^6D srx i o % 33 \ ^ REGION 8 PRE <$*, Volume IV No. 2 % PRO^° Heavy Winter Snow Brings Spring Flooding Potential PAREDNESS Quarterly Newsletter 2014 According to NOAA's Spring Outlook, rivers in half of the continental United States are at minor or moderate risk of exceeding flood levels this spring. The highest threat is in the southern Great Lakes region due to above-average snowpack and a deep layer of frozen ground. In contrast, drought is expected to continue in California and the Southwest. The continuation of winter storms into the Spring, above- average snowpack, frozen ground and thick ice coverage on streams and rivers will delay Spring flooding into April and May in the upper Midwest eastward to New England. The intensity of the flooding will depend on the rate of snow and ice melt, and future rainfall. Continued well-below average temperatures this winter resulted in significant river ice formation and ice jams in locations further south than customary, flooding homes and businesses, and impacting river commerce. There is also an elevated risk of more ice jams this Spring in the northern tier of the U.S. from Montana eastward to northern New England. "This year's spring flood potential is widespread and includes rivers in highly populated areas putting millions of Americans at risk," said Louis Uccellini, Ph.D., director of NOAA's National Weather Service (NWS). "Although widespread major river flooding is not expected, an abrupt warming or heavy rainfall event could lead to isolated major flooding." NWS hydrologists predict moderate flooding in parts of southern Wisconsin, southern Michigan and portions of Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa as a result of the current snowpack and the deep layer of frozen ground coupled with expected seasonal temperatures and rainfall. At risk are the Mississippi River and the Illinois River as well as many smaller rivers in these regions. Some streams and rivers in Montana and Wyoming along with the lower Missouri basin in Missouri and eastern Kansas have already experienced flooding this year and the threat of moderate flooding will persist through the remainder of the Spring. There is a risk of moderate flooding along the Red River of the North between eastern North Dakota and northwest Minnesota, and along the Souris River below Minot, ND. River ice, snowpack and significant frozen ground are factors in the flood risk for this area. Additionally, there is a risk of moderate flooding for western South Dakota because of current saturated soils. Minor flooding is likely in the northern Rockies, parts of the Midwest, and the Great Lakes region. Minor flooding is also possible in the Northeast, the lower Mississippi River basin, and across the entire Southeast up to Virginia, including east Texas, and parts of Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia and the Florida panhandle. In these areas, spring flood risk is highly dependent on rainfall. Contents Do Emergency Alert Notifications Fail to Live Up to Expectations: Page 3 Enhanced TRIP2 Toot: Page 4 HAZWOPER Training: Page 5 New ESC in Pueblo: Page 5 Update on EO 13650: Page 6 Training & Exercises: Page 6 Railroads Agree to Slow Down Crude Oil Trains in Major Cities: Page 7 Upcoming PREP Exercise: Page 9 Oil Regulations Workshop/Webinar: Page 10 Risk Management Program Webinars Page 11 ------- Page 2 Heavy Winter Snow Brings Spring Flooding Potential (cont.) NOAA's Spring Outlook identifies areas at risk of spring flooding and expectations for temperature, precipitation and drought from April through June. March 16-22 was National Flood Safety Awarenpss Waek. and NOAA encourages individuals to become weather-ready by ensuring you have real-time access to flood warnings via mobile devices, weather radio and local media, and avoiding areas that are under these warnings. Empowering people with the information they need to take action to protect life and property is key to NOAA's effort to build a Weather-Ready Nation. Temperature and Precipitation Outlook Below-normal temperatures this spring are favored for an area from Montana eastward across the northern Plains to the Great Lakes region, while warmer-than-normal temperatures are most likely for western sections of Washington and Oregon, California, the desert Southwest, the southern Plains, the Southeast and ail of Alaska which will likely exacerbate the ongoing drought in that region of the U.S. Mountain Snowpack as of April 1, 2014 Percent of 1981-2010 Median • > 180 • 150 -180 • 130-149 O 110-129 « 90-109 O 70-89 O 50-69 • 25-49 • <25 Prepared by: US DA Natural Resources Conservation Service National Water and Climate Center Portland, Oregon http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov Created 4 Apr 2014 08:15 For precipitation, odds favor drier-than-normal conditions for the Alaska