HomeMy WebLinkAboutLEPC Minutes 09.11.2024
Minutes – September 11, 2024
New Hanover County EOC
Attendees
Name Business Name Business
Nick Bailey SR&R Environmental Bill MacKay NHC Emergency Management
Melanie Collier US Coast Guard Debra Nagle NHC Emergency Management
Jason Fuller NHC Emergency
Management Rhonda Olson UNC Wilmington: LEPC
Secretary
Darren Goodman Kinder Morgan Dave Pouleris Pipe View Technologies
Craig Harris City of Wilmington Chief John
Stephenson Wilmington Fire Department
Stan Harts Alcami Corporation: LEPC
Chair Michael Thompson American Red Cross
Arden Horrell Kinder Morgan Carol Yates Corning Incorporated
Bryan Klostermeyer US Coast Guard
Welcome and Introductions
The meeting was called to order by Stan Harts, LEPC Chair, at 11:04 AM. LEPC Members present
introduced themselves.
Moment of Remembrance for September 11th
Review and Approval of July 10, 2024, LEPC Meeting Minutes
The minutes of the July 10, 2024 meeting were passed out. Mike Thompson moved the minutes be
approved with one correction; Jason Fuller seconded the motion. The minutes were approved by
unanimous consent.
Discussion Topics
Lessons Learned from Corning Incident – Carol Yates (Environmental/Emergency Management Team)
reviewed chlorine release incident at the Corning manufacturing site. The total volume released was
reported to NC DEQ. The cause of the failure was traced to a failed heat trace line. Corning followed up
by replacing the heat trace controls for the chlorine piping and will replace the piping for the failed line
at the facility to prevent a similar problem in the future.
“WHY ME” LEPC Spotlight – NHC Emergency Management is a department of the County. There are 9
staff with various assigned responsibilities. NHC EM serves as a grant and legal process conduit for
training and conference funding. NHC EM works with special events, LEPC, Community Emergency
Response Training, volunteers, Radiological Emergency Management Operations, and other groups.
Conference January 8, 2025 – A grant funded conference with a transportation element is being
planned. Funding will be able to cover food, parking, venue, speaker travel (must be booked early), and
some other expenses. Volunteers, and suggestions for speakers and topics are welcome.
E-Plan Reminder – Everyone is reminded to begin work on renewals sooner rather than later. Make sure
to check the data they have in the system to make sure it is accurate. NHC does not need to receive
plans other than through ePlan unless the facility is required to provide. Currently, plans will be kept
online and can be reviewed with updates from year to year. The State has mandated if plans are not
being reviewed and updated appropriately, the system will be wiped clean and all reports will have to be
started from the beginning.
Subcommittee Reports –
1. Executive Committee (Stan Harts) – A report of ePlan participants includes approximately
80 unique names. The executive committee will be reaching out to various contacts to help
improve LEPC attendance and participation.
2. Emergency Planning/Response (Jason Fuller) – An anhydrous ammonia release training was
held July 16 - 17. There were approximately 100-110 participants. Reviews were good.
Suggestions for future training are welcome.
3. Community Education/Public Awareness (Rhonda Olson) – The next opportunity for an
education and outreach event will be the conference coming up in January. The brochures
are ready to be distributed, and fire marshals will bring them on site visits.
2025 Officer Elections
Every year new officers are elected: chair, vice chair, and secretary. Nominees should be members in
good standing. Voting will take place at the November meeting.
Member Announcements
• Alcami – A neighboring facility in Durham County has had Hazmat related vandalism and vehicle
theft. This serves as a reminder to make sure ID badges, etc. are secure and not left in vehicles.
• Corning – A tabletop is being planned for early next year based on a chlorine release event.
• NHC EM – From Oct 17 to Nov 2, NHC will NOT be in the building to make parking available for
early voting.
• City of Wilmington – The City is working to make the meeting space available for January 8th,
pending upfitting to the building.
• UNCW – A tabletop is being planned focusing on lithium-ion batteries. LEPC members willing to
participate as observers are welcome.
• Red Cross – ICS 300/400 training is needed for new members. Red Cross has deployed
resources for Hurricane Francine.
• Wilmington Fire Department – WFD participated in a multiagency response for an incident
involving a water rescue, and an incident at a former poultry plant/snack food plant involving
hazmat air/chlorine response. The new fire station at River Lights will hopefully open by 1st of
next year. The stations will have a new engine and new recruits.
• Kinder Morgan – DHS is performing monitoring of domestic actors targeting utilities and
infrastructure, including service vehicles.
• US Coast Guard – The next area committee meeting will be on Nov 7th. USCG is looking for a
venue opportunity to improve attendance. The area committee meeting will have an estimated
50 participants.
Next Meeting
The next LEPC meeting is scheduled for 11:00 AM on November 13, 2024, at the New Hanover County
building lobby Room 136, enter through main customer entrance. Forward suggestions for topics or
meal sponsorship to the Executive Committee.
Adjournment
Stan Harts made a motion to adjourn, which was seconded by Jason Fuller. The meeting adjourned at
12:23 PM.