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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 10031989 - IO.6 I.O.-6 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SE L Contra Y ' \ Costa OSta INTERNAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE n1 s County DATE: September 25, 1989 COUN SUBJECT: STATUS REPORT ON HAZARDOUS MATERIALS RESPONSE AGENCY SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. Refer to the Internal Operations Committee the responsibility to oversee the implementation of the Risk Management and Prevention Program (RMPP) outlined by AB 3777 (Chapter 1260, Statutes of 1986) , dealing with acutely hazardous materials which are handled in Contra Costa County. 2. Request Health Services Director to prepare a report to be presented to our Committee on November 13,1989 on the efforts which are presently underway to implement the Risk Management and Prevention Program (RMPP) outlined by AB 3777 (Chapter 1260, Statutes of 1986) , including a schedule for implementation of risk management and prevention plans in those industries which handle acutely hazardous materials in Contra Costa County. This report should also include the timeframe for developing agreements with other emergency response agencies which will define which agency is in charge at a hazardous materials incident so we do not have confusion or any lack of clarity regarding who can order an evacuation at a future such incident if an evacuation becomes necessary. 3 . Refer to the Internal Operations Committee the responsibility to provide oversight to efforts which are underway to take steps to prevent hazardous materials spills or similar incidents which require an emergency response from occurring. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT:Yes YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMIN O ECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE R Cl - Powers Sunne Wright McPeak SIGNATURE(S): Tom g ACTION OF BOARD ON October t989 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS 1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE X UNANIMOUS(ABSENT ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. County Administrator �,��!,�t� .3 /��i CC: Health Services Director ATTESTED CT Director of Environmental Health PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF Charles Schwab, Chief, Richmond Fire Dept. SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR Gary Brown, Director, Office of Emergency Services Mike Belliveau, CBE M382 %Ar)y Clark, West County Toxics Coalition BY— �'`�''"`'`�J DEPUTY 4. Request the Health Services Director to prepare a report to be presented to our Committee on November 13 , 1989 on those efforts which are underway to prevent a hazardous materials spill or other similar incident which would require an emergency response. 5. Request the Health Services Director to report to our Committee in about six months on the progress which has been made in West County in implementing an improved West County emergency response capability to hazardous materials incidents, including the acquisition and staffing of an emergency response vehicle which is to be located in West County, providing additional training to fire fighters in West County to improve their ability to handle a hazardous materials incident as well as developing protocols for when the Health Services Department staff will respond to a West County hazardous materials incident. BACKGROUND: On June 13 , 1989 the Board of Supervisors referred to our Committee at the request of Supervisor Powers a proposal that the County form a Hazardous Materials Response Agency which would implement the Hazardous Materials Area Plan. On September 25, 1989 our Committee met with Dr. William Walker, Director of Environmental Health, as well as Mike Belliveau from Citizens for a Better Environment and Henry Clark of the West County Toxics Coalition. Dr. Walker outlined the training which is about to get underway in Richmond whereby 22 Richmond fire fighters will receive additional training in responding to hazardous materials incidents. He also reported that the Richmond Fire Department is working with private industry in West County to finance the acquisition and equipping of a third hazardous materials emergency response vehicle which would be stationed full-time in West County. Dr. Walker noted that revenue from AB 2185 is being used to pay for the training package for the Richmond fire fighters. This training will have the immediate benefit of improving the rescue and containment capabilities of the fire fighters. Dr. Walker noted that he is also working with the hazardous substances subcommittee of the Fire Chiefs' Association to identify hazardous materials issues in Central and East County, along the lines of what has been done in West County. This subcommittee is watching closely developments in West County as a guide to what may need to be done in Central and East County. Mr. Belliveau expressed his concern that the development and implementation of the RMPP is not being given a high enough profile in the Health Services Department. Dr. Walker responded that Contra Costa County is ahead of other counties in the State in development its RMPP program and that the State may well use what is developed in Contra Costa County in preparing its guidelines, which have still not been issued, despite the fact that AB 3777 was enacted in 1986. Contra Costa County is trying to implement a scientifically sound program rather than simply comply with the letter of the law. Our Committee is concerned that adequate efforts be made to prevent hazardous materials incidents, not just be able to respond to them when they occur. The implementation of the AB 3777 RMPP program is a part of this effort. Since these issues have been raised but are not specifically on referral to our Committee we are asking the Board of Supervisors to provide our Committee will specific oversight responsibility for both the implementation of the AB 3777 RMPP as well as the broader issue i •• � I of efforts to prevent hazardous materials incidents from occurring. As an alternative to the creation of a Hazardous Materials Response Agency, the efforts Dr. Walker outlined which are going on in West County appear to be appropriate. We do, however, want to continue to follow these efforts and are therefore asking for a status report to be made to our Committee in six months.