Gatekeeper newsletter

              Arizona Emergency Response Commission
Jane Dee Hull, Governor

5636 East McDowell Road Phoenix AZ, 85008-3495

Michael P. Austin, Director Daniel Roe, Executive Director

www.dem.state.az.us/azserc

www.azserc.org

GATEKEEPER NEWSLETTER
Volume I, Edition 1 April 1, 2001

I thought we would reintroduce a periodic electronic newsletter. Keep us up to date on your contact information and if there are folk without email who you think would want this please let us know. As always I need your comments and contributions. Please let our editor in chief: Anthony Cox, Administrative Secretary I, know at CoxA@dem.state.az.us. Thank you and welcome! Sincerely, Daniel Roe, Executive Director

Serving Community, Industry and Government... In Coordinating Hazardous Chemical Emergency Response, Planning, Training, Outreach, Exercising and Reporting

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NEW FIRE CHIEF IN NOGALES
Say "hi" to Dennis Van Auken e m a i l : dvanauken@cityof nogales.net phone: (520) 980-1169 - Cellular Best of Luck Chief!

Volume I, Edition 1

April 1, 2001

ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT PROGRAM
See 44CFR Part 152 Final Rule (March 21, 2001), "Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program," located at www.usfa.fema.gov/grants/ifrule.htm. This grant is from the Federal Government direct to Fire Departments. The Emergency Response Commission and Division of Emergency Management are serving in the interests of the program to be sure that the widest information is disseminated. Please note that this is an entirely separate program from other grants and/or studies associated with: Domestic Preparedness, Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) , Terrorism, HAZMAT, HMEP (Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Grants) , ERF (Emergency Response Fund) , etc. I've skimmed the rule and it seems quite applicable to Arizona's districts and departments, including tribal departments! Training, Fitness Programs, Vehicles, Firefighting Equipment, Personal Protective Equipment and Fire Prevention Programs are all eligible to be awarded. Applicants can apply in two categories. Financial need and resulting benefits that would result from the award are key measurements in determining who shall receive grants. The website with the info is www.usfa.fema.gov . An e-mail request may be made to USFAGRANTS@fema.gov. Please let those without access over the Internet know that requests can be sent to: USFA Grant Program Technical Assistance Center 16825 South Seton Avenue Emmitsburg, MD 21727-8998 Phone: 866-272-0960 Fax: 866-274-0942 The completed grants application (original and two copies) need to be submitted to: USFA Grant Program Technical Assistance Center 16825 South Seton Avenue Emmitsburg, MD 21727-8998 A number of questions are posed to applicants regarding the eligible grant categories to include: reporting status to NFIRS (National Fire Incident Reporting System). I understand that this poses concerns; however, the goal should be to become eligible for the grants and to help improve reporting systems while making those systems serve our needs. To that end, page 15971 of the interim final rule solicits comments regarding the proposed data collection. OMB SHOULD RECEIVE COMMENTS BY APRIL 21, 2001. Written comments should be provided as outlined on page 15971 of the rule. There is a match required for the grant. Fire Departments in areas serving populations over 50,000 must agree to match the Federal grant funds with an amount of non-Federal funds equal to 30 percent of the total project cost. That match drops to 10 percent if serving an area with a population of 50,000 or less. Guidance on grant writing is available at the www.usfa.fema.gov site as are forms at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/grants/

Volume I, Edition 1
We're eager to have Arizona responders receive their fair share!

April 1, 2001

EPA UPDATE
This March 22, 2001, update is from EPA's Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Office. Direct links to each document are provided. Volume 1, Number 8 includes: 1. Updated LEPC Database 2. Reactivity Worksheet Revised *************************************************** 1. This new version of the LEPC Database allows you to search for your LEPC by zipcode. It lists RMP Facilities located within an LEPC's jurisdiction and also lists facilities that might affect that LEPC . http://www.epa.gov/ceppo/lepclist.htm 2. NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration and EPA's Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Office have posted a new version of the Chemical Reactivity Worksheet on the NOAA website. This version 1.3, supercedes version 1.2 , and is available for downloading from: http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/chemaids/react.html The latest version 1.3 includes the following improvements and changes to the Worksheet: - 2,500 new chemicals to the Worksheet's database - Chemical profiles and information about water reactivity for new chemicals, along with new case study information about many of the Worksheet chemicals - Information about products that could be generated during certain kinds of reactions Direct comments or questions about the Worksheet to: ReactivityMail@hazmat.noaa.gov James K. Farr, Ph.D. Office of Response and Restoration, National Ocean Service, NOAA 7600 Sand Point Way NE Seattle, WA 98115 (206) 526-6317

"GATEKEEPER 2002"
Reserve your seats now... "GATEKEEPER 2002" will be held on January 16-17, 2002.

Russell Auditorium, Building 101 Papago Park Military Reservation Department of Emergency and Military Affairs

Volume I, Edition 1
5636 East McDowell Road Phoenix, Arizona 85008 Let us know that you are interested...

April 1, 2001

NASTTPO CONFERENCE
Join us in Atlanta, Georgia April 16-21, 2001 for the 13th Annual International NASTTPO Conference! The National Association of SARA Title III Program Officials (NASTTPO) is made up of members and staff of State Emergency Response Commissions (SERCs), Tribal Emergency Response Commissions (TERCs), Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs), various federal agencies, industry, responders, community, academia, and anyone interested in being involved in hazardous materials emergency management, grants, prevention, response and preparedness. The membership is dedicated to working together to enhance capabilities. For further information please visit www.nasttpo.org. NASTTPO P.O. Box 142482 Austin, Texas 78714-2482

A REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE
See if you can help! This is from an injured firefighter: "Hello my name is Paul Street. I was in the Honaker Fire Department in Honaker, Virginia for five and a half years and I enjoyed my work. And now due to an injury I am disabled because my spine was crushed I can barely walk, I have lost the use of one of my legs and now I'm losing the use of my other leg and in the near future I will be in a wheelchair now to pass time and to stay in touch with the fire department family I am collecting Fire Department patches, stickers, and anything of fire department nature. My wife has left me over the injury and this right here is all I have to do to pass my time and I really enjoy it. Thank you very much for your time." Paul Street 100 Hunters Ridge Apt. 33 Richlands, VA. 24641 (540)963-8984 paul s@ net s cope.net

Volume I, Edition 1

April 1, 2001