panhandle, western Washington and Oregon, California and parts of Nevada and Arizona. Recent flood events in areas with oil and gas operations have highlighted problems associated with above ground storage tanks (ASTs) when facilities are impacted by high water. ASTs that had releases of product due to flooding and storm surge eventually floated downstream. This is directly due to the surface-area-to-weight-ratio of the tanks and their contents to the external water level. Once the external water level becomes equal to or greater than the weight of the product in the tank, the tank becomes buoyant. Typically, tanks that survived flood events had significant product in them and/or were securely anchored to the ground. A rule of thumb, is that the contents in an AST should be at least three feet above the projected flood water level expected by a storm surge or flood event. This will help prevent floatation and subsequent product releases. The density of the product in the tank is also of critical importance in determining the risk of tank floatation. Response plans for facilities located in flood prone areas must address these issues. The height of secondary containment, as well as piping and valves, must also be addressed in the plan. If flood forecasts allow sufficient time, the best practice is for tanks and piping to be securely anchored to the ground and be either emptied or filled with water to minimize risk of product releases. ------- Page 3 Do Emergency Alert Notifications Fail To Live Up To Expectations? SYSTEM REVERSE 9-1-1 ¦SM By: Rick Wimberly http://www.emeraenevmamt.com/disaster/ Wildfires that threatened lives arid property of Colorado residents in El Paso and Teller counties in 2012 were the most destructive - fl wildfires in state history — 29 square miles around Colorado Springs burned, destroying more than 340 homes, and causing two [1 deaths and personal property damage in excess of 352 million dollars. mo facilitate evacuations, authorities used a jointly operated telephone alerting system and made fire-related calls to the public in the Waldo Canyon area on 48 different occasions Using this system, more than 32,000 people were evacuated from their homes, but the limits of automated telephone alerting systems were clearly exposed. Efforts to call at least 20,000 homes failed, and some residents said they never received a call to evacuate. The problems with the Waldo Canyon telephone alerts have attracted attention because of the situation's seriousness, but the same types of challenges have been reported nationwide. The telephone alerting systems' main problems can be broken down into two general, yet contradictory, categories: - In some situations, officials did not have residents' telephone numbers, making calls impossible. - In other cases, something went wrong with the local automated notification system and calls weren't delivered, perhaps because too many calls were being made. Lack of telephone numbers is often a byproduct of the fact that many homes no longer have land lines. Where land lines are used, obtaining telephone numbers isn't difficult. Databases can be purchased that include most land line telephone numbers, including unlisted numbers through the same databases used by 9-1-1 centers to help identify a caller's location. Even as people replace their traditional land lines served through a telephone company with voice over Internet protocol (VoIP), land line numbers are generally available. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ensured this by requiring that VoIP phone numbers be published. Even with increases in VoIP lines, the number of land lines has dropped while the number of cellphones has increased significantly. Because there's no central repository of cellphone numbers, local public safety officials don't have these numbers to call. Cell phone companies are not required to disclose their customers' phone numbers. One of the organizations that faces the realities of telephone alerting and has been successful in working around some of the obstacles is the New York State Office of Emergency Management (OEM). The OEM created its own alerting system and is offering it to other states for use. The system, called NY- Alert, has more than 5.8 million people in its alerting database. More than 1.7 million have signed up to receive alerts through the system. "Through multimember households and in the workplace, the message will reach the general population that has not yet subscribed," said OEM spokesman Dennis Michalski, adding that although there has been a push to inform the public about NY-Alert, most of the citizens who signed up for the notifications heard about it by word of mouth. As part of efforts to reach people who have not signed up for NY-Alert, the New York OEM plans to become part of