Stephen
This month, I had the privilege of speaking at the Virginia HazMat
Conference on Chemical Facility Vulnerability Assessments. I
compared this presentation and it's amazing to see how little has
changed over the last year. There's a lot of information packed
into this newsletter, along with a couple of folks leaving and some
free resources. I hope everyone has a safe Halloween, and we'll
see you next month!
-Stephen
We all know the feeling
of being overwhelmed. In today's world it's too easy to redline
your time, and then when one more thing comes up, you've got no more
room in the schedule and something has to go. Sadly, Joe has come
up against that wall, and so will need to step down from editing
the newsletter. Stephen will be taking care of the editing until
we can find a new editor. If any of you are interested, please
contact him at: stephen.melvin@oursafetowns.com.
Secure Handling of
Ammonium Nitrate Program: Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
This Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) seeks comment on a
recent amendment to the Homeland Security Act entitled the Secure
Handling of Ammonium Nitrate. The amendment requires the Department of
Homeland Security to "regulate the sale and transfer of ammonium
nitrate by an ammonium nitrate facility to prevent the misappropriation
or use of ammonium nitrate in an act of terrorism."
Read the full Secure
Handling of Ammonium Nitrate Program: Advance Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking.
Interested persons are invited to participate in this rulemaking by
submitting written data, views, or arguments on all aspects of the
ANPRM. The Department also invites comments that relate to the
economic, environmental, or federalism effects that might result from
any final rule consequent from this ANPRM.
Comments that will provide the most assistance to the Department in
developing these procedures will refer to a specific provision of the
ANPRM or the Secure Handling of Ammonium Nitrate provisions in the
Homeland Security Act, explain the reason for any comments, and include
other information or authority that supports such comments.
Risk-Based Performace Standards Guidance: Notice of
Availability and Request for Comments
The Department of Homeland Security invites interested persons to
contribute suggestions and comments on the draft document entitled
“Risk-Based Performance Standards Guidance” (RBPS Guidance) by
submitting written data, views, or arguments.
Comments that will provide the most assistance to the Department will
explain the reason for any recommended changes to the RBPS Guidance and
include data, information, or authority that supports such recommended
changes.
Please identify the proposed changes by page and line number, and/or by
Figure or Table number.
* Read the Draft
Risk-Based Performance Standards Guidance (PDF, 178 pages -
853 KB)
Recent
Events
The Virginia Department of Emergency Management held their 25th annual
VAHMRS conference. Stephen spoke on Chemical Facility
Vulnerability Assessments, but there were many other excellent
presentations at the conference, and some incredible networking
opportunities. For information on this year's conference click
here:
http://www.virginiahazmat.org/displayconvention.cfm.
For those interested in next year's conference, please click here: http://www.virginiahazmat.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=66.
For those of you who know him, Mike Warren will be taking a new
position in California's Office of Emergency Services. He will be
sorely missed, but we wish him well in his new endeavor! Here is
his goodbye to the LEPC community:
I just wanted to send you a note to inform you that I have taken a new
job
within OES so I will no longer be assigned to the Hazardous Materials
Unit.
My last day in the Unit is today. This hasn't been an easy
decision for
me. I will miss the programs that are so familiar to me and the
challenges
they pose to all of us. More importantly, I will miss working
with the
dedicated and passionate people that I have come to know over the last
ten
plus years. It has been an honor and I look forward to working
with you
again in my new assignment.
I will be available to assist the HazMat Unit staff during the
transition
period to ensure program continuity. If you have questions
regarding any
of the OES HazMat Programs you can contact the following senior staff:
Trevor Anderson
Senior Emergency Services Coordinator
(916) 845-8788
trevor.anderson@oes.ca.gov
Brian Abeel
Senior Emergency Services Coordinator
(916) 845-8768
brian.abeel@oes.ca.gov
If you have question regarding the Hazardous Materials Emergency
Preparedness (HMEP) Grant please contact:
Ron Olguin
Associate Governmental Program Analyst, HMEP Grant
Administrator
(916) 845-8765
ronald.olguin@oes.ca.gov
My new position is in the OES Radiological Preparedness Unit where my
principal assignment will be to support emergency management for the
Diablo
Canyon nuclear power plant in San Luis Obispo (but stationed at OES HQ).
Yes, radiation, the other HazMat. The job presents many new
challenges and
I look forward to expanding my knowledge and experiences. New
adventures
await...
