The following topics will be presented at the upcoming Environmental Emergency Management Conference.
DAY 1
June 29, 2022
10:00-10:45
Coast Guard Great Lakes Center of Expertise for Oil Spill Response
The Coast Guard's Incident Management and Preparedness Advisor for the Great Lakes region will present an overview of the Great Lakes Center of Expertise for Oil Spill Preparedness and Response that is planned for establishment in 2022 in the State of Michigan.
11:00-11:45
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) Emergency Response Division: Environmental Response Management Application (ERMA) and Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) updates
This session will discuss NOAA's role in spill response, the scientific expertise brought to an incident through the SSC, and a brief overview of the oil fate and trajectory modeling software used by ERD scientists. The talk will complete with an introduction to valuable updates in ERMA and ESI maps.
Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development's (MDARD) Spill Response Program - Technical advisors for agricultural spills
A general overview of MDARD’s response to incidents reported to the MDARD Spill Hotline by emergency first responders, responsible parties, or other persons that observe an uncontrolled release. MDARD staff provide direction to the responsible party on the best management practices to contain the spill. Once any immediate environmental concerns are abated, the responsible party is provided with advice on how to clean-up and dispose of the spilled material.
Michigan Coastal Management Program Pathway to Resilience
Community Resilience is defined as the sustained ability of a community to understand and use available resources to respond, withstand, and recover from adverse situations. The MCMP is building the Pathway to Resilience to enhance community preparedness and promote resiliency to mitigate the impacts of coastal hazards through increased knowledge of the risks, wise planning and zoning practices, and capacity building. This presentation will include an overview of the Pathway to Resilience, the importance of resiliency planning, and hear from a community that has adopted this approach.
Lansing Fire Department, HAZMAT Team
Learn from the experts! First on-scene response objectives and tactics for hazardous material response and rescue operations.
1:00-2:00
Benton Harbor I-94 Business Loop Flood Mitigation Due to High Lake Levels
The I-94 Business Loop through Benton Harbor was flooding due to high Great Lake Levels backing up through the stormwater system. Lake level analysis including wind impacts to lake levels were used to develop a design criterion for mitigation of the flooding. Ground water inflow to the system was determined through a pumped drawdown. The final solution included isolation and pumping of the low-lying areas.
Regional and National Response Team Overview
Discussion of the role and function of Regional Response Teams and the National Response Team.
Michigan Debris and Hazardous Material Staging and Disposal Rules and Requirements
2:30-3:15
Emergency Action Plans – Don’t Panic: Be Prepared
This session will include an overview of an Emergency Action Plan including recommended contents and preplanning. The information is based on actual experience during an emergency response as well as developing Emergency Action Plans. Since it is impossible to predict when a potential underground sewer system blockage or failure will occur, having an Emergency Action plan can greatly reduce response time and costs, mitigating ancillary system failures.
Spill Modeling Tools on Land and in Water for Oil and Chemicals
Spill modeling tools are being used more frequently to develop more effective emergency response plans, further plan development, and inform mitigation measures. While oil and chemical spill modeling tools have been around for decades, they have continued to evolve, becoming increasingly complex. Michigan has the potential for numerous types of releases within the Great Lakes, into rivers, and onto land. Four modeling systems (OILMAPLand, OILMAP, SIMAP, and CHEMMAP) are discussed here with case examples for each to assess trajectory, fate, and potential effects of hydrocarbon and chemical releases onto land and into water, under a range of environmental conditions.
Electroplating "Green Ooze" Site on I-696 Response and Long-term Recovery
Overview of the response and past actions taken at Electo-Plating Services (EPS) site contained and release controlled.
3:30-4:15
Decoding Tier ll Reports and Emergency Planning under SARA Title lll.
This presentation will dissect a Tier ll Report and discuss how the information is used in the SARA Title lll Emergency Planning Process.
Threats and Opportunities – Intensifying Coordination and Crisis Communications Efforts in 2022 and Beyond.
This presentation will explore “emerging” trends in the world around us and the challenges associated with these trends. In addition, opportunities will be discussed to rethink how emergency management stakeholders can conduct coordination and crisis communications activities before, during, and after a disaster to enhance preparedness, respond effectively and achieve resiliency.
A Case Study of a Biocide Release into a Stream
A case study of an emergency response where a biocidal agent was released into a nearby stream. The study exams emergency response actions and decisions in an effort to 1) identify environmental hazards and 2) response quickly and effectively to protect the environment.
DAY 2
June 30, 2022
9:00-9:45
Opening presentation on climate and reslilent infrastructure
10:00-10:45
Simulating a Dam Breach Evacuation for Risk Informed Decision Making
Welcome to the future of risk management planning! LifeSim is a technology developed by USACE that is able to simulate an evacuation from a dam breach, providing critical information on where people are most at risk of losing their lives. This presentation will showcase the LifeSim softwarefor a simulated dam breach scenario. Information from LifeSim can be used to inform risk reduction measures such as Emergency Action Plan (EAP) updates.
CHEMTREC’s Role During Hazmat and Environmental Emergencies
Through case studies CHEMTREC® will highlight our role as a single point of contact that connects emergency response personnel with everyone involved—manufacturers, shippers, consignees, carriers, and government agencies. We’ll discuss our worldwide resources that allow us to be equipped to handle any situation and any class of hazardous material. Our Operations Center has remained fully operational during the COVID pandemic. We will address how we internally managed that public health crisis and the challenges we faced with 24/7 operations.
