GATEKEEPER NEWSLETTER

March 1, 2005
Volume V, Edition 03

Arizona Emergency Response Commission
5636 East McDowell Road
Phoenix, Arizona 85008-3495
Janet Napolitano, Governor
http://www.governor.state.az.us/

Frank F. Navarrete, Director
http://www.dem.state.az.us/

Daniel Roe, Executive Director
http://www.dem.state.az.us/azserc/
Special Interest Articles:
• Tier Two Compliance Letter
• What is PPM or PPB mean Part II
• SPCC Inspections
• Office of Secretary of
Transportation
• FEMA Fire Reports
• Letter to an Editor
• List of List

Tier Two Deadline has Come and GoneBut Are You Through?
To the 70% of you who used
the system right out of the
gate, our appreciation. The due
date for filing was March 1st,
2005 and those whose hard
copies are dribbling in, we're
looking at postmarks and as
long as it has a March 1st
postmark... it will not be
considered late.
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Please log in to your report
and check the following two
things for us. FIRST: That
you have a tracking ID number
imprinted on the electronic tier
two and SECOND: That there
is a date stamp. IF EITHER
OF THOSE ARE MISSING,
WE NEED YOU TO
CONTACT US AT:
azserc@azdema.gov with your
facility name/address/phone
number and user id. We'll

• Fire Service Training
• Fire Grants
• Shorts
• Upcoming Deadlines
• Upcoming Events

Individual Highlights:
Technical Corner

3

Tribal Corner

4

EPA Section

4

CBRNE Security

5

OSHA Corner

6

DOT Corner

6

LEPC Corner

9

work with you to get it
squared away. We'll also
work with EPA Region IX
to ensure that your report is
NOT considered late, which
of course, it isn't.
As many of you know, we're
accepting electronic filings
for your emergency response
plans as well. PDF or
WORD formats are being
accepted by the
Commission. Maricopa
County is ALSO accepting
the electronic submission of
plans and you'll need to
contact your respective
LEPCs to see if they are also
interested in receiving the
plans electronically. The
same applies to your fire
department with jurisdiction.
You can determine your
LEPC from

www.dem.state.az.us/azserc
and receive fire department
contact information from
your LEPC. You've been
patient with us this year and
we appreciate it. We're
striving to make it easier
next year and hopefully will
find the resources to make it
happen!
Don't let too much time pass
before you visit your report
to see if the information is
imprinted there. Also... when
you do visit, be sure to look
at "EDIT YOUR
ACCOUNT
INFORMATION" to be sure
it reflects what you want it
to.
Again, our thanks.

Correction
Page 4 of our February “What are PBT
Chemicals?” incorrectly shows 10 lbs of
lead as a trigger for reporting on the Form R.
That quantity should be 100 lbs.
Thanks to Ron Fleming for a good catch!

GATEKEEPER NEWSLETTER

Page 2 of 13

Arizona Emergency Response Commission
5636 East McDowell Road
Phoenix, AZ 85008-3495
Janet Napolitano, Governor

Phone: (602) 231-6346
1-800-411-ADEM (2336)

Frank F. Navarrete, Chair
Daniel Roe, Executive Director

E-Mail: AZSERC@azdema.gov

Fax: (602) 392-7519
Pager: (602) 215-5718

February 18, 2005
To Facility Owners and/or Operators:
The Arizona Emergency Response Commission is requiring for itself, Arizona Local Emergency Planning Committees
(LEPC) and fire departments/districts with jurisdiction for facilities in Arizona, the following information in accordance with
section 303 (d) (3) of PL 99-499, the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act of 1986:
“Completion of Hazardous Chemical Inventory (Tier Two) reports on extremely hazardous substances (EHS) such as ammonia, sulfuric acid,
and pesticides (i.e. dimethoate, endosulfan, thimet, etc.) that would otherwise be exempt from reporting on the Tier Two in accordance with 40
CFR Part 370. Reporting thresholds for EHS chemicals shall be 500 pounds or the Threshold Planning Quantity (TPQ), whichever is less.
You may determine whether or not a chemical is an EHS as well as determine the TPQ by referencing the EPA’s List of Lists, available at our
website www.azserc.org or by calling the Commission at 602-231-6346.”