FEMA's Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS). Through IPAWS ditto:// www.fema.gov/intearated-public-alert-warnina-svstem). the office will send short alert messages to mobile devices, even devices owned by those who have not signed up to receive alerts. ------- Page 4 Do Emergency Alert Notifications.... (cont.) The IPAWS program, the Commercial Mobile Alerting System (CMAS), will send Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) through the cell system and establish relationships with many of the cell carriers in the United States. The CMAS-WEA (http://www.fcc.aov/auides/wireless-emeraencv-alerts-wea) initiative iaunched earlier this year, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Weather Service (NWS) being the first major organization to start issuing alerts through the system. A process was unveiled this year for local and state! authorities to obtain authority to start using CMAS. Agencies first apply to the IPAWS office and then to their state. Many of the vendors that provide telephone alerting solutions to public safet organizations are either adapting or planning to adapt their solutions so their customers can send alerts through IPAWS in addition to using telephone calls, emails, text messages and other alerting tools. And the number of mobile devices in the public's hands that are equipped to receive WEAs is growing. IPAS Director Antwane Johnson admitted that CMAS| doesn't solve all of the alerting challenges as i currently only provides short text messages to onl mobile devices — and only under certain conditions. Johnson said CMAS is part of a comprehensive alerting system that the IPAWS program is creating that will include other alerting tools. Among them are the Emergency Alert System, approaches for alerting people with disabilities, and Web-based alerts. "Even as IPAWS grows," Johnson said, "it will not replace existing state and local alerting initiatives but rather enhance them." http://www.emeraencvmamt.com/disaster/Do-Alert-Notifications-Fail-Expectations.html Enhanced Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) Pollution Prevention (P2) Search Tool The following TRI website (http://www.epa.aov/enviro/facts/tri/ p2.html) provides a quick and easy way to find information on toxic releases from a facility. The updated and enhanced website now allows a user to graphically compare facilities within th same industry using a variety of environmental metrics for and the Greenhouse Gas Reporting System. successes. Everyone has the right to know the chemicals to which they may be exposed to in their daily lives. Right-to-know laws provide information about possible chemical exposures. Under the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 (PPA), the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) collects information to track industry progress in reducing waste generation and moving towards safer waste management alternatives. When providing this information, many facilities choose to describe the measures they have taken to prevent pollution and reduce the amount of toxic chemicals entering the environment. As a result, TRI serves as a tool for identifying effective environmental practices and highlighting pollution prevention ------- Page 5 40-Hour Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) Training 'JOUlWC I0&2Q OUHX P3I. The Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) Standard applies to five distinct groups of employers and their employees. This includes any employees who are exposed or potentially exposed to hazardous substances - including hazardous waste - and who are engaged in one of the following operations as specified by 1910.120faKlHi-v) and 1926.65faKlKi-v^: • Clean-up operations that are conducted at uncontrolled hazardous waste sites; • Corrective actions involving clean-up operations at sites covered by the Resource Conservation and Recover Act (RCRA); • Voluntary clean-up operations at uncontrolled hazardous waste sites; • Operations involving hazardous wastes that are conducted at Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facilities (TSDFs) regulated by 40 CFR 264 & 265; or • Emergency response operations for releases of hazardous substances regardless of the location of the hazard. 