Minutes – Local Emergency Planning Committee
December 3, 2002 – 9:00 a.m.KPB Assembly Room Borough Building, Soldotna, AK
The meeting was called to order at 9:15 a.m. Introductions took place.
Present at meeting:
Billy Harris, Public Jeff Tucker, CES
Evy Gebhardt, United Way Lois Johnson, CPGH
Annette Hakkinen, Red Cross Barb Beeman, MAPTS
Doug Newbould, Kenai NWR Mike Tauriainen, Public
Rick Warren, Agrium KNO Lloyd Richardson, Unocal
John Coston, Agrium KNO Kay Steele, KPB OEM
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Richardson motioned and Warren seconded to approve the minutes of the September 18, 2002 meeting. The motion passed with none opposed.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Gebhardt asked that E be added to the agenda to discuss Emergency Funds Policy. Warren asked that F be added to regarding Spill Prevention Controls rules changes. The agenda was approved as amended with none opposed.
Harris asked about the lists from committee members and none were available.
He mentioned the new regime under Murkowski does not appear to address emergency services for any section other than police.
OTHER BUSINESS
Warren introduced John Coston as the proposed alternate LEPC member with background in operations and safety at Agrium. Tucker motioned and Richardson seconded to approve Coston’s LEPC application. The motion passed with none opposed.
Annette Hakkinen introduced herself as the new American Red Cross field office manager for the Kenai Peninsula Borough. Beeman moved and Gebhardt seconded to approve Hakkinen’s LEPC application. The motion passed with none opposed.
Warren discussed the Agrium community letter and packet that will be sent to residents within a three-mile radius of the plant. After gauging the response to this letter another informational letter will be sent to those within a five-mile radius. This letter refers to emergency measures at the Agrium facility that will include the Community Alert Network, the Nikiski Area Industry Community Information Service (776-3225), and Shelter-in-Place information.
Harris mentioned setting up a booth at Fred Meyer April 2003, and at Kmart in the summer of 2003 for public education. Gebhardt told of piggybacking LEPC literature with her United Way booth at the Seward Health Fair. She found the ash and earthquake information to be well received by the public and possibly better than handing out “free stuff” and losing the message.
Tucker and Johnson reported the CPGH / Kenai Airport drill went well on September 18th.
Gebhardt said that United Way has developed a policy for collection and distribution of public donations such as was experienced after September 11th, after seeing problems with the disbursement of money nationwide last year. She will be willing to discuss this with any members.
Warren talked of EPA Title 40 Section 112 changes, which amounts to a simplification of reportable quantity. He distributed the Final SPCC Rule fact sheet to members.
OTHER BUSINESS
Harris discussed the CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) hopes for development in the Kenai Peninsula Borough. Only $112,000 of the Homeland Security money will come to Alaska, and Anchorage will be directing the funds. Harris and Tannehill requested of Mayor Bagley $30,000 of those funds with KPB matching the same amount to hire a full-time CERT coordinator. Bagley was receptive to the idea and more decisions will be made after December 20, 2002. Harris and Tannehill will propose a part-time coordinator if that will better fit the budget.
MEETING FOCUS: Animal Annex
Harris explained early into the October flooding, a dog musher was stranded with his 75 dogs and needed food and help. Arrangements were made, but this was a good case for the Animal Annex plan.
NEXT MEETING DATE
The next meeting will be the Executive Committee meeting March 5, 2003 at 2:00 p.m. in Conference Room C, and a full committee meeting March 12, 2003 at 9:00 a.m. in the Assembly Room.
Tauriainen motioned and Tucker seconded to adjourn. There were no objections.