The Arizona Emergency Response Commission recognizes that reporting exemptions are set forth in 311 (e) Title III of PL
99-499 and 29 CFR 1910.1200. However, this information is required to enhance emergency planning by the local
jurisdictions and may provide insights to the reporting facilities that will help them avoid compliance issues under sections of
EPCRA and/or other environmental laws.
Public awareness of the potential danger from accidental releases of hazardous substances has substantially increased over
the years as serious chemical accidents have occurred around the world causing loss of life and significant property damage.
In response, public concern has created enormous pressure on lawmakers and regulatory agencies to implement
environmentally sustainable practices and programs that have focused on (1) prevention and preparedness for chemical
emergencies, (2) response to environmental crises, and (3) making available information for the public about chemical
hazards in their communities.
The Arizona Emergency Response Commission is continually working to build and foster partnerships that enable Arizona
industry to integrate environmental sustainability into business practices. Faced with the consistent threat of acts of terrorism
involving chemical and biological materials, it is critical that we are provided with the required information to ensures
LEPCs and local jurisdiction are effective and successful in their emergency planning and response to protecting life and
property in our communities. Chemical accident prevention, preparedness, and response are not discrete processes, but form
a continuum in protecting each of us.
To facilitate your compliance with submitting the required Hazardous Chemical Inventory information, we suggest you avail
yourself of the online reporting at www.azserc.org where you can complete the Tier Two report.
Provision of this information is required by June 1, 2005; however, early reporting is greatly appreciated. NOTE: If you
have already filed a Tier Two Report that is/was due by March 1, 2005 and have additional chemical information, please
contact AZSERC (602) 231-6346 to unlock your electronic report, make the required additions and re-certify. If you have
any additional questions, please contact me at 602-231-6345.
Sincerely,
Signed
Daniel Roe
Executive Director

GATEKEEPER NEWSLETTER

Page 3 of 13

What does PPM or PPB mean? – Part II
The University of Minnesota
provides some analogies that
may help you visualize the
scale involved with ppm and
ppb. One ppm is like:
• one inch in 16 miles,
• one second in 11.5 days,
• one minute in two years, or
• one car in bumper-to
bumper traffic from
Cleveland to San Francisco.

Is 1 mg/L equal to 1 ppm?
Metric system units go in
steps of 10, 100, and 1,000.
For example, a milligram is
a thousandth of a gram
(moving the decimal point
three places to the left) and a
gram is a thousandth of a
kilogram (again a difference
of three places to the left on
the decimal point). Thus, a
milligram is a thousandth of
a thousandth, or a millionth
of a kilogram moving the
decimal point six places. So,
a milligram is one ppm of a
kilogram; therefore, one ppm
is the same as one milligram
per kilogram.
One milligram in a kg is 1
ppm (by mass). One liter (L)
of pure water at 4º C and 1
standard atmosphere
pressure weighs exactly 1
kg, so 1 mg/L is 1 ppm.
Another way to say it is a
liter of water weighs 1,000
grams or 1 million
milligrams. Therefore, 1 mg
in 1 liter is l mg in 1 million
milligrams or 1 part per
million.

What is ppb?
An even smaller
concentration measurement
is parts per billion (ppb).

One ppb is one part in 1
billion. One drop of ink in one
of the largest tanker trucks
used to haul gasoline would
be an ink concentration of 1
ppb. It is important to know
the difference between ppm
and ppb. A common mistake
is reporting a concentration as
ppm when it is really ppb.
This is a big difference, such
as the difference between $1
and $1,000. As a ppm is
equal to mg/L, then ppb is
equal to microgram per liter
(µg/L). A µg/L is 1
thousandth of a mg/L. Most
water analysis will have the
concentration reported in ppm
or mg/L and/or ppb or µg/L.
When reading the lab results,
be careful as they could
switch the units back and
forth between contaminants.

mg/L. The MCL also can
be stated as 10 ppb or
µg/L. It is important to get
the units straight because it
could possibly mean the
difference between the
system violating the MCL
or not. Another inorganic
chemical, beryllium, has
an MCL of 0.004 ppm or
mg/L, where, again, the
MCL can also be stated at
4 ppb or µg/L. If units are
not correct, it could mean
the possibility of intestinal
lesions for the system’s
customers. The point is:
Be sure of the units. If you
are more comfortable
seeing ppm instead ppb,
request that the lab report
the results in the units you
want.

Throughout 2005,
AZSERC will present
learning tools to better
understand scientific
elements associated with
statutory regulations and
compliance. This article
Some labs will report their
(Part 2) was written by
analysis in ppb instead of
Zane Satterfield, P.E.,
ppm. Labs will do this to
NESC Engineering
have the results in whole
numbers instead of a bunch of Scientist and was
reproduced from “On
zeros with a number on the
Tap” ( Fall 2004, Volume
end, because some people
think that whole numbers are 4, Issue3) as published by
the National
simpler to read and
understand. EPA uses ppm in Environmental Services
most of their literature for the Center, West Virginia
University Research
National Primary Drinking
Corporation, West
Water Standards.
Virginia University,
Below are some examples of Morgantown, WV 265066064. If there are
how important it is to pay
technical topics you would
attention to the units or the
like to learn more about,
concentration amount. Take
please contact Steven
the inorganic chemical
Steed, AZSERC Planner at
arsenic, for example. On
steven.steed@azdema.gov
January 23, 2006, the
maximum contamination level or through
(MCL) will be 0.010 ppm or
azserc@azdema.gov .
For example:
• 1 ppm = 1 mg/L = 1/1
million = 0.000001
• 1 ppb = 1 µg/L = 1/1 billion
= 0.000000001