Air Quality Division's Role in Emergency Response
EGLE’s Air Quality Division staff are not first responders during emergency events; however, the Division still has a role in investigating incidents involving the release of pollutants into the air. In this session, we will discuss the role of AQD in responding to these events, as well as actions companies need to take during and after such events to ensure that rules and permit conditions are addressed. This discussion will include recent case studies where the release of air emissions required the involvement of AQD staff.
11:00-11:45
Climate Driven Disasters Part 1 – Role of State Health Department
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ Michigan Climate and Health Adaptation Program (MICHAP) supports a climate resilient public health system by investigating climate-driven health risks, identifying needs for climate and health adaptation across sectors, and collaboratively implementing equitable climate adaptation strategies. The purpose of this presentation is to educate emergency responders in Michigan on how climate change relates to natural disasters in Michigan, how these disasters affect public health, and explain MICHAP’s role in syndromic surveillance and emergency response efforts for extreme cold, extreme heat, and extreme weather. Part 2 of this presentation will be with local public health departments.
DNR Wildland Fire Response
Will cover the operational capabilities of the DNR Wildland Fire Response teams and the various deployments around the State of Michigan and assistance provided through national assistance compacts.
Flat Rock Gasoline Release and Recovery
Will discuss the intial notificatoni, response, and recovery to a community impacted by petroluem contamination in a sanitary sewer resulting in elevated benzine levels in residences and potential for build-up of explosive vapors in the saitary sewer system.
Planning for Natural Disaster Debris to Increase Community Resiliency
Natural disasters devastate communities every year and are expected to increase in frequency and intensity. Communities must manage large amounts of a wide variety of natural disaster debris. Cleaning it up can be time-consuming and costly, and recovery is not complete until all debris has been managed. Planning for, responding to, fully recovering from, and mitigating the generation of debris is critical to helping communities become more resilient to disasters. To assist communities in planning and become more resilient, EPA updated its Planning for Natural Disaster Debris Guidance. This session presents this guidance and highlights lessons learned and best practices.
1:15-2:00
Climate Driven Disasters Part 2 – Role of Local Health Department
Part 2 of the two-part Climate Driven Disasters presentation will focus on the lessons learned by two local health departments from flooding events in Macomb County and Houghton County. Both the Macomb County Health Department and the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department experienced a catalyst event that prompted them to improve their emergency response and preparedness protocols for climate-driven disasters. A presenter from the Macomb County Health Department and from the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department will take turns discussing their case studies. The presentation will conclude with a roundtable discussion with audience Q&A.
Crisis Playbook- Coordination and Accountability
You just received a phone call giving you details of a crisis that occurred within your organization. You have (5) minutes to notify, coordinate and activate your Incident Management Team. Can you do it? In this session you will learn how to create important features of a Crisis Playbook. Features include creating your Incident Leveling process within the organization. This session will also cover current technology for issuing notifications and creating a Virtual Emergency Operations Center (VEOC).
Gladwin County Dam Failure Response and Recovery
Panel presentation and overview of the events leading upto the failure of the Edenville Dam in Gladwin County and the impacts that had on downstream communities and infrastructure.
2:15-3:00
EOP, EOC, ICS, Oh My! How to Incorporate all SMEs into the Process
General emergency management and homeland security tools focus on law enforcement or fire personnel to take the lead. However, with the increase in impacts from climate change and the extensive response to the COVID-19 pandemic, experiences have shown it is imperative to include environment and sustainability subject matter experts in preparedness and response leadership roles. Planning and response efforts must pivot to ensure all sectors are involved in planning efforts, obtain NIMS, ICS, and EOC training, and are involved in the communication process.
Chemical Security and the First Responder
Chemical Security and the First Responder will be a brief look at the Chemical Facilities Anti-Terrorism Standards Program with regards to outreach with city/local/county/state/tribal governments within the State of Michigan, to assist in securing hazardous chemicals. This awareness will allow First Responders to better understand efforts to secure chemicals in their communities as well as bring awareness to efforts underway to foster relationships between facilities and their local first responders.
Response to Lithium Battery Emergencies
This presentation will cover emergency response considerations for incidents involving lithium metal and lithium-ion batteries including battery ingestion, structure fires with batteries, battery shipping incidents, and bulk storage incidents.
3:15-4:00
Hazardous Waste Contingency Planning & Training - Are you prepared for an emergency?
Learn what emergency planning, training, equipment and coordination is required of a large quantity generator of hazardous waste
PFAS Response & Investigations in Northern Kent County
EGLE Remediation and Redevelopment (RRD) staff discuss the response efforts which have occurred to investigate and mitigate per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) groundwater contamination associated with the former Wolverine World Wide Tannery site located in Rockford, Michigan. The Tannery wastes containing PFAS were disposed of in North Kent County at various sites from the late-1950s through the 1980s. Investigation of the disposal areas was initiated in 2017 and led to a 25 square-mile study area with PFAS impacting hundreds of residential drinking water wells.
EPA’s Disaster Debris Recovery Tool
Interactive overview of the information available within the EPA Disaster Debris Recovery Tool. The tool can be used by disaster response, recovery and planning experts to advance the safe recovery, recycling and disposal of disaster debris. It is expanding coverage of states and territories to support sustainable disaster debris management.