County

New County Emergency Manager would like to get LEPC back up and running

Exploring possibility of working cooperatively with Lake County

Coos County Difficulty moving forward after

retirement of person spearheading efforts

LNG Facility project consuming everyone’s time

Looking to the Future Oregon is getting some new

LEPCs!Tillamook County

Fire Defense Board votes to establish LEPC

Expecting to have initial startup in June

Douglas CountyFire service is primary driver

Approached local safety committee with proposal to incorporate LEPC responsibilities into existing group

Initial startup scheduled for June

Looking to the Future Oregon is getting some new LEPCs!

Marion County Primary driver is emergency management

Approached their Emergency Management Advisory Committee with proposal to address the responsibilities

Emergency Manager already laying ground work by submitting grant application for county wide commodity flow study

Looking to the Future Oregon is getting some new

LEPCs! Three counties want to establish

LEPC but no set date(s) yet Clackamas

Harney

Yamhill

What’s Working Multi-year Projects

Prioritizing subject facilities based on risk to the surrounding community Enables enhanced evaluation and improved communications with facility

Provides more time to focus on facilities of greatest concern to emergency responders

Easier to fit projects into grant timetable

Manageable workload

Review results and refine the process

What’s Working Exercises – keep it simple to start

Tabletops identify the gaps quite well Low cost (can be supported through the

grant)

Straightforward to produce / coordinate

Can be completed in a few short hours

Good practice for more elaborate exercise

Move to functional or full scale when ready

What’s Working Meeting Frequency

Newer LEPCs meeting monthly gets the group up and running faster

Program and responsibilities stay at the front of everyone's mind while in “learning mode”

Gets everyone acquainted with each other faster

More consistent attendance

What’s Working LEPC is on solid ground and planning

project in full swingCould move to meeting every other month

LEPCs that meet quarterly seem to struggleSpend time reviewing where they’ve been

Attendance falters

Missing one meeting creates a 6 month gap

What’s Working Staying ahead of the grant

Look at project proposals throughout the year

Don’t wait for submission timelines to begin building the requestProvides more time to accomplish

Less stress when not working under strict timeline

More time for thought and review of proposal

Can get more people involved

What’s Working Take the time to create

comprehensive By-Laws Include “911 satisfies notification to LEPC”

Include “OERS call satisfies notification to the SERC”

LEPC members covered under the OTCA

Identify someone who can keep meeting minutes and distribute agenda

Don ‘t be afraid to take a major role

Assistance Available 2 – FTE dedicated solely to LEPC support

Samples – Emergency Plans, By-Laws, Exercises, committee projects

Emergency Plan Template

Promotion and educational materials

Website suitable for compliance with public notification requirements

Community Right-to-Know facility and substance information in customized reports

Assistance Available Hazardous Materials Emergency

Preparedness (HMEP) Grant

Specifically dedicated to LEPC support Plan development contractors

Exercise expenses and coordinating contractors

Hazardous Materials related training

Commodity Flow Studies

HazMat focused Conference/travel expenses

Questions?