HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-12 LEPC DRAFT Minutes
Minutes – March 12, 2025
New Hanover County EOC
Attendees
Name Business Name Business
Haley Anderson Novant Health Timothy Keegan NHC Sheriffs Office
Nick Bailey SR&R Environmental Robin Lorenzen NCEM
Bailey Baldridge HEPACO, LLC Bill MacKay NHC Emergency Management
Tanner Bradley American Red Cross Lyda McCarthy UNC Wilmington
Drew Culp HEPACO, LLC Phil Misklow Stepan Corporation
Andrew Dwyer Red Cross Joe Moran Airgas
Kira Frawley PCHD Dave Pouleris Pipe View Technologies
Jason Fuller NHC Emergency Management Hardee
Rickenbacker Kinder Morgan
Joe Fyffe GE Aerospace Kevin Rowland NCDAQ
Emily Garner NC Ports Authority James
Schlotterbeck NHC Sheriffs Office
Bob Hammond ServiceMaster Restoration of
Wilmington Maj. Chris Smith NHC Sheriffs Office
Craig Harris City of Wilmington Elden Stackhouse Pacific Woodtech
Stan Harts Alcami Corp.: LEPC Chair Chief John
Stephenson Wilmington Fire Department
Kevin House CFPUA Mark Venters GE Hitachi Nuclear
Aaron Kasulis Novant Health Richard Wareham SR&R Environmental
Linda Willis NCDAQ
Welcome and Introductions
The meeting was called to order by Stan Harts, LEPC Chair, at 11:00 AM. LEPC Members present
introduced themselves.
Review and Approval of January 8, 2025, LEPC Meeting Minutes
The minutes of the January 8, 2025 meeting were provided. Phil Misklow moved the minutes be
approved; Drew Dwyer seconded the motion. The minutes were approved by unanimous consent.
Discussion Topics
“Why Me” LEPC Spotlight – Airgas (Joe Moran). Airgas is a fill facility pumping nitrogen, argon, carbon
dioxide, argon carbon, dioxide blends, oxygen, and propane. They service Myrtle Beach, SC, Florence,
SC, Jacksonville, NC, and Wilmington, NC.
Bridge Outage Exercise Review – NHC Emergency Management (Jason Fuller) Prompted by Cape Fear
Memorial Bridge outage in 2024, the exercise focused on bridge outages in the event of a hurricane,
boat collision, or limitation of access to mainland,. A combination of ownership and jurisdictions make
coordination imperative between collaborators. C. Heide Trask Memorial bridge, Snows Cut Bridge, and
the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge were highlighted as critical structures for this exercise review. Impacts
for DOT, hazardous waste, and public safety were discussed.
Fire from the Storm: Chemical Release at Bio-Lab – Watched a video presented by the US Chemical
Safety Board. The video provided an overview of the fire at the Bio-Lab Lake Charles facility in Louisiana
caused by the inability to fully evacuate product and damage to their buildings from Hurricane Laura.
Reactive TCCA (pool shock) caught fire when it was exposed to rain water leaking through damaged
roofing. The fire released chlorine gas resulting in the closure of Interstate 10 and shelter in place orders
for nearby residents. The investigation found multiple issues contributed to incident.
Subcommittee Reports
1. Executive Committee (Stan Harts) – Goals include an exercise with lithium batteries
planned for 2nd week of April. The current plan is to pull an instructor from Colorado and
simulate a lithium battery burn in different types of vehicles. Waiting for scheduling details
to be confirmed to provide further information. Tier 2 reports for EPCRA have been received
and reviewed.
2. Emergency Planning/Response (Jason Fuller) – We are working through finalizing training
related to Lithium Ion battery vehicle fires. The training will be offered April 14 - 16. Each
day is the same – classroom presentation in the morning, practical option in the afternoon.
Afternoon practical training spots are limited.
3. Community Education/Public Awareness (Phil Misklow) – Requesting recommendations for
outreach for LEPC to local community.
Member Announcements
• NHC EM – Tier 2 reports are late if they haven’t already been submitted. NHC EM will be
reaching out to any late submissions to assist where needed. NHC EM has a FULL bridge outage
exercise coming up next week working with Wrightsville Beach and other beach municipalities.
Contact Jason Fuller to be added to NHC EM weather alerts.
• American Red Cross – Provided updated status for Western NC following Hurricane Helene.
• GE Hitachi Nuclear – Mark Venters announced his retirement. Succession planning already put
in place.
• NHC Sheriff’s Office – Security surveys and safety walkthroughs for local community partners
are available.
The next LEPC meeting is scheduled for 11:00 AM on May 14, 2025, in the NHC EOC.
Adjournment
Phil Misklow made a motion to adjourn, which was seconded by Mark Venters. The meeting adjourned
at 12:08 PM.