40-hour HAZWOPER training classes are being held in Silverton, Colorado, on May 7 to 11, 2014 and in Commerce City, Colorado, on June 23 to 27, 2014. The Silverton class will be held at the Kendal Mountain Community Center. The exact location of the Commerce City class has not yet been finalized. Prospective students should send their contact information to Mark Wullstein at Wullstein.mark@epa.aov to register for either course. Students will need to have a physician sign a medical release that they are capable of performing duties while wearing a respirator. The courses are free to Federal, Tribal, state and local employees. The classes are filling up quickly, so those interested should respond as soon as possible. New Pueblo Emergency Services Center Pueblo County Sheriff, Kirk Taylor addressed a gathering of officials and the public at the dedication of the new Emergency Services Center (ESC) in Pueblo, Colorado, on April 9. "Some projects start and just as quickly, you can't see the end. They get overrun or side tracked, they lose funding, importance or momentum but that wasn't the case here. From start to finish, we have had such amazing partnerships at the local, state, and federal level that - once the building and the location were approved, this project took on a life of its own." "This building was thoughtfully designed for function by the staff themselves. Every piece of furniture, technology, and even the proximity of the rooms to one another was painstakingly decided upon to make sure the men and women who staff it, both on a daily basis and in an emergency, can do their jobs quickly and effectively." "Because what they do in this building makes a difference. Lives will be saved by the people who sit inside these walls. Millions and millions will be spent to protect our community from destruction. Property owners will hear great news and tragic news on the calls made from the phone inside this ESC." ------- Page 6 Update on Executive Order 13650 Improving Chemical Facility Safety and Security On August 1, 2013, President Obama issued Executive Order (EO) 13650 - Improving Chemical Facility Safety and Security. The Executive Order created a Working Group which had, among its responsibilities, the requirement to keep interested parties updated on the outcomes of the orders mandates. A progress report was due 135 days after the EO was issued. The 135-day Progress Fact Sheet is available at https://www.osha.aov/chemicalexecutiveorder/EO ProaressUpdate022014.pdf. This report provides an update to the December 20, 2013, Progress Fact Sheet and addresses improvements in chemical facility safety and security, specifically stakeholder input, operational coordination with State, local, and Tribal partners, and efforts to modernize policies, programs, and requirements. Among recommendations of the Working Group in this update are: (1) the need to verify that emergency plans for security incidents are developed and coordinated with local law enforcement and first responders; (2) assessing the feasibility of reviving the Federal Integrated Contingency Plan (ICP, also known as the "One Plan") reporting form to decrease duplicative reporting and streamline information collection; and (3) to the extent possible, including Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) in Federal safety inspections at regulated facilities. Through this Progress Fact Sheet the Working Group is specifically inviting public input on actions described in the document. If you have any questions or comments regarding EO 13650, please visit https://www.osha.aov/ chemicalexecutiveorder/index.html for more information, or email EO.chemical@ha.dhs.aov. Training & Exercises Region 8 has created the annual 2014 Training and Exercise Plan (TEP) to address our current priorities and methodologies in training and exercise (T&E) activities. A schedule listing of our regional trainings and exercises is developed for each year showing the type of T&E, location, time, sponsor, participants and regional priorities being addressed. The 2014 schedule is available at: http://www2.epa.aov/sites/production/files/2014-02/ documents/copy of r8 exercise list 2014.pdf Region 8 is working with Spectra Energy to conduct a tabletop and full-scale National Preparedness for Response Exercise Program (PREP) at Spectra's facility in Casper, Wyoming, on May 14 and 15, 2014. See Page 9 of this newsletter for details on the exercise. Please contact Luke Chavez, Exercise Coordinator, at 303-312-6512 or chavez.luke@epa.aov if you have any questions regarding EPA Region 8 T&E or have an exercise with which you would like our assistance or participation. ------- Page 7 Railroads Agree to Slow Down Crude Oil Trains in Major Cities Federal regulators and American railroads have agreed to voluntary changes that could make shipping crude oil by rail safer, including slowing down trains in major cities by at least 10 miles per hour. Under the agreement between the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Association of American Railroads, operators will also inspect tracks more frequently and pay to boost emergency planning along their routes. Federal regulators say these voluntary changes are paving the way for more regulation since a dramatic increase in rail traffic hauling domestic crude oil has resulted in recent accidents on tracks across the country - including North Dakota and Pennsylvania. "Safety is our top priority, and we have