DuPage County Local Emergency Planning Committee met Nov. 16.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
1. CALL TO ORDER
1:30 PM meeting was called to order by Interim Chair / Environmental Specialist Joy Hinz at 1:34 PM.
2. ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Boyle (Remote), Eckhoff, Gillette (Remote), Hinz, Hronek, Johl, Pasciak (Remote), Radzinski, Schultz, Shay (Remote), Tuman
ABSENT: Anaszewicz, Dierich, Godden, Hazel, Mulryan, Williams, Alexander-Maxie, Wiza, O'Keefe
Additional in-person attendees: Patrick Collins, Craig Dieckman, Chris Goodson, Jeff Janus, Pete Lutz, Joan Olson.
Additional remote attendees: Jessica Durham, David Esterquest, MaryBeth Falsey, Keith Hronek, Austin Knight, Ian McGhee, Joe Prangl, Paul Ruesch, Jamison Ryder, Jeff Spangenberger, Alan Stark, Patrick Ullrich.
3. PUBLIC COMMENT
No public comment was offered.
4. ACTION ITEMS
A. Approval of new LEPC Full and Alternate Members
Interim Chair Joy Hinz asked members to consider appointing Jeff Janus and reinstating John Radzinski as members of the LEPC Committee.
| RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Pat Johl, Wood Dale FD Deputy Chief SECONDER: Don Schultz, Bensenville EMA Coord AYES: Boyle, Eckhoff, Gillette, Hinz, Hronek, Johl, Pasciak, Radzinski, Schultz, Shay, Tuman ABSENT: Anaszewicz, Godden, Hazel, Williams |
| RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Pat Johl, Wood Dale FD Deputy Chief SECONDER: Michael Tuman, DOT Asst Co Engr AYES: Boyle, Eckhoff, Gillette, Hinz, Hronek, Johl, Pasciak, Radzinski, Schultz, Shay, Tuman ABSENT: Anaszewicz, Godden, Hazel, Williams |
Interim Chair Joy Hinz suggested Jeff Janus serve as Chair, John Radzinski serve as Vice Chair, and Don Schultz serve as Secretary/Treasurer. No other nominations were suggested by the group.
| RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Pat Johl, Wood Dale FD Deputy Chief SECONDER: Michael Tuman, DOT Asst Co Engr AYES: Boyle, Eckhoff, Gillette, Hinz, Hronek, Johl, Pasciak, Radzinski, Schultz, Shay, Tuman ABSENT: Anaszewicz, Godden, Hazel, Williams |
A. Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) - LEPC Meeting - Feb 16, 2021 1:30 PM
| RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Pat Johl, Wood Dale FD Deputy Chief SECONDER: Grant Eckhoff, District 4 AYES: Boyle, Eckhoff, Gillette, Hinz, Hronek, Johl, Pasciak, Radzinski, Schultz, Shay, Tuman ABSENT: Anaszewicz, Godden, Hazel, Williams |
A. Morris, Rockton, and Marseilles Fires, US EPA
U.S. EPA Region 5 On Scene Coordinator Paul Ruesch presented on three major responses in 2021. The Chemtool fire in Rockton on June 14, 2021 was summarized. Included in the discussion were a detail of events, strike, release, ignition, soot concentration, evacuation, air monitoring, response, Illinois EPA samplings, and areas of concern. Member Eckhoff asked about fire suppression, to which Ruesch responded. The Superior Battery, Inc. fire in Morris on June 29, 2021 was also summarized. Included in the discussion were an overview of events, air monitoring, air sampling, evacuations, soot concentrations, firefighting operations and response, hydrogen flouride (HF) gas from lithium batteries, Illinois & Michigan (I&M) Canal water sampling, and clean-up. Finally, the Invenergy battery fire in Marseilles that burned from July 19-21, 2021 was summarized. Air monitoring locations, site layout, lithium battery thermal runaways, and a response timeline were discussed. U.S. EPA website links and contacts for each of the three fires were given and the presentation was requested to be shared with the group.
U.S. EPA Morris, Rockton, and Marseilles Fires
B. Lithium Batteries - Argonne National Laboratory, Materials Recycling Group Leader Jeff Spangenberger and Materials Scientist Jessica Durham
Argonne National Laboratory Materials Scientist Jessica Durham provided a thorough presentation on lithium batteries. She discussed how they work, their contents, proper storage, and proper disposal. The risks associated with lithium batteries and how they result in fires were reviewed. She noted the U.S. EPA, Department of Transportation, and the National Fire Protection Association provide guidance on the hazards, handling, and storing of lithium batteries. Specific locations, including Home Depot and Lowe's, for recycling batteries were given. The U.S. EPA, Department of Transportation, and NAATBatt International were mentioned as sources of guidance. She also gave a brief summary of Argonne National Laboratory and its role in battery research. She suggested Safety Coordinator Ian McGhee present to the group in the future on Smart Energy Plaza, a battery storage system located on site at Argonne National Laboratory. The presentation slides were requested to be shared with the group.
7. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
A. IEMA Hazmat Reports
Craig Dieckman, Acting Deputy Director at the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (OHSEM), asked the group for guidance regarding the distribution of incoming hazmat reports, which are frequently received from David Martin of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA). Wood Dale Fire Deputy Chief Patrick Johl noted that fire chiefs can make that request with OHSEM as needed.
B. 2022 Meeting Dates: February 15, 2022, May 17, 2022, August 16, 2022, and November 15, 2022 from 1:30-2:30 P.M.
Chair Janus announced the proposed 2022 meeting dates. There were no objections to the dates and meeting times.
C. LEPC Registry Membership Roster
Hinz related the need to recapture the roster of members, alternates, and attendees of the LEPC Committee. Janus added that the state suggests the committee be comprised of members from thirteen disciplines, if possible. Hinz related the roster would be distributed by Information Coordinator Erin Lech. Those who should be listed on the roster were asked to communicate that to her and Lech.
D. Lithium Battery Outreach Campaign
Hinz stressed the importance of educating the community on lithium batteries and suggested utilizing Argonne National Laboratory as a campaign resource. Member Grant Eckhoff mentioned an opioid campaign with drop-off locations and suggested getting Home Depot involved for the lithium battery campaign. Hinz suggested businesses as a starting point and asked Ruesch if federal training dollars were available for this type of campaign. A November 2020 tabletop exercise with Dober Chemical was mentioned. Concerns and the risks of drop-off locations were discussed by several members. Campaign materials, as noted during the Argonne presentation, were suggested to be distributed. The consensus of the group was that the public and businesses need to know how to handle batteries.
8. OLD BUSINESS
No old business was offered.
9. NEW BUSINESS
Chair Jeff Janus related the draft plan would be redistributed to the group for review and discussion at the February 15, 2022 meeting. He thanked Joy Hinz for her role as Interim Chair during the LEPC Committee's transition.
10. ADJOURNMENT
This meeting has been adjourned to Tuesday, February 15, 2022 at 1:30 P.M.
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