GATEKEEPER NEWSLETTER

Page 4 of 13

Tribal Program Office Newsletter
See:
http://www.epa.gov/region09/
cross_pr/indian/newslet.html
The Tribal Program Office
Newsletter is published
monthly and circulated among
the Tribes within EPA Region
IX. The Newsletter contains
the latest information

concerning Tribal meetings,
conferences, environmental
training programs, grant and
loan information, deadline
dates, and contacts for further
questions. The Tribal
Program Office welcomes
your information as it pertains
to the categories mentioned
above. Please contact Maria

Castain to submit an entry.
Maria Castain
U.S. EPA Region IX
Tribal Program Office (CMD3)
75 Hawthorne St.
San Francisco, CA 94105
castain.maria@epa.gov

SPCC Container Inspections [40 CFR 112.8(c)(6)]
The Spill Prevention Control and
Countermeasures regulations
apply to most facilities with an
aboveground oil storage capacity
greater than 1,320 gallons and
facilities with an underground
storage capacity of greater than
42,000 gallons. Under these
rules, you must inspect bulk
storage containers, pipes, valves,
and other equipment in
accordance with the procedures
and frequency specified in your
SPCC plan. Each aboveground
container must be tested for
integrity on a regular schedule,
and whenever you make material
repairs. The term bulk storage
container means any container
used to store oil if it is used for
storage of oil prior to use, while
being used, or prior to further
distribution in commerce.
Therefore, the term includes
drums, tanks, and other devices
used to store oil. Oil-filled
electrical, operating or
manufacturing equipment is not
included in the definition of bulk
storage container, but are subject
to many of the SPCC
regulations. The frequency of

and type of container testing
must take into account
container size and design (such
as floating roof, skid-mounted,
elevated, or partially buried).
You must combine visual
inspection with another testing
technique such as hydrostatic
testing, radiographic testing,
ultrasonic testing, acoustic
emissions testing, or another
system of non-destructive shell
testing. You must also inspect
the container's supports and
foundations. In addition, you
must frequently inspect the
outside of the container for
signs of deterioration,
discharges, or accumulation of
oil inside diked areas. You
must keep a record of the
inspections, signed by the
appropriate supervisor or
inspector, with the SPCC Plan
for a period of three years. It
may not be practical for many
facilities to do more than
visual inspections of 55 gallon
drums. If this is the case for
your facility, you should
document this deviation from
the SPCC regulations in your

plan in accordance with 40
CFR 112.7(a)(2). Note that the
above discussion is based on
the latest SPCC regulations;
however, the implementation
of the rule has been delayed.
EPA has extended the effective
dates for development of a new
or revised plan several times.
The new compliance dates are
February 17, 2006, to amend
an existing SPCC Plan, and
August 18, 2006, to implement
the Plan. Affected facilities
that start operations between
August 16, 2002 and August
18, 2006, must prepare and
implement an SPCC Plan by
August 18, 2006. Affected
facilities that become
operational after August 18,
2006 must prepare and
implement an SPCC Plan
before starting operations. If
you need consulting assistance
to develop your plan, contact
Amy Knight at
aknight@ercweb.com.
(Thanks, as always to
Environmental Resource
Center- visit
http://www.ercweb.com/ or
call 919-469-1585.)

GATEKEEPER NEWSLETTER

Page 5 of 13

Water Terrorism Preparedness Guide
Until recently, contamination of
water with biological, chemical
or radiological agents generally
resulted from natural, industrial
or unintentional man-made
accidents. Unfortunately,
potential terrorist activity has
forced the medical community,
public health agencies,
emergency medical services, and
water utilities to consider the
possibility of deliberate
contamination of American water
supplies as part of an organized
effort to disrupt and damage
important elements of our
national infrastructure. Now
there is growing concern that
chemical, biological, and
radiological weapons may be
used against the U.S. population
with water as one possible
vehicle of transmission or mode

of dispersal.
The "Water Terrorism
Preparedness Guide" states
that the most likely initial
indication that a water
contamination event has
occurred in a community
will be a change in disease
trends and illness patterns.
This guidebook further
conveys that "practicing
healthcare providers and
responders may be the first
to observe these unusual
illness patterns and must
understand their critical role
in detecting water-related
disease resulting from
biological, chemical or
radiological terrorism."
The Water-Health
Connection website released

the free online "Water
Terrorism Preparedness
Guide" that addresses the
public health and security
challenges resulting from
intentional acts of water
terrorism. This new website
assists the medical and public
health community as well as
emergency response and
public utility professionals.
The guide is available for
review and reference at
http://www.WaterHealthConne
ction.org/bt
Thanks for sharing to: Richard
C. A. Shoaf, Principal
Consultant -Counter-Terrorism
and Hazardous Materials
Safety Training and
Consultations RShoaf@stci.us

