State Emergency Response Committee

SERC Meeting Minutes 11 12 2008 
SERC Meeting Minutes March 2007
SERC Meeting Minutes - Oct 2006

DRAFT
SERC Meeting Minutes
May 24, 2006

Members:

Tom Ellerhoff, Co-Chair, DEQ; Dan McGowan Co-Chair, DES; Sally Buckles, EMS Association; Bill Rhoads, NorthWestern Energy; Mark Earnhardt, FWP; Royce Shipley, Malmstrom AFB; Doug Moore, MT Public Health Association; Joe Marcotte, MHA; Mike Vogel, University Systems; Jim DeTienne, DPHHS, EMS; Cliff Brophy, MSPOA; Paul Spengler for Ed Tinsley, MT Association of Counties; Mike Tooley, MT Highway Patrol; Linda Williams, DES Association; Steve Brueske, National Weather Service; Sheena Wilson, Governor’s Office; Sheri Lanz, Staff Person, MT DES

Members not present:

Tim Burton, League of Cities & Towns; Major Don Emerson, National Guard; Dan Dennehy, LEPC representative; Jolene Jacobson, CSKT; Ted Mead, DNRC; Steve Larson, Fire Chief’s Association; Barry “Spook” Stang, Montana Motor Carriers; Butch Weedon, MSU-FTS; Jim Johnson, Montana Rail Link; VACANT – DPHHS representative; Jim Hyatt, MDT

Others in attendance:

Ron Zellar, Dept. of Agriculture; Jay Verdi, FEMA Reservist; Martha Smith, MT DES; Steve Knecht, MT DES; Jim Kraft, Yellowstone Co DES; Jan Traynor, MT DES; Dave Ball, Missoula CO EOD; Joe Brenneman, Flathead Co Commissioner; Ellen Stinar, DPHHS/EMS; John Puckett, Yellowstone City County Health; Lynn Pisano-Pedigo, DHS; Mark Silveira, DHS; Randy Middlebrook, MT DES; Joe O’Keefe, DHS; Erin Geraghty, DOA-ITSD; Eric Eidswick, DOA-ITSD

Dan McGowan opened the meeting and introductions were made.  Minutes from the February 16, 2006 meeting were approved.

Duty Officer Report – Steve Knecht explained the duty officer report. Paul Spengler stated that the duty officer program is essential to local jurisdictions.

Reports of Committees

Steering Committee – Members include Bill Rhoads, Bill Fleiner, Cindy Mullaney, Dan McGowan. Dan McGowan presented the SERC membership recommendations, attached. Linda Williams stated that DPHHS/EMS and Injury Prevention and DPHHS represent two different emphases and would like to see both representatives. Jim DeTienne explained the role of EMS and Trauma System Section of DPHHS. Doug Moore felt that there is need for two representatives from DPHHS. Sally Buckles also agreed with the current representation from DPHHS. Need to change name to Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Systems Section.

Because of the Fire Services representation, Fire Services Training School was recommended for SERC membership removal.

Doug Moore moved and Paul Spengler seconded that:

· Remove LEPC representative – add into language at the end, “at least one of the local representatives must be a member of an LEPC.”

· Remove Fire Training School (FTS) on SERC but add as a member of the HazMat sub-committee.

· Name change from Emergency Medical Services and Injury Prevention Section to Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Systems Section of the Health Policy and Services Division in the Department of Public Health and Human Services.

· Add in a representation of the petroleum association.

· Add in Department of Agriculture.

The motion was unanimously approved.

Paul Spengler moved and Sally Buckles seconded to add the Montana Law Enforcement Academy (MLEA) as a member of HazMat sub-committee. The motion was unanimously approved.

Dan McGowan will work with the Governor’s Office to update the legislation. This will be a housekeeping bill. Sheena Wilson requested that the entire legislation be reviewed for additional housekeeping items.

HazMat Committee – Bill Colwell and Jim Johnson, co-chairs

Dan McGowan reported on the status of the hazmat legislation. The Governor’s Office does see that the proposal may be viewed as an additional tax. The SERC does need to consider the possibility of developing alternative proposals. The HazMat Teams want to see state legislative support as locally they may not be able to support the statewide response. Legislative discussions start in June and finish in October.