Michael Warren
Senior Emergency Services Coordinator
Preparedness Branch, Radiological Preparedness Unit
Governor's Office of Emergency Services
3650 Schriever Ave, Mather, CA 95655
Phone: (916) 845-8772
Fax: (916) 845-8734
Upcoming
Events
Overt and/or
Covert CBRNE Terrorist Activity Training
(November
19-20, CSTI-San Luis Obispo, CA) This course trains emergency responders currently
certified at the Hazardous Materials Technician or Specialist level
response tactics and skills for Overt and/or Covert CBRNE terrorist
activities. Some of the topics covered include the following:
- Planning for
potential targets and terrorist activities
- Identification of
various chemical warfare agents, their hazard class and associated
hazards
- Detection
equipment and its application in detecting chemical warfare agents
- Recognition of
biological agents and delivery methods both overt and covert
- Aseptic sampling
and Field Testing for Biological Agents
- Radiological
Response and Radiological Dispersion Device Response Tactics
- Explosives and
Booby Trap Recognition
- Procedures to
implement mass decontamination of the public and responders
- The Federal and
State Response Plans and available resources as a CBRNE terrorism
incident.
<> NOTE:
The grant selection process is conducted by the LEPC Region I Training
Coordinator, which meets quarterly to determine student
selections. Please email Steve Tsumura, El Segundo Fire
Dept., stsumura@elsegundo.org
to request an application and then
complete it and email or fax to (310) 414-0929.
You will be notified by
the LEPC Region I staff when attendee selection is completed. An
information packet with facility location, map and other training
specific information will be sent 4-8 weeks prior to the course.
For grant specific questions only contact Jeanine Gentis at (805)
549-3531 or Jeanine.Gentis@oes.ca.gov.
For course content, contact the Course Manager Janeen Rich at (916)
845-8254, Janeen.Rich@oes.ca.gov.
As mentioned last month, the Naval
Postgraduate School's Center
for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS) is sponsoring their second
annual essay competition designed to stimulate original thought on
issues in homeland security. We expect to enter several essays to
address problems faced by the incoming Secretary of Homeland Security,
and will be posting some of those essays in future newsletters.
If you are
interested in working with us directly to make your community,
business, or agency safer, please contact us at: info@oursafetowns.com.
See you next month!
Free Books for Download
There are a number
of free books that can be ordered or downloaded from the Command and
Contol Research Program. Many of them will focus on the military
and some will have a heavy bent toward the technical side of things,
but there are a lot that can be used to provide information for your
Emergency Response Plans and Agencies. Enjoy!
http://dodccrp.org/html4/books_downloads.html
FPublic Service
Announcement
The following is a
Public Service Announcement (PSA) for national safety initiatives,
important updates, grants and contract opportunities from the Homeland
Security Foundation of America (HSFA), a non-Federal, nonpolitical
public entity. This PSA is being provided to the general
public. You will not receive further communications. Visit http://www.hsfamerica.org and
register to receive future PSAs, RFI / RFP announcements, "Awareness"
and other important periodic updates. You will receive an email
to confirm your request. If you do not see a confirmation email
in your inbox, check your spam folder. Also, be sure to add
publicsafety@hsfamerica.org to your safe sender's list.
Halloween
Safety Tips
Courtesy
of the LA County Fire Department
WHEN TRICK-OR-TREATING:
* A Parent or responsible Adult should always
accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds.
* Remind Trick-or-Treaters:
o By using a
flashlight, they can see and be seen by others.
o Stay in a
group, walk slowly and communicate where you are going.
o Only
trick-or-treat in well known neighborhoods at homes that have a porch
light on.
o Remain on
well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk.
o If no sidewalk
is available, walk at the farthest edge of the roadway facing traffic.
o Never cut
across yards or use alleys.
o Never enter a
stranger's home or car for a treat.
o Obey all
traffic and pedestrian regulations.
o Always walk.
Never run across a street.
o Only cross the
street as a group in established crosswalks (as recognized by local
custom).
o Remove any
mask or item that will limit eyesight before crossing a street,
driveway or alley.
o Don't assume
the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing Trick-or-Treaters.
Just because one car stops, doesn't mean others will.
o Never consume
unwrapped food items or open beverages that may be offered.
o No treats are
to be eaten until they are thoroughly checked by an Adult at home.
o Law
Enforcement authorities should be notified immediately of any
suspicious or unlawful activity.
AFTER TRICK-OR-TREATING:
* Wait until children are home to sort and check
treats. Though tampering is rare, a responsible Adult should closely
examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious
items.
* Try to apportion treats for the days following
Halloween.
* Although sharing is encouraged, make sure items
that can cause choking (such as hard candies), are given only to those
of an appropriate age.
|
|
|
|
|