Potential Chemical/Biological Agents and Compounds

SSOCIAT
LA
IO
N
NA

OF

SARA TITLE

II

TITLE
III
1988

NA
TI
O

Considering the terrorist threat
to employ chemical and/or
biological weapons, the data

It can be seen and downloaded
at:
http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/a
rmy/fm3-11-9.pdf . Thanks to
NASTTPO www.nasttpo.org

RAM OFF
IC

It explains the use
classification, and physical,
chemical, and physiological
properties of these agents and
compounds.

provided in this manual can be
used to support operational
assessments and requirements.

LS
IA

and other compounds, such as
toxic industrial chemicals.

G
RO
IP

A new multi-service manual
entitled "Potential
Chemical/Biological Agents
and Compounds" was
published in January 2005, and
approved for public release
with unlimited distribution.
This document of 318 pages
provides general information
and technical data concerning
chemical and biological agents

GATEKEEPER NEWSLETTER

Page 6 of 13

OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120(a)(3)- Dangerous
HAZWOPER Atmospheres
Personnel who are trained to
respond to releases and potential
releases of hazardous substances
under OSHA’s HAZWOPER
standard should be aware of the
meaning of two terms that
describe dangerous, potentially
life-threatening conditions. The
terms “IDLH” and “oxygen
deficiency” are defined in the
standard at 29 CFR
1910.120(a)(3). “IDLH” or
“immediately dangerous to life or
health” means an atmospheric

concentration of any toxic,
corrosive or asphyxiate substance
that poses an immediate threat to
life or would interfere with an
individual’s ability to escape
from a dangerous atmosphere.
“Oxygen deficiency” means the
concentration of oxygen by
volume below which atmosphere
supplying respiratory protection
must be provided. This condition
exists in atmospheres where the
percentage of oxygen by volume
is less than 19.5 percent oxygen.

Under either of these conditions,
HAZWOPER response personnel
would need to wear appropriate
respiratory protective equipment
and would need to operate using
the buddy system (which is also
described at 29 CFR
1910.120(a)(3)).
(Thanks to Environmental
Resource Center Visit
http://www.ercweb.com/ or call
919-469-1585.)

OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1200(i) Hazard Communication Trade
Secrets
In many cases, the identity of
one or more chemicals in the
workplace is guarded by the
chemical manufacturer or
supplier as a trade secret. The
identity of the chemicals may
be withheld, but the
manufacturer must disclose the
hazards and properties of the
material in the MSDS.
OSHA requires that the
manufacturer make the specific
chemical identity available if a

physician or nurse requests
such information for
emergency treatment of a
patient. In such a case,
confidentiality agreements
may be required by the
manufacturer only after-thefact.
In non-emergency situations,
the manufacturer may accept
a request for trade secret
disclosure and require a

confidentiality agreement before
releasing the chemical identity.
The manufacturer may also
deny the request, at which time
the request could be sent to
OSHA for consideration.
Thanks to Environmental
Resource Center
http://www.ercweb.com or 919469-1585.

DOT 49 CFR 173.29- The Definition of Empty According
to DOT
According to 49 CFR 173.29,
an empty packaging meets one
of the following conditions:
*The packaging is unused,
*The packaging is sufficiently
cleaned of residue and purged
of vapors to remove any
potential hazard,
*The packaging is refilled with
a material that is not hazardous
to such an extent that any
residue remaining in the
packaging no longer poses a
hazard,
*The packaging contains
residue of specifically
allowable hazardous materials

listed in 49 CFR
173.29(b)(iv).
An empty package must
have all markings, labels,
and placards removed,
obliterated, or securely
covered in transportation.
However, this does not apply
to packaging in a transport
vehicle or freight container if
the packaging is not visible
in transportation and the
packaging is loaded by the
shipper and unloaded by the
shipper or consignee. Any
packaging that is NOT
empty must be offered for

transportation and
transported in the same
manner as when it
previously contained a
greater quantity of hazardous
material.
That is, the packaging must
have all of the appropriate
marks, labels, placards,
accompanying shipping
papers, and emergency

response information.
Thanks to Environmental
Resource Center. Visit
http://www.ercweb.com/ or
call 919-469-1585.

