HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 03191996 - C43 I I
C.43, C.44,C.45
and C.46
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
Adopted this Order on March 19, 1996 , by the following vote:
AYES: Supervisors Rogers, Bishop, DeSaulnier, Torlakson and Smith
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
SUBJECT: Correspondence
C.43 LETTER dated February 29, 1996, from Skip Thomson, Chairman, Board of Supervisors,
Solano County, 580 Texas Street, Fairfield, CA 94533, requesting confirmation that Solano
County officials will be notified in the event of a hazardous materials release or any potential
release which will impact Solano County residents.
****REFERRED TO OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES, DIRECTOR AND
HEALTH SERVICES, DIRECTOR
C.44 LETTER dated February 28, 1995, from Guillermo Rodriquez, Jr., Executive Director, and
Alicia Lara, Director, Latino Issues Forum, 785 Market Street, Third Floor, San Francisco,
CA 94103, transmitting a copy of "Medi-Cal Managed Care: A Discussion about Health
Care Options and Consumer Principles", and requesting the Board's support of same.
****REFERRED TO HEALTH SERVICES DIRECTOR
C.45 LETTER dated March 4, 1996, from Wayman Yee, M.B.A., Management Auditor, Audit
Services Unit, State of California, Health and Welfare Agency, Department of Community
Services and Development, 700 North 10th Street, Room 258, Sacramento, CA 95814,
advising of the result of a desk review of an audit report on contracts administered by the
Community Services Department.
****REFERRED TO COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT, DIRECTOR AND
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
C.46 LETTER dated February 27, 1996, from Diana Patrick, P.O. Box 1086, Martinez, CA 94553,
on issues pertinent to Shell Refinery.
""REFERRED**REFERRED TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that the recommendations as noted (****1
are approved.
1 hcroby cortity that this is a trueand correctcopy of
an action t�kcn ar:j entored on the minutes of the
c.c. Office of Emergency Services, Director ATTESTED:Board of Supervisors on the da shoT1`U
Health Services, Director PHIL BATCHELOR,Clerk of the Board
Community Services, Director of Supervisorsd County Administrator
County Administrator By ,Deputy
Community Development, Director
Correspondents
BOARD OF SUPERVISOFS
✓OLA
` ® COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
SKIP THOMSON (DIST.#5) - — MICHAEL D. JOHNSON
CHAIR t 1• (707) 421-6100
ED SCHLENKER(DsT.#2) y _ CLERK OF THE BOARD
VICE CHAIRWIAN LINDA L. TERRA
BARBARA R.KONDYLIS (DsT.#1)
(707) 421-6120
GORDON GOJKOVICH(DST.#3) �O
WILLIAM J. CARROLL (DST. #4) - RECEIVED
580 Tom STREET A,AD .
FAIRFIELD, CALIFORNIA 94533-6378 - MAR — 5 WS
February 29, 1996 CLERK BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
CONTRA COSTA CO.
Jeff Smith, Chairman
Contra Costa Board of Supervisors
651 Pine St., Room 108A
Martinez, CA 94593
Dear Chairman Smith:
On February 13, 1996,this Board received input from staff concerning an interim Grand Jury report
(see attached) which reviewed the present hazardous materials emergency notification system
between Contra Costa and Solano Counties, specifically in reference to the Unocal catacarb release
which occurred between August 22 and September 4, 1994, which had a serious impact upon the
residents of Crockett. It was brought to the attention of this Board that Solano County officials were
not notified of this incident, which may have had an impact upon residents living in the
Vallejo/Benicia area. In addition, the staff report indicated that there were serious deficiencies in
the current notification system between Contra Costa County and Solano County concerning the
unauthorized release of hazardous materials from facilities located in Contra Costa County, which
may have an impact upon Solano County residents.
In an effort to bridge this communication gap, a letters requesting better intercounty cooperation and
coordination were sent to Contra Costa Officials in October 1995 and January 1996 (copies
attached). In addition, in December representatives from the Contra Costa Office of Emergency
Services, Environmental Health, and CAER met with representatives from the Solano County
Department of Environmental Management,the Sheriffs Office, and Office of Emergency Services.
Contra Costa staff gave a brief presentation of how your new alert and notification systems will
function. It is our understanding that the system will be on-line within the next few months and that
the system will enhance the ability of your staff to advise Solano County of air borne toxic releases.
Although we have not received formal notification from Contra Costa County that Solano County
will be now be included in the notification process, we understand that your procedures have been
modified to include Solano County.
In this area of mutual concern, this Board would like to confirm our understanding that Solano
dG=S
l� J) v
r
e . q5
Jeff Smith
February 29, 1996
Page 2
County officials, through our Sheriff's dispatch center at 707-421-7090, will be immediately
notified in the event of a hazardous materials release or any potential release which will impact or
threaten to impact Solano County residents. Our Office of Emergency Services will,likewise,notify
your Office of Emergency Services in the event of a release or threatened release of a hazardous
material which may impact Contra Costa County residents.
