Georgia s Pipeline Emergency Response Initiative (GPERI) Chief Doug Brown (Ret.) GPERI Program Manager Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs International Hazardous Materials Response Teams Conference Baltimore, MD May 30, 2014 1
What s the problem? If it s not broken don t fix it. If it is broken how do we fix it? Pipeline operators following Federal regulations - spend millions of dollars each year to shoot in the dark to train firefighters. It s not working. Let s work smarter, and not harder! 2
Sept. 9, 2010 San Bruno, California 3
Dec. 9, 2011 Washington, DC A Pipeline Emergency Response Forum is conducted at USDOT Headquarters in Washington, DC. Sponsors include PHMSA, NAPSR and USFA. Numerous officials and experts gather to discuss stakeholder perspectives of gaps in emergency responder s abilities to respond to pipeline emergencies. The Summary of Proceedings report identifies dozens of problems but offers few solutions. 4
GAFC Decides to Take Action Led by Marietta (GA) Fire Chief Jackie Gibbs, the GAFC is successful in stating the case for improved pipeline emergency training for firefighters to the Georgia Public Service Commission (GPSC). This results in a grant from the GPSC through Commissioner Bubba McDonald to fund a statewide training effort regarding pipeline fire safety. 5
May 15, 2012 Sandy Springs, GA Sandy Springs (GA) Fire Chief Jack McElfish hosts a stakeholders meeting to discuss improving pipeline emergency training for firefighters in Georgia. Over 50 people attend and a Coalition Steering Committee is formed. PHMSA/OPS plays a key role in this. The CSC prepares a comprehensive white paper on the GPERI program, a mission statement, creates a charter and forms a Board. A sustainable funding mechanism is included and a program manager is hired by the GAFC. 6
Some acronyms explained... GPERI Georgia Pipeline Emergency Response Initiative the program itself GPOERC Georgia Pipeline Operators & Emergency Responder Coalition the participants /stakeholders CSC Coalition Steering Committee the collaborators who developed the program GAFC Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs saw the need and met the challenge PHMSA/OPS Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration / Office of Pipeline Safety provided oversight, guidance and leadership 7
Acronyms continued... GPSC Georgia Public Service Commission provided the seed money to start GPSTC Georgia Public Safety Training Center home of the state fire academy GEMA Georgia Emergency Management Agency assistance for major PE events ICS / NIMS Incident Command System / National Incident Management System PE Pipeline Emergencies (2 nd Ed.) manual - 252 pages PERG Pipeline Emergency Response Guidelines (2013 Ed.) manual 28 pages 8
GPERI Program Cooperators: U.S. Department of Transportation - Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Office of Pipeline Safety Georgia Public Service Commission Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs Georgia Forestry Commission Georgia State Fire Fighters Association Georgia Public Safety Training Center - Fire Academy Georgia State Fire Marshal s Office Georgia Emergency Management Agency Georgia Municipal Association Gas Section Georgia 811 Utility Protection Center Atlanta Gas Light Resources Colonial Pipeline Dixie Pipeline Williams Energy... and others 9
The GPERI MISSION STATEMENT: Advance the ability of Georgia emergency responders to manage pipeline emergencies through improved training, cooperation and communication with pipeline operators. 10
The goal is to provide all firefighters in Georgia with information, and access to knowledge, through various training mediums, on how to prevent and manage pipeline emergencies safely, effectively and consistently. The different Pipeline Emergency training courses (modules) are designed to meet that goal. 11
Progress toward our goals: GPERI White Paper GPOERC Charter GPOERC Board GPERI Program Manager GPERI Curriculum Development GPERI Module Course Concept / Focused Training Multi-platform training delivery approach Training delivery priorities based on value of risk 12
The Georgia training challenge... This training is not mandatory - optional There are 159 counties There are about 624 fire departments There are around 28,000 firefighters 3-year time frame to deliver training 13
Original Training Delivery Concept Train ALL firefighters with the full 16-hour Pipeline Emergencies training program Not practical too much time and expense required The full 16-hour PE course uses a shotgun approach (teaching everything to everybody) Need to use a rifle shot approach (targeting position specific knowledge for those who need to know certain knowledge) From this To this 14
Revised Training Delivery Concept Centered around three (3) fire department position specific courses/modules of training: Command Officers Company Level Officers (Fire Companies) 911 Dispatchers Courses reduced to 4 or 8 hours in length The PERG manual is a boiled-down version of the PE manual 28 pages versus 252 pages 15
Training format Adoption and use of the Pipeline Emergencies manual Inclusion and use of the Pipeline Emergency Response Guidelines booklet and scenario CD Continue offering the full 16-hour PE course at the Fire Academy four times a year Development and use of 4 and 8-hr. module courses Development and use of the Field Training element Use of an in-house train-the-trainer option Creation of a web-based, self-training program 16
Training platforms Classroom at GPSTC Fire Academy 16-hr. courses Classroom in-house via fire department training officers Classroom in the field outreach to distant departments On-line self-study program or CD program Internet access to knowledge silos (web links, pdf files, photos, videos, etc.) 17
Other training aspects Inclusion of emphasis on prevention one-call system, encroachment watches and intervention opportunities Community risk analysis and emergency management Awareness for law enforcement, EMS, public works, others Planning and zoning opportunities for prevention Elected officials awareness of risks and responsibilities 18
Delivering the goods for this program means... Getting the right knowledge to the right people Teaching emergency responders to know all about their pipelines (locations, products, operator, etc.) Providing consistent and accurate information Informing emergency responders about tools (like the NPMS, ERG, PE manuals, etc.) Providing program sustainability through the GPOERC Board Teaching the importance of prevention (GA811) 19
In summary... This program has taken time to develop. The commitment of various stakeholders working together has produced a quality program. They say that good things take time. So it has been with this program. June 3, 4 and 5 will mark the launch of the initial six (6) field training courses that will be taught in Cobb County. As the GAFC s District Vice-President s market the program within their areas, the requests for training will increase significantly. All is good, and getting safer in Georgia. 20
21