Greater Houston Local Emergency Planning Committee (GHLEPC)

1
Greater Houston Local Emergency Planning
Committee (GHLEPC)

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• Introduction
• Governing Mandate
• Purpose
• Functions
• Goals
• Partner Agencies
• Projects and Funding
• Summary

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Greater Houston Local Emergency Planning
Committee (GHLEPC)

• Introduction
• Bhopal Disaster of 1984 (December 3)
• Worst industrial disaster in history
• Accidental release of 40 tons of methyl
  isocyanate (MIC) from a Union Carbide India,
  Limited (now known as Eveready Industries India,
  Limited) pesticide plant.
• MIC overheated and released toxic
  heavier-than-air MIC gas
• Killed thousands outright
• Gases also injured from 150,000 to 600,000 people
  
• 15,000 of whom later died.

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Bhopal, India
December 3, 1984, release of 40 metric tons of
methyl isocyanate (MIC).
4
1947 Texas City Explosion

• Country's worst industrial accident
• Two ships loaded with 2,300 tons of ammonium
  nitrate exploded
• 576 people killed
• 5,000 more injured
• Shattered windows 25 miles away
• Blew two small planes out of the sky.

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Governing Mandate

• In an effort to avoid an industrial catastrophe
  in the U. S., the Emergency Planning and
  Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA)of 1986 was
  passed.
• Also known as the Superfund Amendments and
  Reauthorization Act (SARA Title III).
• Applicable to Federal, State, and Local
  governments and Industry
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a
  ruling in July 1990 applying to Indian
  territories.
• Note EPCRA/SARA Title III is an unfunded federal
  mandate

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Purposes of EPCRA (SARA Title III)

• Primary focus is to protect/safeguard public
  health and the environment.
• Help increase publics knowledge and access to
  information on hazardous and toxic chemicals.
• Encourage applicable entities to develop working
  relationships to improve emergency response to
  chemical incidents.

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EPCRA (SARA Title III) Functions

• Four main provisions
• Emergency Planning (Sections 301 - 303)
• Emergency Release Notification (Section 304)
• Hazardous Chemical Reporting (Sections 311 312)
• Toxic Release Reporting (Section 313)

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GHLEPC Key Dates

• April 28, 1989 Created/Formed
• August 26, 1993 Granted Non-Profit 501
  (c)(3) status
• January 23, 1996 City of Houston Agreement
• June 2002 City of Bellaire Merger
• January 2005 Houston Fire Department
  funding for Administrator
• June 25, 2007 City of West University Merger
• April 27, 2009 20 Year Anniversary

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Tier II Reporting

• Governed by SARA Title III, Section 312
• Submitted annually by applicable facilities on or
  before March 1st
• Submitted to the LEPC, local fire department,
  and State Emergency Response Commission (SERC)
• http//www.dshs.state.tx.us/tiertwo/default.shtm
• Applicable to fixed facilities only (No
  transportation).
• Purpose is to provide agencies and the public
  with toxic and hazardous chemical information
  stored at facilities in their neighborhood during
  the past year.
• General public may submit a written request for
  Tier II information

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LEPC Functions

• Increase awareness in the community about the
  presence of hazardous chemicals and releases in
  the environment.
• Provide the vital link between citizens,
  government, and industry.
• Assist communities with the development of
  emergency action plans.
• Maintain/Administer Tier II information.
• Participate in public/private entity drills and
  exercises.
• Assist with HAZMAT related training.

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LEPC Goals

• Effectively administer the core requirements of
  EPCRA.
• Increase the publics chemical safety and general
  hazardous materials awareness and knowledge.
• Be a source of accurate and timely information
  for local hazardous materials/chemical incidents.
• Develop and maintain key partnerships with
  federal, state, and local public and private
  entities.
• Participate in on-going emergency response and
  HAZMAT related training.

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Emergency Notification

• Radio
• 740 AM
• 88.7 AM
• Reverse 9-1-1
• Greater Harris County 9-1-1 Emergency Network
• Television Streamers
• Community Awareness Emergency Response (CAER
  Line)
• 281-476-2237

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Partner Agencies

• Federal, state and local emergency management
  offices
• Petrochemical facilities/industries
• Education institutions/facilities
• Churches/Religious organizations
• Local fire departments
• Military
• Other federal, state, and local governmental
  agencies
• Hospitals
• Community Advisory Panels (CAPS) and other civic
  agencies
• Citizen Corps
• Emergency response training facilities

Robert BurkeThe apparatus assigned to Houston's
Station 22 (left to right) Foam Engine 22, HazMat
1 and HazMat 2.
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Industry Partners

• Goodyear Tire Rubber Co.
• PL Proplyene LLP
• LyondellBasell
• Rhodia
• Texas Petrochemicals LP
• Valero

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GHLEPC Initiatives/Projects

• Training
• HAZMAT Technician classes
• Risk Management Planning
• Emergency Response
• Emergency Communications
• Community Awareness (Shelter-in-Place)
• Exercises/Drills
• State Hurricane/Evacuation
• U. S. Coast Guard
• Partnerships/Collaboratives

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GHLEPC Funding/Operating Support

• Donations
• Grants
• Enforcement Penalties/Fines
• Professional services Pro Bono Assistance
• Partnerships
• Host assistance for conferences/seminars

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Harris County LEPCs(Including GHLEPC)
Greater Houston includes City of Bellaire and
City of West University Place
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GHLEPC

• Summary
• The purpose of the Emergency Planning Community
  Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) is to provide needed
  information to citizens about chemical hazards in
  their communities. Additionally, it is intended
  to provide a means for local and state persons to
  coordinate with businesses and other community
  entities to plan for emergencies.

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GHLEPC

• Those who cannot remember the past are condemned
  to repeat it
• George Santayana, Spanish philosopher, 18631952

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2009 General Membership Meetings

• This meeting notice is provided as approved by
  the GHLEPC Executive
• Board/Committee and outlined in current GHLEPC
  By-laws.
• The following meeting dates are scheduled for
  Calendar Year 2009
• January 30, 2008
• March 26, 2008
• May 28, 2008
• July 30, 2008
• September 24, 2008
• December 3, 2008
• All subject meetings will commence at 900 a.m.
  and be held at the American Red Cross building
  located at 2700 Southwest Freeway (Hwy 59 _at_ Kirby
  Drive) Houston, TX 77098, unless otherwise
  determined by the Executive Board/Committee.
• Any revisions to this notice will be posted
  and/or disseminated in the most efficient and
  timely manner.

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General Membership Meeting Location American Red
Cross
2700 S.W. Frwy. (West of Kirby and S.W. Frwy)
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GHLEPC Office located at the Houston Emergency
Center
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GHLEPC Contact Information

• Nick J. Guillen GHLEPC Administrator
• Office Phone [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• Mailing Address P. O. Box 10817
• Houston, TX 77206
• Email nicholas.guillen_at_cityofhouston.net
• Website www.houstontx.gov/fire/divisions/lepc.ht
  ml 
• Organization Structure Nonprofit 501 (c)(3)