a shared responsibility to make sure crude oil is transported safely from origin to destination," U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said in a statement to the Associated Press, http://www.huffinGtonpost.com/2014/Q2/21/railroad-crude-oii- safetv-measures n 4831766.html. The agreement came just a week after an oil train derailed in western Pennsylvania, spilling thousands of gallons of heavy crude, https://stateirnpact.nor.ora/aennsvlvania/2014/02/13/train-carrving-crude-oil-derails-in-western-pa/ This past December, a train carrying grain derailed and collided with another train that was carrying crude oil in Casselton, North Dakota, resulting in a fire and explosion. In July 2013 the brakes failed on a crude oil train parked overnight in Lac Megantic, Quebec, resulting in a deadly explosion and fire. In January, a train carrying crude oil derailed on a bridge that spans a major interstate highway and the Schuylkill River in eastern Pennsylvania. http://stateimpact.npr.ora/pennsvlvania/2014/01/22/close-call-on-phillv-oil-train-derailment-fuels-calls-for-safetv/ "It does seem pretty obvious that one should look at the problem (of transporting crude oil) in all its aspects," says Phil Rinaldi, CEO of Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES), a refining and distribution company in the eastern United States. The PES refinery in South Philadelphia receives two to four loads of crude oil every day on trains stretching more than 100 cars long. Last month, a train bound for the refinery derailed, leaving seven cars intact, but leaning across a bridge spanning the Sch uy 11 kill River and a major highway. Crude-by-rail is helping to keep Philadelphia in the oil refining business - an industry that was on its way out in 2011 - but Rinaldi admits there is room for improvement. "We think that we're taking prudent risk and maybe this is a little bit of a learning as we go along, but railroads have been pulling cargo for just too many years to believe that they can't do that safely," he says. Environmental advocates, however, are not satisfied. Iris Marie Bloom with Protecting Our Waters, a Philadelphia-based group, says the industry agreement to reduce the speed of trains as they travel through cities does not address one major risk: oid tanker cars that are prone to puncture during derailments. "The DOT-111 cars should be taken off the tracks now," Bloom says. "We know too much about how vulnerable they are." Federal regulators and the railroads say they are working on that issue separately. "I'm glad that they're slowing speeds and increasing track inspections," Bloom says. "But these are policies that should have already been in place." The industry's voluntary changes are expected to take effect by July of this year. ------- Page 8 ^fryr Sy Preparedness Unit Mission Statement: We will increase EPA Region 8 preparedness through: • Planning, Training, Exercising, and developing outreach relations with federal agencies, states, tribes, local organizations and the regulated community. • Assisting in the development of EPA Region 8 preparedness planning and response capabilities through the RSC. IMT. RRT, OP A, RMP. etc. • Working with facilities to reduce accidents and spills through education, inspections and enforcement. To view our programs, or contact a member of our team: (Click here for Org Chart) Acronym List IMT Incident Management Team OPA Oil Pollution Act RRT Regional Response Team RSC Response Support Corps SPCC Spill Prevention. Control, and Countermeasures Em«rgencles Report oil or chemical spills at 800-424-8802 More 1 (800) 424-8802 www.nrc.uscg.mii Need More info on the Risk Management Program (RMP)? Brent Truskowski, Acting RMP Coordinator: (303) 312-6235 RMP Hotline: (303) 312-6345 RMP Reporting Center: The Reporting Center can answer questions about software or installation problems. The RMP Reporting Center is available from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Fri- day, for questions on the Risk Management Plan program: (703) 227-7650 or RMPRC@epacdx.net Chemical Emergency Preparedness & Prevention Office (CEPPO) http://www.epa.gov/oem Compliance and Enforcement: http://www2.epa. gov/enforcement Compliance Assistance: http://www.epa.go\7oecaerth/assistance/index.html Call our hotline, the Superfund, TRI. EPCRA. RMP. and Oil Information Center (800) 424-9346 or (703) 412-9810 TDD (800) 553-7672 or (703) 412-3323 Mon-Thurs 10:00 am to 3:00 pm ET (except Federal Holidays) or see www, epa. gov/ siroerfimd/contacts/mfocenter/ You can also call or write to: U.S. EPA Region 8 1595 Wynkoop Street (8EPR-ER) Denver, CO 80202-1129 800-227-8917 CO, MT. MX SD. UT, and WY To report an oil or chemical spill, call the National Response Center at (800) 424-8802. This newsletter provides information on the EPA Risk Management Program, EPCRA, SPCC/FRP (Facility Response Plan) ana other issues relating to Accidental Release Prevention Requirements. The information should be used as a reference tool, not as a definitive source of compliance information. Compliance regulations are published in 40 CFR Part 68 for CAA section 112(r) Risk Management Program, 40 CFR Part 355/370for EPCRA, and 40 CFR Part 112.2 for SPCC/FRP. ------- Upcoming National Preparedness for Response Exercise Program (PREP) Page 9 C asper, WV • May 14 and 15. 