OREGON SERC & LEPC: WHAT IT

MEANS TO YOUR COMMUNITY

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

Examples of data - OSFM Annual Report (2013)

COMMUNITY RIGHT TO KNOW

Examples of data - OSFM Annual Report (2013)

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

Q & A