LEPC Meeting Minutes

L.E.P.C (Local Emergency Preparedness Committee)
Minutes
March 7, 2001 at Red Rock State Park

Call to Order:

The quarterly LEPC meeting was held on March 7, 2001 at Red Rock State Park at 9 AM. Clybert Zunie, Emergency Manager, called the meeting to order.

Attendance:

See attendance list.

Agenda Items:

Clybert Zunie, made several announcements: Winter weather ending, snow melting, roads getting muddy, need to get a list of resources to help the public. Also, handed out forms to all Refineries to fill out, need maps and information on Companies and returned to him.

Weapons of Mass Destruction: Clybert Zunie, announced that all information was collected and turned into for grant money. The Zuni Tribe and Navajo Nation Tribe still needed to turn in list of equipment. List of equipment from each agency would be used to purchase equipment. List to be turned into Mr. Zunie. Meeting was turned over to Ed Armijo, Chair LEPC.

Ed Armijo, Chari explained the All-Hazard Plan and advised that phone numbers needed to be updated in the book. Each agency should designate an individual from their agency to keep in contact with the Chair to update current emergency numbers. Also, advised the agencies in attendance that the primary EOC is Metro Dispatch Center, and that Gallup Fire is the secondary EOC.

Tabletop exercises for all agencies will be held, time and place to be announced. Chair Armijo, also, announced that Mr. Pete Flores would be the new PIO (Public Information Officer) for Gallup/McKinley County.

Ed Armijo, encouraged all agencies to take an Incident Command course, a course will be held, time and place to announce.

Each agency in attendance was asked to introduce themselves:

Metro Dispatch: Sandra Aragon, Director of Communications, informed everyone that the IC System is currently being used at Metro and all agencies need to get trained on it.

Zuni EMS: Nick Yuselew, EMS and Fire Personnel are cross trained, in fir and EMS and IC.

BNSF Railroad: Paul Dimas, Gallup Haz-Mat team would have to be dispatched until BNSF can dispatch their own crew. If an accident should occur involving the railroad the conductor has all paperwork on loads being shipped. Each crossing has a placard with phone numbers and crossing number to identify where the crossing is at.

Gallup McKinley County Schools: Steve Starkovich and Ben Chavez, 34 school districts in McKinley County, have the ability to help with evacuation, food and transportation. 200 buses available with radio communication on each bus, schools cover 5,000 square miles.

VA Clinic: Ann Bushman, serves 1800 Veterans, can help with First Aid, also have nitrogen and oxygen available.

RMCH: Sherri Schuman, hospital does set up IC within the hospital, main concern is being prepared.

Conoco: Jeff McDaniel, department has finished an IC training, and tabletop, also have public awareness meetings, need to keep manual updated on pipeline operation.

Gallup Airport: Mark Ripley, large hangers available to store items if needed, have an automatic weather system. Can set up temporary no fly zone if needed through the flight service station in Albuquerque.

El Paso Natural Gas: Dan Campbell and Jack O Ledingham Jr., gas line extends all the way across the County of McKinley. Equipped with fire protection and gas detection. Would need traffic control if something should occur and fire control, also manual for El Paso Natural Gas is updated twice a year with maps provided. Equipped with microwave system.

Transwestern Pipeline: Mike Boatman, pipeline covers Farmington into Arizona, which includes McKinley County. Biggest problem is public awareness. Conducted a drill in Thoreau, which was very successful.

Navajo Nation Emergency Management Crowpoint: Faye Platero, covers 35 chapters also into Farmington area. Have alert teams available, also deal through the Navajo Police Department then on to Metro Dispatch. Communication biggest problem for them.

PNM: Eliseo Urias, gas line which hold 60 to 200 pounds, located within Gallup area, would provide LEPC with list of equipment and men available. Has provided Gallup Fire and McKinley County Fire with CO detectors. Biggest Problem is fire department not calling out PNM personnel when a fire occurs.

Zuni Emergency Management: Larry Livingston, have for housing facilities for evacuation within Zuni area. Some flooding in Senior Citizen center. Tribe is presently updating all hazard plan.

Giant Industries - Ciniza Refinery: Charles Arnold, has own hazardous materila team and, trained fire brigade. Have IC training and constantly training with Whispering Cedars and Thoreau Volunteer Fire Department. Primary hazard within refinery is the combustibles.

Prewitt VFD: Rufus Thomas, provides firefighting in the Prewitt area, is presently getting personnel trainied in EMS. Needs LEPC book.

Cibola County Emergency Manager: Peggy Jordan, provided hazardous material training to everyone. WIPP exercise schedule for August. Biggest problem is haz mat within Cibola County.

Navajo Nation Police Department: Lt. John Begay, need more Officers trained in IC and haz-mat. Have had several Hazardous Material incidents on the reservation. Do have a huge amount of hazardous material crossing through the reservation.

Sheriffs Department: Lt. Tim Cron, traffic control was the biggest problem at the last Haz-Mat incident. Emergency reponders need some kind of ID to get into a hazardous material or any emergency incident. Need to look into some kind of call out system. Would like to see DOE come into do some ssort of presentations for LEPC.

Zuni Police Department: Captain Gerald Hooee Sr., communication problem with military, need to talk with them concerning that issue. No information provided to Police Department on Hazardous Material. Police Department have 911 capabilities, have worked IC system. More cooperation needed with all agencies.

Zuni VFD: Albert Lementino, all EMS and Fire personnel are cross trained. Can proved firefighting capabilities if needed and EMS.

GIMC: Ann Parker have plans and decon center with hospital. Communication is biggest problem with hospital staff and emergency responders in the field. Gallup Fire has provided training. Need more cooperation from all agencies.

Richard Naumann: Civil Air Patrol, emergency service mission has been completed for the Civil Air Patrol.

Nominations for Vice-Chair: No nominations for Vice-Chair, item tabled until next meeting.

Announcements: Primary meeting place for LEPC meeting would be Red Rock State Park. Next meeting a facilitator will present.

Adjournment at 10:40 AM.