GATEKEEPER NEWSLETTER

Page 7 of 13

US DOT- TWO NEW AGENCIES
See:
http://www.access.gpo.gov/s
u_docs/aces/frcont.html#Pipeline%20and%
20Hazardous%20Materials
%20Safety%20Administrati
on or
http://tinyurl.com/6ublv

DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION
Office of the Secretary
49 CFR Part 1 Pipeline and
Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration and 49
CFR Chapter I Research and
Innovative Technology

Administration (49 CFR
Chapter XI [Docket No.
OST 1999-6189] RIN 9991AA47 ).
SUMMARY: Two new
administrations, the Pipeline
and Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration and
the Research and Innovative
Technology Administration,
are being established within
the United States
Department of
Transportation pursuant to
the Norman Y. Mineta
Research and Special
Programs Improvement Act.
Each new administration is

established effective
February 20, 2005.
Accordingly, by this action,
the Secretary delegates to
the Administrator,
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety
Administration, and the
Administrator,
Research and Innovative
Technology Administration,
functions required for the
operation of each new
administration. In addition,
this final rule renames
chapters I and XI of subtitle
B of title 49 CFR.

Where to Keep Shipping Papers in Carrier’s Vehicle
As indicated in 49 CFR
177.817(e), drivers and
carriers of hazardous materials
are required to store the
shipping papers and
emergency response
information for those
shipments in such a way that it
is readily available and
recognizable by authorities in
case of an accident or
inspection.

To meet this requirement,
the hazmat shipping paper
must appear first among all
paperwork, or it must be
tabbed to stand out from
other papers.
The hazmat shipping paper
must be stored within reach
of the driver when he or she
is restrained by a seatbelt,
visible to a person entering
the driver’s compartment, or

in a holder mounted to the
inside of the driver’s side
door.
When the driver is not at the
vehicle’s control, the hazmat
shipping paper is required to
be in a holder mounted to
the inside of the driver’s side
door or in the driver’s seat.
Thanks to Environmental
Resource Center. Visit
http://www.ercweb.com/

Technology Reduces Security Threat by 37 Percent
DOT claims that security threats
posed by Hazmat shipments
could be reduced by as much as
37 percent if carriers used
existing technology to secure
their shipments, such as wireless
communications with global
positioning systems and panic
button.

DOT this week released the
results of a six-month study
on the effect of technology
on security. The Federal
Motor Carrier Safety
Administration (FMCSA) is
conducting a field operations
test to further examine the
benefits and costs of these
technologies.

However, FMCSA has said
that they do not intend to use
the information in the report
to develop new security
rules; rather they will
conduct “outreach efforts”
with Hazmat shippers.

“Pipeline and
Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration
and 49
CFR Chapter I
Research and
Innovative
Technology
Administration”

GATEKEEPER NEWSLETTER

Page 8 of 13

From The Office of the Secretary of Transportation
See the February 15, 2005
(Volume 70, Number 30)
Federal Register regarding
"Organization and Delegation of
Powers and Duties; Office of
Intelligence, Security, and
Emergency Response." In the
final rule, The Secretary of
Transportation (Secretary)
renames the Office of
Intelligence and Security as the
Office of Intelligence, Security,
and Emergency Response.
The Secretary rescinded the
currently delegated authority of
the Administrator, Research and

Special Programs
Administration, to perform
functions related to emergency
preparedness and response
vested in the Secretary and
delegates the authority to the
Director of Intelligence,
Security, and Emergency
Response in the Office of the
Secretary.
FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT:
David K. Tochen, Deputy
Assistant General Counsel,
Office of the Assistant General
Counsel for Environmental,

Civil Rights, and General
Law, Department of
Transportation,
400 Seventh Street, SW.,
Room 10102, Washington,
DC 20590; Telephone: (202)
366-9153.
To see the Federal Register
document, go to the
following link:
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/
7/257/2422/01jan20051800/
edocket.access.gpo.gov/2
005/pdf/05-2803.pdf

FEMA Fire Reports
The Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA)
has issued three special reports,
part of its Topical Fire Research
Series, examining the risk of
death or injury from fire by
various demographic,
geographic, and socio-economic
characteristics.
"Children and older adults face a
dramatically increased risk of
dying in a home fire due to
limited cognitive and physical
abilities," said Michael D.
Brown, Under Secretary of
Homeland Security for
Emergency Preparedness and
Response. "Because the young
and elderly are some of the
nation's most vulnerable
residents, it's important that we
take steps to reduce this fire
problem."