We appreciate the opportunity to work cooperatively with your Board. Should you require further
information,you may contact me at(707)421-6120 or Lt. Jack Hall, Office of Emergency Services
at(707)421-6330.
Sincerely,
Skip Thomson. Chairman
Solano County Board of Supervisors
cc: Jack Hall, Office of Emergency Services
Birgitta Corsello, Dept. of Environmental Management
Cliff Covey, Division of Environmental Health
D JURY S O HALL of.tusnca
{; 600 UNION AVEMIE
FAIRFIELA,CALMOA A 9dSJ,7
P40HE MM 41.7877
FAX MM 421-7317
tit-Fax Note 7671 aura /f t pages
7a r _rr? From t7'r- -- , 4::
coloro� co. "fit
phorm a p a
Pax a Fax is
3ANDUM
COMSORS
TO: Barbara Kondylis, Chairwoman and Members of the Board of Supervisors
FROM: James E. Causey, 1995 Ckmnd Jury For
via Honorable Mike Na, Presiding Judge
DATE. November 6, 1995
SUBJECT: INTERIM REPORT, WARIN NG SYSTEM AIRBORNE TOXIC MATERIALS
BACKGROUND:
On August 22, 1994, at the Unocal Corporation plant located in Oleum CA, a leak octan ed in a cracking plant
pipe releasing a toxic gas containing cmrinogens into the atmosphere: This condition continued for fourteen
days (until September 6, 1994). According to media reports approximately 14,000 inbabitants of Contra Costa
i County were affected, along with approximately 400 inhabitants of Solan County, generally located in the
1r Vallejo-Benicia area. Notification was made to the-appropriate authorities in Coatza Costa, approximately 16
days after the onset of the incident. Clinics were set up in Contra Costa County to treat those affected.
However, many of the residents of Solan County were not aware of their exposure until word of mouth
Jl information became well known. They.were treated as they made themselves available, but no official
' notific ation of the situation has ever been made to the Solana County residents.
a
PROCEDURE:
The Grand Jury fust became aware of the problem in May 1995, when a newspaper report in the Vallejo Times
b:I Herald was brought to its attention. inquiry indicated that little if anything was known about the exposure in
Solana County. The Jury obtained information by an investigation among exposed Vallejoans. It was also
decided to request information from one of the Unocal employees. He provided substantial darn regarding the
hazards present in the gases refused, the actions (or lack of it) taken by Unocal officials, the actions being
' taken by the County of Contra Costa, and the citizenry affected in that area.
A committee of the Grand I zy visited the Unocal administrative offices in Oleum on September 29, 1995.
q They determined that Unocal had taken no steps to advise anyone in Solana County of the danger. There is
no system in place currently to advise anyone in Solano County of toxic emission incidents, even though the
prevailing winds carry pan of the emissions (of any kind) from their piant iuty Solaao County.
E
The Jury also heard testimony from representatives of the Solano County Environmental Management Division
regarding this incident and the procedures in place to safeguard the citizens of Solano County from airborne
.toxic emissions. We were informed that: (1) the County of Solano was not aware of the problem until the
information was disclosed in the local press; (2) no action was taken as a result of'the press release; (3) they
had not been advised by the State; and (4) they asked what action the Grand Jury wanted them to take.
` RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
(1) Direct the appropriate offices in Solano County to take immediate action to esnblish an
automated or other effective warning systems to alert our citizens of possible exposure to
airborne toxic materials.
(2) Establish a procedure with Contra Costa County to warn the appropriate agencies in Solano
County of toxic emissions from any source in that county.
(3) Take immediate action to determine the reason for failure of the responsible departments to
provided adequate warning to Solano County ddzens of this incident and take the necessary
actions to preclude a similar non-response in the future.
(4) Keep the areas generally affected (Vallejo, Benicia, Elmira, Coitinsville, Fairfield, Suisun, and
Rio VSsm) advised of progress in imglemeat.ng this safety measure through media releases and
reports made by the Board at its regular meetings.
(5) Inform the citizens who were affected by exposure to the August 1994 incident, the dangers
involved, and of the necessity to seek medical assistance if appropriate.
The Grand Jury respec*Uy requests that we be advised of the schedule for the implementations of corrective
procedure and actions.
JEC/sf
x: County Cleric
Clerk of the Court
File
truncal
� n
C -143
` y GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT ATTACHKW III
SpLA'1�r4
BIRGTTTA E. CORSELLO ''�x°°512 CLAY STREET
Director RECEIVE
L� D1_7900CA 533
CLW eawo oF
Mr. Gary Brown, Director October 6. 1995
Contra Costa County
Office of Emergency Services
Dear Gary:
As a follow up to our telephone discussion earlier this week I'd like to formally outline the proposed
emergency notification process between the County of Solano and The County of Contra Costa for
hazardous material releases which are airborne. In speaking with Lloyd Darrina on at the State Warning
Center it became apparent that our two counties needed to formalize a notification process for airborne
releases of toxic and hazardous materials.
