Regulatory Committee - Alice Rimmer

Met on 1/29/04 and discussed the EH&S Conference in September 2004.  Larry Eller (Syngenta) informed the committee that they would once again commit to being a sponsor for this event.

Hope to use email to notify previous attendees of the conference.  We have a strong email list and want to use this to our advantage.  

Hopefully attendees will be able to register on-line.  The goal in this is to promote waste reduction.  Some brochures will be printed for the conference and hopes are that the LEPC will be able to help distribute those to industries.  Money that would have been used on mailings will hopefully be used to run more ads in the Greensboro & High Point newspapers.

Six to eight people attended the Wake County LEPC Conference in February.  There was one outstanding speaker who talked on clandestine labs.

Would like to host a one day spring workshop on Workplace Violence.  Therapists help you to better communicate with employees and not push them too far.

 TERG - Barry Tilley 

 Web-page - Dorothy Vannoy

Article 3 Section 1 - add an Emergency Management position as a voting member.  Steve Earp and Chuck agree this position should become a voting member automatically. This will be submitted to SERC for review. 

Regarding any changes to the By-Laws, a 30 day notice must be given to the LEPC voting members before the changes can be voted on.  

Change Planning & Scheduling Committee to Program Committee.

Tier II Reports are starting to come in and there were 2 Hazardous Material Incidents.  First incident was a fire and they were on the scene for a couple of hours.  Second incident was an accidental release of natural gas--a main line broke.

Barry reported at the end of January he had 12 fires in 12 days and 1 fatality.  Response was good from the fire dept.

Chief Teeters and Joel Woods supplied pictures to Kevin from the fire dept.

Clarice sat in on the Tier II Reporting online at the Wake County Conference in February.

Ron is checking on the Response Plan for the City of Greensboro and will make known to the LEPC for review.

March 14th - 20th will be Severe Weather Week.

Supports Barry Tilley's comments on the smoke detectors.  Please call the fire dept. for smoke detectors and batteries.  Non-emergency telephone number is 373-2222.

Responded to motor fuel spill, natural gas leak, and a small amount of diesel fuel leaked in a storm drain.

One regional response to Davidson County--Technical Support.

Haz Mat Grant for new equipment from the state coming in soon.

2002 Report of Working LEPC's - work with counties to start up an LEPC Committee.  Some counties can't meet criteria and others have political issues.

The money the state is handing out for equipment--will it be used?  Emergency Services needs to get information in the rural areas to protect citizens.

Make recommendations and put something in place to protect citizens by using towers, UNC-TV, etc.

Need to look at concerns with health, pharmaceuticals, and livestock.  Look at where threats are bigger.

Encourages LEPC Members to become voting members.  Application must be filled out and Mary will submit to the board for review.

Dave's presentation will help give us a better understanding of what amateur radio is and how as an ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) group, they work in our community as well as throughout the country.

Amateur Radio operators are granted a license by the Federal Communications Commission after testing to ensure that they understand the FCC rules governing Amateur Radio, have a basic knowledge of electronic principles, and knowledge of good Amateur Radio operator practices.

Ham Radio Operators use many different modes to communicate such as voice, computers, packet radio, and APR (Automatic Position Reporting System).

Some amateur radio operators use their communication skills and equipment to help out their communities in public service events, as well as helping out the community in times of need.

ARES members provide communications in time of disasters such as hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, winter storms, and ice storms.

Guilford County ARES is activated by local Emergency Management.  There are approximately 85 registered members here in Guilford County.

What ARES does when activated?  They notify all members that communications from the group is needed, dispatch radio operators to serve agencies, and provide communications between these agencies and work with them to provide any communications that are needed.

Activations don't happen every week, so how do we keep our skills as emergency communicators honed?  Weekly on the air nets (meetings), monthly training sessions, and the group meets at the Guilford County Emergency Services Building the first Monday of every month.

They have a Simulated Emergency Test conducted each year---historically in the fall.  During this test they contact their served agencies, activate the EOC, open mock shelters, use as many different repeaters and communications modes as possible, and totally test their system to the fullest and look for places that they can improve.

This past year there was a severe ice storm that essentially wiped out all power and communications in the northern part of the county and parts of High Point.  Shelters were opened in Summerfield, Jamestown, and High Point.  Amateur operators staffed all of these shelters, the EOC, and the Greensboro Emergency Service Office.

There is a field day held each year at Haganstone Park the last weekend in June.  This is a national exercise in which groups across the country setup communications without using any commercial power and must be outdoors.  The goal is to contact as many stations across the country as possible.  The exercise demonstrates the ability to setup nationwide communications in less than optimum circumstances

Each year they provide communications for non-profit groups here in the Triad.  Some non-profits groups are the Special Olympics (when held in the area), Greater Greensboro Crop Walk, and the Water Festival sponsored by the Greensboro Water Resource Commission.

More information can be found about the Guilford County ARES at www.guilfordares.com.  On this website you will find more information on ARES in the local area, ARES on a statewide level, and ARES/Emergency Managements Weather Network.

Stress is a perception.  Stress can cause loss of control in our private and social lives.

All stress is not negative, but the danger lies in it being maintained at high level.

Illness associated with stress can be high blood pressure, ulcers, diabetes, and the immune system does not function well.

Sharon Drescher provided information concerning an EH&S Conference in Greenville, NC on March 8th.  Please e-mail for more information - frances@greenvillenc.org for more information. 

Penny S. Partido
Environmental Operations Coordinator
Tel# - 336-547-7129
Mobile# - 336-202-6094
Fax# - 336-547-7126
Mail# - GRN002
email - p.s.partido@dowcorning.com