HomeMy WebLinkAboutLEPC minutes 031715
LEPC MEETING MINUTES
NEW CHINA RESTAURANT
March 17, 2015 10:00 am
Members Present: Henry Silva, Chairperson; Gerald Kosaki, Vice-Chairperson; John Bowen,
Hazmat Consultant; Newton Inouye, DOH; Tracy Aruga, Hilo Medical Center; Michel Uchida,
HFD Hazmat; John Peard, DOH HEER; Ron Quesada, PGV; Lucas Parrish, BEI Hawaii; Joseph
Kashuba, Big Island Biodiesel. Non-Members: Liz Galvez, DOH HEER; Mike McVey, PGV;
Cliff Townsend, PGV; George Wells, PGV; Reyn Cabarloc, Hilo Medical Center; Jarrett
Enriquez, BEI Hawaii.
I.Call to Order – 10:05 am by Chair Henry Silva
II.Approval of minutes from November 21, 2014 meeting – No objections to minutes,
accepted and approved
III.Tier II project report – John Peard gave a report for our tier II submittal compliance.
He stated that the tier II reports may be submitted via email. Mike Uchida stated that
he had concerns that submitting these reports via email is not confidential. He stated
that it should be sent via certified mail. We also discussed ways to get more
compliance. We discussed getting more of the informational brochures out to the
prospective companies. Gerald delivered more brochures to BEI since this is where
many prospective companies get their chemicals from. John Peard stated that we
need to write letters to the businesses who is not reporting but first we would need to
try and get a list of who has reported thus far on a consolidated list. John Bowen
stated that we can utilize businesses that do bulk mailing.
IV.School labs and chemicals update – Henry stated that more schools were being
cleaned up since more funds were allocated for this. However, Henry stated that this
was only a band aid solution even though the DOE believes that the clean-up is being
done. Henry will talk to Grace Simmons to see what further actions we can take. He
stated that he will speak to Will Okabe again.
V.County reports:
Civil Defense – No report
Fire – There were some CST drills on March 10-12 and there will be a full-scale
Vigilant Guard exercise on June 3 involving a hazmat leak at BEI.
Police – No report
VI.Industry Reports:
BEI - Lucas Parrish stated that BEI is participating in the upcoming Vigilant
Guard exercise and the incident will entail a simulated release of Vikane (Sulfuryl
Fluoride). Lucas also added that their company lease is good for 10 years more.
PGV – Cliff Townsend stated that he will be leaving and Mike McVey will be
taking over for him. He also stated that they are in the process of drilling a new
well.
Big Island Biodiesel – Joseph Kashuba stated that they are expanding. So far
there were no incidents. They are based out of Maui with their tank farm at Sand
Island on Oahu.
Hilo Medical Center – Tracy Aruga stated that they will also be participating in
the Vigilant Guard exercise with the CST.
VII.Department of Health HEER report – Liz Galvez brought some notes from the last
HSERC meeting from Sharon Leonida. She stated that in regards to the school clean
up, the principal is ultimately responsible for the chemicals in the schools. She also
talked about the recent Ebola training and stated that no hospital in Hawaii was
designated as the go to hospital for Ebola incidents. Other items that were discussed
were that the president declared Puna a disaster area due to the lava flow, the 2015
HMEP grant funds are now available, and that Gary Gill is no longer the Deputy
Director for the DOH. Keith Kawaoka is now the acting Deputy Director.
VIII.Committee reports – Tracy Aruga inquired about our EOP update. Gerald stated that
HMEP funds have been allocated to secure a consultant that is currently assisting
with this process.
IX.New Business:
Gerald submitted a request from HFD to the LEPC for personnel to attend this
year’s Hazmat Continuing Challenge. A motion was made by Tracy Aruga with a
second by John Bowen to allot $7,500 for the HFD to send personnel to this
conference. Gerald was going to submit a memo to Chief Rosario for approval.
Gerald brought up the possibility of sending an additional committee member to
the annual NASTTPO conference. The LEPC Chair is funded to attend this
conference through the HMEP grant. Therefore, the LEPC would only need to
pay for any additional member. Mike Uchida stated that the LEPC co-Chair
should also attend and possibly another committee member. This conference
would be more beneficial that the Hazmat Hotzone conference that is held in
October. Tracy made a motion with a second from Ron Quesada to allow the
LEPC co-Chair and one other LEPC member to attend the NASTTPO conference
in May 2015. He added that the amount allocated for each would be a maximum
of $5,000.
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X.Next meeting - The next LEPC meeting will be held on June 92015 at Civil Defense.
XI.Adjournment – the meeting was adjourned at 11:10am
/s/ Gerald Kosaki – Co-Chairperson