The three reports, Fire Risk,
The Fire Risk to Children, and
The Fire Risk to Older Adults,
were developed by the
National Fire Data Center, part
of FEMA's U.S. Fire
Administration. The reports
explore factors that influence
risk and are based on 2001 data
from the National Fire Incident
Reporting System (NFIRS),
the National Center for Health
Statistics (NCHS), and U.S.
Census Bureau data.
"The U.S. Fire Administration
has developed fire safety
campaigns specifically targeted
at these high risk populations,"
said U.S. Fire Administrator R.
David Paulison. "Through
these campaigns, and working
with the nation's fire
departments, we are able to
provide awareness to parents

and caregivers and aid in
reducing the risk of fire
death and injury."
According to the reports,
children under the age of 5
and the population over the
age of 54 are at the greatest
risk of death in fires. The
risk of fire injury is highest
for the 20-44 and the 85+
age ranges.
Copies of the full reports can
be downloaded from:
http://www.usfa.fema.gov/st
atistics/reports/pubs/tfrs.sht
m
Thanks for getting the word
out to the AZ Fire Chiefs
Association. Check out their
website at:
www.azchiefs.org

GATEKEEPER NEWSLETTER

Page 9 of 13

Measures to Reduce Hazmat Disasters
Recent hazardous material
(Hazmat) accidents raised
concerns about the safety of
Hazmat movement, accident
prevention measures, and
accident response capabilities.
These apprehensions may be
justified because
approximately 800,000
shipments of Hazmat
substances travel daily
throughout the United States
by ground, rail, air, water, and
pipeline, according to the 28
January Morbidity and
Mortality Weekly Report
(MMWR) published by the
Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention.
An editorial note in the
MMWR states: "Although
nearly all of these materials
safely reach their destinations,
many are explosive,
flammable, toxic, and
corrosive and can be extremely
dangerous when improperly
released." The report further

indicates that Hazmat
frequently move "over,
through, and under areas that
are densely populated or
populated by schools,
hospitals, or nursing homes,
where the consequences of a
release could cause severe
injury, death, environmental
damage, and economic loss."
Recognizing the catastrophic
potential of a deliberate
attack or another transport
accident involving Hazmat,
the MMWR offered the
following measures that
government, private
organizations, and first
responders can implement to
reduce morbidity and
mortality from transitassociated Hazmat releases:
- Route Hazmat away from
densely populated areas,
where feasible.
- Use Hazmat Emergency
Events Surveillance data or

other federal, state, and local
databases to determine where
most releases occur.
- Revise emergency response
plans to include a communitybased public education campaign
detailing proper evacuation,
shelter-in-place, and
decontamination procedures.
- Employ public warning
systems, public shelters, and
practice drills.
- Ensure Hazmat handlers receive
continuous job safety training
and have appropriate personal
protective equipment.
- Ensure emergency medical
service and hospital emergency
department personnel have the
guidance to plan for and respond
to Hazmat incidents involving
human exposure.
- Emphasize the importance of
preventive maintenance for
equipment and vehicles used in
Hazmat transport.

Vulnerable Zone Indicator System
Most of us have driven past an
industrial plant and wondered
what was happening inside.
Did you ever think to yourself:
"I wonder what they're making
in there? Could they be using
hazardous chemicals? What if
there is an accident - will they
be able to warn us about toxic
gases before it's too late? Has
anyone made plans for
evacuation or to shelter in
place?" If questions like that
have occurred to you, you're
not alone. You and your family
and neighbors may be at risk if
chemicals in your community
are being used unsafely or
released accidentally into the
environment.
Two laws, the Emergency

Planning and Community
Right-to-Know Act and the
Clean Air Act's chemical
accident prevention
provisions (also called the
Risk Management Program)
were passed by Congress to
provide you with information
on very hazardous chemicals
at businesses and other
facilities in your community.
Much of this information is
available on the Internet;
other information is available
from State and local
governments that receive
annual reports from facilities.

out if an address of interest to
you, your home, place of work,
or child's school - could be
affected by a chemical accident.
You can use the VZIS to
determine whether the address
may be in the vulnerable zone of
a facility that submitted a Risk
Management Plan (RMP).
Learn more about the threat of
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS in
your community and how to
prepare yourself, your family,
your neighborhood and your
workplace for the possibility of a
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
accident.

The Vulnerable Zone
Indicator System (VZIS)
allows you to quickly find

Visit: Hazard Zone Preparedness
Zone
http://www.tallytown.com/redcro
ss/hmaw-2005.html

GATEKEEPER NEWSLETTER

Page 10 of 13

A LETTER TO AN EDITOR
“Aiken Standard,” Aiken, South Carolina
“Regarding the story about
not knowing what hazardous
chemicals are being
transported by rail through
Aiken: It doesn't have to be
this way.
Out here in Arizona, and
many, many other places in
the USA, emergency
response agencies and fire
departments utilize
OREISTM, a software
program that provides the
information about hazardous
materials cargoes on trains
while maintaining the
confidentiality needed to
prevent terrorist attacks.
OREISTM provides
emergency planning
agencies, on-scene fire,
police and EMS responders
with vital information for
dealing with rescue, response
and counter-terrorism
operations on or around
railroads and highways,
including those involving
hazardous materials. The
software program provides