Since we spoke I have had a chance to discuss our plan with the Sheriffs Dispatch Supervisor, the Fire
Chiefs' from Benecia and Vallejo Fire, our County's Fire Coordinator, and the Division Head for Solano
County Environmental Health &Haz. Mat. I believe the procedure should fill in the gap that exists in
the notification tree.
The following is what I believe will be the most expeditious process and does not change the required
notification in-The California Hazardous Material Spill/Release Notification Guidelines
WHEN AIRBORNE RELEASE OCCURS:
i
j REPORTING PARTY
*The Reporting or Responsible Party calls 91 I or notifies the local emergency response agency
in Contra Costa
AND * The Reporting or Responsible Party notifies the State OES Warning Center 1- 800-852-7550
CONTRA COSTA DISPATCH _
* Notifies appropriate agencies in Contra Costa
AND * IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIES SOLANO COUNTY SHERIFF'S DISPATCH 1-707-421-7090
SOLANO COUNTY SHERIFF'S DISPATCH
*IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIES BENECIA AND VALLEJO DISPATCH CENTERS BY RADIO
forwarding info on toxic release
* Sheriffs dispatch then begins notification process of Solano County agencies according to
existing County Hazardous Material incident notification protocol.
f�
Page 2 of 2 Pages
Contra Costa County
10/06/95
As I explained on the telephone, one of the problems Solano County has had the past two years, is getting
information about the potential area that may be impacted by a release of airborne hazardous materials
in Contra Costa County. Since the prevailing winds generally blow north east, a release of an airborne
hazardous material occurring in Contra Costa County along the Carquinez or the San Pablo Bay may end
up impacting Solano County residents. I understand that the Contra Costa Emergency Operations Center
has EIS software and that when a hazardous material spill or release occurs you have staff plot to plume
of the release. I would Iike to ask the this information be shared with Solano County Emergency
Responders as soon as it becomes available.
Since we do not have a consolidated dispatch center and the plume and hazardous material data is time
sensitive given the short distance between our two counties I would like to request the following:
WHEN TOXIC PLUME DATA IS AVAILABLE:
*PRINT a hard copy of the plume data and FAX it directly into the Benecia, Vallejo and County Sheriff
dispatch centers. (Staff in each of these dispatch centers will make sure the data gets to responding
agencies.) -
1
* Benecia Dispatch Center FAX (707) 745-4425
* Vallejo Dispatch Center FAX (707) 648-5289
* SoIano Sheriff Dispatch Center FAX (707)421-7952
Gary, please forward and share my request with the appropriate agencies and authorities in your county.
I trust that this request for a notification procedure modification will be implemented quickly. If any
questions or concerns arise as a result of Solano's request, please feel free to call me at (707) 421-6330
or any of the individuals copied on the letter.
Sincerely,
*B' girtaE. Corsello
Director of General Services
& Emergency Services Coordinator
CC:
Ken Hanley,Fite Chief,Benecia
Steve Magliocco,Fre Chief,Vallejo
Gary Eberle,FF Fire&County Fire Coordinator
Carol Milender,Sheriff Dispatch Supervisor
Cliff Covey,Manager,Environmental Management
Keith-Ann Glass,State OES Region 2
Lloyd Darrington,State OES Warning Center
1 �
Ar
~ ° Department of
RECEIVED
Environmental Management
601 TEXAS STREETMM _ 5 'I OM
FAIRFTF3.D,CALIFORNIA 94533-6301 i
CLERK BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
CONTRA COSTA CO.
T=,ary 29, 1996
Dr William,Walker,Health Officer
Contra Costa County
20 Allen Street
Martinez, CA 94553
Subject: Hazardous Material Release Notification ProtocoI
Dear Dr Walker:
On November 20, 1995 Gary Brown, Contra Costa County Office of Emergency Services,Lew
PascaA Contra Costa County Environmental Health, and Kathleen Imhoff of the Contra Costa
CAER group met with representatives of Solan County Office ofEmergency Services, Sheriffis
Oflux; and Environme r"I Health. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss Contra Costa's
Community Alert and Notifications systems and how Solano County could be notified in the event
of an airborne hazardous material release from Contra Costa County.
It is our understanding that these systems are are nearly completed and that County staff are
pre=*loading various release scenarios into the eampater to be utilized in an actual haz:ardous
materials release. Our concern is the protocol which will be used to notify Solano County in the
event that airborne hazardous materials threaten or actually impact our residents.Would you
please submit a copy of that protocol so that our Dispatch Centers know what to expect and so
we can send it to our Board of Supervisors.
On December 11, 1995 we sent a letter to the attorney for Unocal,Rodeo asking for an
evaluation of the risk to Solano County residents as a result of their release of August 22-
September 6, 1994.We have also sent a second request this month asking for that evaluation to
be made in their final Montgomery/Watson report There has been no comnmieation received
from Unocal as of this date.We would appreciate any assistance in this matter you could provide.
If you need fiuther information, contact me or Clifford Covey in this office at(707)421-6770.
BUB*=E. CorseIIo,
Interim Director,
Environmental Management
w,aW.br
37