2014 National Preparedness for Response Exercise Program (PREP) 2014 The U.S. EPA Region 8 and Spectra Energy- are conducting a full-scale exercise (FSE) and tabletop exercise ( I IX) under the National Preparedness for Response Exercise Program (PREP). The exercises will take place m Casper, Wyoming on May 14 and 15,2014. The FSE is designed to test the entire community response in accordance with Spectra Energy's Facility Response Plan (FRP) and the U.S. EPA Region 8 Regional Contingency Plan (RCP). Exercise Format Pari Mar 14. 2014 On Day of PREP 2014, FSE activities will focus on the initial response to a worst-case discharge of crude oil from the Spectra Energy facility The FSE is designed to evaluate response capabilities and enhance coordination among response partners during a regional response involving a large-scale oil release. The FSE is also intended to meet 15 core components of PREP: 1. Notifications 9. Disposal 2L Staff Mobilization 10. Communications 3. Response Management System 11. Transportation 4 Discharge Control 12. Personnel Support 5. Assessment of Discharge 13. Resource Support and Logistics 6. Containment of Discharge 14. Procurement 7. Recovery of Spilled Material 15. Documentation. S Protection of Sensitive Areas During the FSE, an incident command post (ICP) and unified command (UQ will be established at the Best Western Ramkota Hotel and Conference Center in Casper, Wyoming A jomt information center (JIC) will also be established to address public information needs related to the mcident. Field response activities involving oil containment and recovery operations are currently planned at 3 locations on the North Platte River. Day 2 - May IS, 2014 On Day 2 of PREP 2014, a TTX will be conducted at the Best Western Ramkota Hotel and Conference Center m Casper. TTX players will participate in a facilitated discussion concerning response and recovery issues anticipated during later operational penods of the event (Le., Event + 2 weeks). The TTX will allow participants to discuss possible solutions to a variety of issues that were not fully exercised during Day 1. A TTX facilitator will provide background information and pose questions to participants concerning problems/issues likely to be encountered later in the incident ,.Ji|it, ifnESSSi-" ------- Page 10 Oil Regulations Workshop/ Webinar EPA's Oil Program staff will conduct a free workshop on the oil pollution regulations and the requirements for preparing and implementing Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plans and Facility Response Plans (FRP). Plans must be prepared and implemented by facilities which store, process, transfer, distribute, use, consume, drill, produce, gather, or refine oil or oil products. The term "oil" is defined as petroleum oils, including gasoline, asphalt, kerosene, motor oil, etc.; animal and fish oils; vegetable oils; synthetic oils; and any other kind of oil. The workshop will be held on Tuesday June 3, 2014. The first session will cover SPCC and is scheduled from 8:30 AM until 12:00 PM. The second session is scheduled from 1:00 PM until 4:30 PM and will cover FRP. This workshop is free of charge, but you must register to attend. The workshop will be held at the U.S. EPA Region 8 Office located at 1595 Wynkoop St. Denver, CO 80202. We will also have the option for participants to attend remotely. If you would like to register please call 303-312-6801 with your name, the name of your organization, your organization's address, and your daytime phone number and whether you plan on attending in person or remotely. Please contact David Lennon at (303) 312-6801 or lennon.david@epa.aov for information or to register for the workshop. ------- Page 11 You're Invited! What: EPA's Clean Air Act Risk Management Program Training Webinarfor Program 2 Facilities When: Wednesday May 28, 2014 9:00 AM (CDT) - 4:00 PM (CDT) Presented by Eastern Research Group, Inc. Register using the link below to reserve your spot at the webinar https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/143703906 Register using the link belo httDs://www2. eotomeetin NO COST v>EPA You're Invited! What: EPA's Clean Air Act Risk Management Program Training Webinarfor Program 3 Facilities When: Thursday May 15, 2014 8:30 AM (CDT) - 4:30 PM (CDT Presented by Eastern Research Group, Inc. NO COST SEFtt ------- |