responders with real-time
information about the
chemical contents of railcars
and trucks that have been
involved in an incident,
schematics for passenger
railroads and a host of other
life and timesaving features
for emergency responders.
The concept started in 1995
in Houston, Texas and
sprang from a Federal
Railroad Administration
(FRA) initiative to provide
hazardous materials
information to emergency
responders.
Railroads voluntarily provide
the data to this software, and
this is something that
Norfolk Southern could be
and should be doing. The
Local Emergency
Planning Committee for
Aiken County, and/or the
South Carolina State
Emergency Response
Commission, should
subscribe to this software.
Obviously, it is worth

knowing this critical
information.
Steve Brittle
6205 South 12th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85042
sbrittle@fastq.com
602-268-6110”
(Note: Steve Brittle is a
member of the Maricopa
County Local Emergency
Planning Committee. He is
also president of Don't Waste
Arizona, an environmental/
emergency management
activist organization. OREIS
is an excellent tool for
responders and it's free.
Sadly, it is NOT being used
to the extent it could be by
Local Emergency Planning
Committees, Fire
Departments and Law
Enforcement Agencies. Visit
www.esinc.info and
www.oreis.com for
additional information.)

List of Lists Database (see www.azserc.org)
Check out
http://130.11.53.73/lol/
It's a searchable database of
EPA's Consolidated List of
Chemicals Subject to the
Emergency Planning and
Community Right-to-Know

Act (EPCRA) and Section
112(r) of the Clean Air Act.
This database was last updated
January 27, 2005.

an Excel file: lol.xls
An explanation of key terms in
the List of Lists database can
be found in the
PDF file:
The entire database is available http://www.epa.gov/ceppo/pub
as a PDF file: title3.pdf, and as s/lol_intro.pdf

I Never Thought it Would Happen to Me…
A must visit:
"Chemical Spill Forces
http://www.thehorse.com/viewart Evacuation." News
icle.aspx?ID=4587
headlines trumpeting natural
and man-made disasters
"Tornadoes Rip Through the
have filled the front pages of
Midwest," "West Nile Races
newspapers at an exceptional
Across the U.S.," "Ice
rate and disaster planning
Storm Paralyzes Central
has become this decade's
Kentucky," "Drought, Wildfires
phrase. Whether you aspire
Scorch Western States,"
to become a disaster

volunteer (and many are needed
with a variety of skills) or simply
want to be better prepared "just
in case," the task begins at home.
Suggestions made here will get
you started! How Prepared Are
You? (Thanks to EmergencyManagement@yahoogroups.com
or lloyd@colston.com)

GATEKEEPER NEWSLETTER

Page 11 of 13

Fire Service Training Programs FREE!
Check out TRADE's Virtual
TRADEing Post that is online and
running. This site allows you to
see an index of each of the 10
CD's, then access and download
any specific lesson plan or
program you see and use it as you
need in your department.
When you find a file you wish to
download, just open it and then
"SAVE AS" to your computer.
Then you can modify it as you
wish. Remember, please do not
take any program and use it in a
copyrighted program. The intent of

TRADE is to "share" information
that will allow the Fire Service not
to reinvent the wheel each and
every time they need something.
Go to http://feti.lsu.edu/
http://feti.lsu.edu/; then click on
this link near the bottom of the
right column: TRADE Repository
http://feti.lsu.edu/municipal/NFA/
TRADE ; or go directly to:
http://feti.lsu.edu/municipal/NFA/
TRADE/
Please provide feedback. Also, if
you find the Virtual TRADEing
Post useful, please send an email

to Wil Dane wdane1@lsu.edu and
Nashid Hasan mhasan1@lsu.edu.
Nash is the mastermind behind the
structure of the Virtual TRADEing
Post, but his boss, Wil allows him
to assist us in this endeavor. So,
please let them know how much
you appreciate the availability of
this material and how useful you
find it. (Thanks to: Sue Roundy,
M.Ed., EMT-P (ret.) President,
High
Sierra Resources; email:
suefire6@charter.net or
suencbrt@lsu.edu )

Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program
Visit our web site at:
http://www.dem.state.az.us/azserc
and click on “USFA Federal
Assistance to Fire Fighter Grant
Recipients” to see the listing of
Federal Fiscal Year 2004 Grant
Recipients.
For Firefighting Vehicle:
Mohave Valley Fire DepartmentMohave County- $194,220

For Operations and Firefighter
Safety:
Superior Fire Department- Pinal
County- $32,049
City of Yuma Fire DepartmentYuma County- $160,265
Montezuma Rimrock Fire
District- Yavapai County$25,740

Shorts
Community Guidelines for
developing a spontaneous volunteer
plan.
See what the Illinois Office of
Homeland Security has to say at:
http://www.illinois.gov/security/pdf/s
pontvol.PDF
Thanks to Greg Banner, RI Dept of
Health

