COMMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY & CRIMINAL JUSTICE
MEMBERS PRESENT: B. Ryan (Chair), M. Kaplowitz, L. Mosiello, S. Swanson
BOARD STAFF: R. Vega, Program Specialist
S. Vanderberg, Secretary
OTHERS: B. Randolph, CE’s office;
Chief A. Mignone, Purchase FD
The meeting was called to order at 2:05 p.m.
The minutes for the Committee meetings of 4/15, 4/22, and 4/29/02 were approved by 4-0 votes.
Nuclear Plants at Indian Point
A tour of Entergy’s nuclear power station at Indian Point has been tentatively scheduled for Friday, May 31, at 9 a.m.
Proposal to puchase ladder truck for the Fire Training Center
On April 15, this Committee, meeting jointly with the Budget and Appropriations Committee, reported Agenda Item #35 - A Bond Act for $395,000 to be used to purchase a motorized ladder truck and related equipment for use at the Fire Training Center.
Mrs. Swanson said this spending proposal, like the $275,000 spent a year ago on an engine truck, is excessive and she doubts the equipment would be used for the purposes stated in the Committee report. She said individual fire departments provide their own truck and training equipment when they train at the Fire Training Center.
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Members have discussed this issue with firefighters from various departments. Some feel that having a ladder truck available at the Fire Training Center eliminates the need to take their fire department’s ladder truck out-of-town and, in some cases, a half hour or more from where it may be needed in an emergency. Other firefighters say that’s not a problem and point to the practice of arranging for a neighboring fire department to provide coverage while you’re ladder truck is “out of town” for a few hours.
Chief Al Mignone, Purchase FD, didn’t see the purchase of the ladder truck as a priority. He said firefighters usually prefer to train on their own apparatus. Probationary classes may use the ladder truck on occasion. It could also be used for ladder-to-ladder training. As a added feature of the Fire Training Center, it’s not a bad idea. But, the money would be better spent on more instructors, radios and an improved communication system.
Mr. Mosiello said the issue was not how to spend the $395,000. The issue is is the ladder truck needed.
Mr. Kaplowitz said PSCJ and B & A should reconsider the item.
Radiological Release “Plume”
Mr. Ryan asked Chief Mignone to discuss the “plume.” Chief Mignone spent several years in the weather service of the U.S. Air Force and as an emergency services first-responded, he has experience with hazardous materials plumes, such as a chlorine gas plume.
Chief Mignone said the key determining factor for the direction and dispersion of an airborne release is the weather, specifically the prevailing winds. Wind direction can change with changes in
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barometric pressure and temperature. This can account for winds at
different altitudes moving in different directions. A thermal event will take a radioactive release to higher altitude. The radioactivity will dissipate on a plane.
Chief Mignone said that in an evacuation, you move parallel to the plume and then gradually away from it. Emergency first responders make their immediate and severe effort in the plume area. Other areas are secondary for purpose of response and resources.
In an emergency, prevailing winds should be tracked to determine where the plume will travel.
The County may have a Sun Mirco System package (available in the EOC) that enables the plotting of the direction and dispersion of a plume.
As part of the Indian Point Emergency Preparedness Plan, airports should be notified in case of a radiological release incident so airplane are warned not to fly through a plume.
Mr. Mosiello suggested the creation of a sub-file containing Indian Point agenda items
With no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 2:56 p.m.