Intrastate Mutual Aid Committee – Steve Knecht reported that the committee has met and started working on the reimbursement processes and procedures. Steve is gathering data from other states as background. Steve is encouraging everyone to get involved and he needs ideas and expert advice.

DES Project Group updates

· GIS – Eric Eidswick presented information on the work of the Montana Critical Infrastructures/Structures GIS working team and the Critical Infrastructure and Structures Data Model. A brochure was presented.

· Agro-Emergency Preparedness Committee (AEPC) – Ron Zellar presented that this committee helps coordinate the four lead agencies for agro-emergency; Agriculture, Fish, Wildlife & Park, Livestock, and Public Health. Three exercises were conducted in March and the committee will be presenting information at the Summit. The next step is to develop a tool kit for local jurisdictions. A brochure was presented.

· State Citizen Corps Council – Sally Buckles reported the Council met this week and will be reviewing council membership, goals and objectives, and the implementation of FY06 initiatives. Had a monitoring visit from Dept. of Homeland Security. Will review the integration of the Council with the Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD).

· Indian Nations Working Group – Dan McGowan reported the Working Group met this week and discussed the interoperable communications efforts of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The National Justice Association has chosen Montana to pilot a meth response and recovery in Indian County training in September/October. The Mutual Aid Agreement is in the signatory process.

· COG Steering Committee – Sheena Wilson reported that the Dept. of Administration has developed the Continuity of Government Operations Plan and it is in review at the Governor’s Office. Living Disaster Preparedness Software is being used and the support of this effort is being funded through each State Department.

· Interoperable Communications – Dan McGowan reported that the Interoperability Montana project is going strong. Every County and Indian Nation is a member of one of the eight consortiums.

· Mike Vogel reported on the status of the University System Assessment Work Group. Working with the Board of Regents to provide assessments on the major campuses in a five step methodology. The next step is to work with the community colleges assessments.

Old Business

FY05 Homeland Security Funding – Sheri Lanz reported that the interoperable communications funding is allocated for the Northern Tier, infrastructure for each of the consortiums, and consortium member meeting travel expenses.

FY06 Homeland Security Funding – Sheri Lanz reported that the award announcement will be May 31, 2006.

HMEP Grant status – Sheri Lanz

· FY07 HMEP grant was submitted March 30, 2006. Thank you to all the SERC members for their review and prompt electronic vote on the HMEP grant recommendations.

National Incident Management System (NIMS) – Dan McGowan

Strategy development needs to be completed by September 30, 2006. DES has worked with FEMA Region 8 to draft a regional approach strategy (template) for compliance. A meeting on NIMS strategy will be held tomorrow.

Other Old Business

New Business
HazMat reimbursement for Missoula HazMat Team – Steve Knecht present that on March 31, 2006 the Missoula HazMat team responded to a spill in Lolo Creek. The request for reimbursement is $4,385.31. Missoula is going after the responsible party trucking company.

Sally Buckles moved and Mark Earnhardt seconded to approve the request for reimbursement for Missoula HazMat team. The motion was unanimously approved.

SERC approval of HazMat Teams
Joe Brenneman, Flathead County Commissioner reported on the status of the Flathead Interagency HazMat team. The County has been without an emergency management coordinator for nearly a year but Mark Peck has been hired as the emergency manager. Have recently completed hazmat technician training of 20-22 people but have not completed the physicals. Trailer and equipment will be housed at Kalispell Fire Department. The trailer will not be deployed until certified. Joe is requesting an additional 60 days to complete the certification and submit to the SERC.

Paul Spengler moved and Linda Williams seconded to provide an extension for Flathead HazMat team certification until October 1, 2006. The motion was unanimously approved.

National Plan Review – Dan McGowan reported that the plan review was completed by DHS but the results have not been presented.

Dan reported that within the near future every County and Indian Nation will be finishing up their pre-disaster mitigation plan.

Audience Questions

Next SERC meeting – October timeline

Action Items:

· Develop yearly SERC summary to include duty officer calls including HazMat reporting - Monique Lay and Steve Knecht – Complete August 2006.