Check Out the Health Physics Society
at http://www.hps.org/search.cfm

Buckeye Valley Rural Volunteer
Fire District- Maricopa County$108,283

GATEKEEPER NEWSLETTER

Page 12 of 13

Upcoming Deadlines:
owner/operators in some states;
2005 is a federal biennial
reporting year- March 1st 2005

EPCRA Reminder
Tier Two Due:
March 1st 2005
RCRA Reminder: Annual
reports due from hazardous
waste generators and treatment,
storage, or disposal facility

Annual reports due from
primary exporters of
hazardous waste
Annual ground water
monitoring reports due

Upcoming Events (See http://www.dem.state.az.us/azserc/upcoming.htm
for further details)
March 15th2005,
Arizona Emergency Response
Commission, 2:00 p.m. to 3:30
p.m. at 100 North 15th Avenue
Room 300 A-C (ADOA Building),
Phoenix
April 5th – 8th 2005,
NASTTPO (National Association
of SARA Title III Program
Officials), Western Inn, Seattle
Washington

April 12th – 14th 2005,
Bioterrorism and Public Health
Threats Conference-2005:
Vector-Borne and Zoonotic
Disease / Bioterrorism and Public
Health Threats Conference-2005,
Sponsored by the Arizona
Department of Health Services
The location will be the Mesa
Public Safety Training Facility.

An agenda and registration form
will be available at
www.azdhs.gov/phs/edc/edrp/index
.htm
If you need more information,
please contact Jack Steele at (602)
364-3295 or steelej@azdhs.gov

Commercial products and services are mentioned for informational purposes only and
should not be construed as AZSERC endorsements.

Let’s Hear From You!
Send us your inputs and
feedback on the newsletter;
including, exercises and other
LEPC related activities in
which you've been involved.
Let us know what you’d like to

see in future editions. Talk to
us!
We appreciate your input and
look forward to hearing from
you!

Sincerely,

Daniel Roe
Daniel Roe,
Executive Director

Arizona Emergency
Response Commission
5636 E. McDowell Road
Phoenix, AZ 85008-3495
Phone: (602) 231-6346
Fax:
(602) 392-7519
Visit:
www.dem.state.az.us/azserc
www.azserc.org (for reporting)
Daniel Roe – Executive Director
Roger Soden – Emergency Services
Program Coordinator
Steve Steed - Planner II
Bryon Howe – Programs & Projects
Specialist II
Sylvia Castillo – Admin Asst III
Luisa Wisebaker – Admin Asst II
Commissioners:
Frank F. Navarrete, Chair
Catherine R Eden,

ADHS Director

Stephen A. Owens, ADEQ Director
Victor Mendez,

ADOT Director

David A. Felix,

ADPS Int. Dir.

Help us reduce hard copy mail outs. Send us your email and tell us to
switch you to electronic notification. Thanks
E-Mail azserc@azdema.gov

Designees:
Daniel Roe,

ADEM

David Engelthaler, ADHS
Shannon Davis,

ADEQ

Sonya Herrera,

ADOT

Jeffery W. Resler,

ADPS

Advisory Committee:
Corporation Commission
Industrial Commission
State Mine Inspector
State Fire Marshal
Radiation Regulatory Agency
Department of Agriculture
Arizona Fire Chiefs Association
Mesa FD & Lake Havasu FD
State Attorney General
Smith and Associates – Sybil Smith

About Our Organization…
The AZSERC was established
by Arizona Law (Arizona
Revised Statutes-Title 26,
Chapter 2, Article 3) and is
tasked with the implementation
of the Emergency Planning and
Community Right to Know Act
(EPRCA) in Arizona.

Intel Corporation - James Wick
Apache Nitrogen – Pam Beilke
VA Med. Center - Dan Johnston
Gatekeeper Newsletter:
Daniel Roe – Editor in Chief
Bryon Howe – Editor
Luisa Wisebaker - Staff

This Commission oversees 15
Local Emergency Planning
Committees and supports
community, industry and
government and academia in:
planning, release and incident
reporting, data management

guidance for inventory
reporting, public disclosure of
information about hazardous
chemicals in Arizona as well as
development of training and
outreach programs.
The Commission supports
individual agency goals and
objectives. This is accomplished
through the receipt and
coordination of emergency
notifications of chemical
releases, collection and
provision of chemical inventory
information to interested parties,
training and grants programs.

Additionally, the AZSERC
provides consultative services,
conducts and participates in
workshops and coordinates
development and review of
plans and programs for 15 Local
Emergency Planning
Committees. Further, the
AZSERC serves as a state
clearinghouse for hazardous
chemical emergency
preparedness and planning
activities and information
through coordination with
federal, state, local
governments, industry and
community interest groups.