New Hanover County LEPC Minutes 2.13.2013New Hanover County LEPC
Meeting Minutes
February 13, 2013 @ NC State Ports Authority
The following persons were in attendance:
NAME BUSINESS NAME BUSINESS
Red Wyatt NCDOT Gary Long Fortron Ind
Dianne Harvell NH Co Health Steven Still NH Co EM
Jaye Midgett Piedmont Natural Gas James Weaver USCG
Woody White NH Co Thomas Johnson USCG
Teresa Smith NH Co EM Gary Koster Red Cross
Kevin Cowan NC State Ports Matt Pollman Red Corss
Eric Hatcher CFPUA Joshua Swift NH Co Health
Eric Griffin UNCW EHS Darnell Boyd NH Co Health
Jodie Ruskin UNCW EHS Matt Davis NH Co Fire
Heidi Cox NCDENER Jennifer Smith NH Co Fire
Tommy Grady NH Co Sheriff Elizabeth Meyer Invista
James Degolyer GEH Mark Venters GEH
Justin West WECT
Welcome and Introductions:
The February meeting, held at the NC State Ports Authority, was called to order at approximately 1205 hours.
November 7th, 2012 meeting minutes were reviewed and approved with one change request by Invista. Member
introductions complete.
Membership Announcements:
NEW HANOVER COUNTY
• Hazardous Waste Day event scheduled at NH Co Airport on 3/30. Remainder events to be at the
NH Co landfill. Hazmat volunteers are needed. Shredding of documents free to public. Contact Len
Bestal for more information.
• NH Co Commissioner Chairman White provided thanks for the LEPC and his willingness to work
with LEPC members for the betterment of the county.
• Strategic National Stockpile annual meeting (ESF # 8) scheduled at 10 AM on 3/6 at NH Co EOC.
• Darnell Boyd introduced as new planner/coordinator for NH, Brunswick & Duplin Co Health Departments
COAST GUARD
• Next meeting on March 6th. Please review USCG homeport website to register.
UNCW
• Eric Griffin announced as new UNCW Emergency Management Coordinator. Provides expertise
from Guilford Co, NC and looks forward to working with LEPC.
New Business
TIER II REPORTING
• Need to complete Tier II reports. No hard copies need to be submitted except for 311 forms for
additional chemicals after Tier I report submitted. E-Plan not fully electronic for 311 forms. 311 forms required 60 days after new chemical brought onsite. NH Co & Wilmington do not need
paper copies. E-Plan accessed by industry but looking at training for E-Plan for 1st responders. E-
Plan can archive historical info but does not auto initiate at 911 centers. Contact Teresa Smith, NH Co EM, for training info.
• General concern raised that organizations/persons may be dumping chemicals down man-holes
LEPC ACTIVITY
• LEPC New Member applications distributed to ensure formality. Expectation is one primary voting
member per Industry/Business, secondary member allowed. Government agencies get one vote
just like industry/Business
• Need to define sub-committee members for Emergency Planning & Response subcommittee or determine if existing committee members are still viable. 1st subcommittee for ESF # 10 to review
existing plan and appropriate at county level for 1st responders. This is required for annual review.
• Sub-committee for Community Education & Public Response needs members. Justin West, Eric
Griffin and Teresa Smith volunteered. Committee needed for community awareness of tornado,
hazardous materials, etc. outreach and education.
USCG
• USCG looking for coordinated table-top drill around end of June on cyber security with facilities to
support. Great opportunity for counties & businesses to identify and mitigate issues.
NH Co HAZMAT EXERCISE
• Need to consider new Hazmat exercise for county. Last time was at VoPak. Haz Materials planning grant can provide funding if applied for and approved. Need to consider event scenarios that have
occurred as real event in other county recently. Emergency Response Committee can review and
approve.
Lessons Learned
NC PORTS EVENT
• Offshore ship docked at port. 4 vessel crew members went to hospital for chemical exposure
reaction.
• Initially it was indeterminate if there was a communicable disease or Hazmat incident which created emergency response opportunities for NHRMC emergency coordinator, USCG, and CDC.
• Later determined leak had occurred 10 days prior and was non-emergent event. Recognized good plan execution by all parties involved
INVISTA SITE ACTIVITY
• Multiple calls received by county 911 center for chemical release on US 421 adjacent to Invista
site, with some indicating burning sensation as symptom.
• NH Co and Wilmington Fire dispatched to area and performed an ongoing investigation
• Separate company leasing facility from Invista site, released product during startup activities
• Take-away Lesson Learned is to ensure LEPC is made away when industry is starting up a process
that may have a chemical impact to the site and surrounding areas.
Open Forum
COUNTY NAVIGABLE WATER RESPONSE
• Law enforcement agencies are still working collaboratively for combined navigable water response. Plan to have more information in May.
EMERGENCY ALERTING
• NH Co looking into alert systems where public may be impacted. For example NWS alaert.
NH Co WEBSITE
• The NH Co Website is planning to undergo revision by early July to include Emergency Response
Information
Next LEPC Meeting:
The next committee meeting will be held on May 8th at 12:00 noon at the NH Co Emergency Operations
Center (EOC). GE Hitachi will supply lunch.