Emergency Response Task Force

The Chair opened the meeting and welcomed the participants.

Nicole Girard emphasized the importance of continuing the conversations and partnerships going by this Task Force. So much work has been done; she thanked the Task Force members for their contributions and thanked the Chair, Chris Powers, for his leadership.

The presentation from all four TDG directors was well received by the group.

The TDG Directorate has been moving forward on program improvement. Over the summer they will continue to look at the ERTF recommendations as well as the original 3 GPAC working group reports to make sure nothing has been missed

• Nathalie Belliveau,
  Director, Safety
  Research and
  Analysis
• Angelo Boccanfuso,
  Director, CANUTEC
• Clive Law, Director,
  Compliance and Response
• Benoit Turcotte,
  Director, Regulatory
  Affairs
  TDG, Transport Canada

Helena Borges thanked ERTF members for their contributions on behalf of Transport Canada and the Deputy Minister.

Denis Lauzon expressed concern over the election period and what it means for the Task Force.
Helena explained that Transport Canada assumes a ‘caretaking role’ during the election. Transport Canada is maintaining its commitment to pursue this initiative as it is a priority for the Department.

Michel Cloutier presented the substance categorization criteria developed for Class 3 substances, with the intention that the methodology developed can be used to other classes. All three Packing Groups (primary Class 3 no subsidiary classes) have been completed. The SME will focus the on Class 3(6.1) and Class 3(8), and hopefully Class 6.1(3) and 8(3) if time permits.

Mylaine DesRosiers thanked both Ernie Wong and Michel Cloutier for their contributions; Transport Canada wanted solid science behind a decision-making methodology based on risk of Class 3 substances and the Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) delivered on all accounts. The methodology developed by the two experts has been well documented and will allow the TDG Directorate to use it beyond Class 3.

Next Steps:
The TDG Directorate’s Safety Research and Analysis Branch has taken the list of 43 “Priority 1” substances to identify which of these substances are being transported by rail and in what volumes. The next step will be to use the information to conduct a risk assessment during the summer, as per the ERTF’s recommendation. ERTF members will be informed of the results as they become available.

Michel Cloutier
SME

The ERTF Secretariat developed a PowerPoint presentation on the Task Force’s achievements since the inaugural meeting in July 10, 2014. Faced with an ambitious mandate and an aggressive timeframe, members demonstrated their impressive level of commitment by participating to 75 meetings and contributing to 33 recommendations in 12 months. Looking to the future, the ERTF Secretariat suggests potentially having two meetings in the fall to validate/finalize the recommendations.

DECISION
The May 14, 2015 ERTF meeting Decision Record was reviewed and approved as is.

ERTF Secretariat asked if Environment Canada can offer suggestions of simple action to be made by responders from the beginning that could be considered for inclusion in awareness documents or in generic ERAPs.

Environment Canada Simon Despatie responded that since every incident is so different, it is difficult to make one choice beforehand. All angles must be considered, but could still share information with the Task Force at least for consideration in the ERAP process.

Members commented that in many cases, letting a fire burn is considered the best way to ‘clean up’. The air is not considered as part of the environmental impact. It is complicated.

The Chair indicates that these are good points, part of the NFPA standard is to consider the environment in its actions. Could include a slide or 2 in the Subgroup 5 awareness training for environmental considerations. This would be beneficial to the broader first responder community.

1) Subgroup 5 Report:
Five recommendations were submitted by Subgroup 5 for the Task Force members’ consideration and decision:

Recommendation no. 25:
Support the concept of a Canadian “Flammable Liquids in Transport Training Program” that addresses the following:

• A training program modeled on the precedent established with the CFI and the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC) program - “Anhydrous Ammonia Awareness for First Responders”.
• A program designed with Canadian content and references in both official languages.
• A multi-level program design consisting of:
• Basic (introductory) level - designed as a self-directed, web based program with modular content and an examination component; and
• Operations (Hands-on) level – designed for delivery at provincial fire colleges or fire department training facilities.
• A program acceptable to the CAFC and the Council of Canadian Fire Marshals and Fire Commissioners.
• Basic introductory awareness course content development and implementation supported by Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) and Canadian Fuels Association (CFA) through Enform in consultation with Emergency Response Task Force stakeholders.  Funding for more advanced training programs needs to be further discussed with input from Transport Canada, CAPP, CFA, CAFC, Railway Association of Canada and other the Class 1 Carriers.‎
• A program maintained and updated as new standards or information becomes available to reflect “Best Practices”.

DECISION:
ACCEPTED AS PRESENTED.

Recommendation no. 26
Make staff available to assist in developing the training programs to ensure complete and correct information on TDG programs (CANUTEC, ERAP, RMS services, etc.) are included.

DECISION:
ACCEPTED AS PRESENTED.

Recommendation no. 27
Include these training courses for Remedial Measures Specialists, CANUTEC advisors and other appropriate employees that could be involved in flammable liquids incidents.

DECISION:
ACCEPTED AS PRESENTED.

Recommendation no. 28
Make available staff to assist in the delivery of Operations level or of flammable liquids training programs as a part of the TDG Outreach and Awareness program.

EDIT: “change from or flammable liquids – to of”

DECISION:
ACCEPTED WITH CHANGE.

Recommendation no. 29
Establish a forum for members of the ERTF to continue to hold technical discussions once the ERTF has completed its mandate.  This could be in the form of a technical committee or standing working group under the General Policy Advisory Council (GPAC).

DECISION:
ACCEPTED AS PRESENTED.

The ERTF Secretariat is finalizing the drafting of the Subgroup report and will circulate to members for comments.

2) Update on the Online Presentation by ENFORM:
Finbarr Wilson updated members on the progress of Enform’s Online Awareness Training and the workshop done in early June. Stephen Valade (L’association des chefs d’incendie du Québec) has offered to aid in the translation of this document to French. Work will continue over the course of the Summer.  Members will be informed of the progress.

Subgroup 4 (ERAP Program) Report:
Five recommendations were submitted by Subgroup 4 for the members’ consideration and decision:

Recommendation no. 30
To include the “Response Tier and Timelines” presented as industry’s best practices, in all ERAPs.  The Response Tier and Timelines is a suggested minimum of three tiers as follow:

1. Tier One response time for a Technical Advisor to provide technical or emergency response advice by telephone would be within 10 minutes of the initial request; 
2. Tier Two response time for a Technical Advisor to attend the incident scene would be within six hours of the initial request; and 
3. Tier Three response time for a response team and equipment to attend the scene would be within 12 hours of the initial request. 

Best efforts are expected, however, consideration must be given to natural disasters, weather conditions, site accessibility, or other circumstances such as acts of terrorism which may interfere with the above timelines.
To further increase confidence in Class 3 ERAP response resources and technical advice, members recommend developing a competency profile for “Flammable Liquid Technical Advisors” designated in ERAPs that would include training and accreditation standard requirements.  This will offer better guidance to ERAP holders and regulators assessing the plans.
DECISION:
ACCEPTED AS PRESENTED.

Recommendation no. 31
Transport Canada require rail carriers to share emergency response and preparedness information pertaining to potential dangerous goods incidents with emergency planners, first responders, CANUTEC and other agencies, to increase cooperation and coordination at dangerous goods incidents.

DECISION:
ACCEPTED AS PRESENTED.

Recommendation no. 32
Recognizing that expected outcomes of an ERAP is to provide response support that is Timely, Appropriate, Safe and Coordinated (TASC), it is recommended that Transport Canada monitor the ERAP program and foster its continuous improvement by establishing criteria to assess if the four identified expected outcomes are being met, collect and assess the necessary data and consider opportunities for improvements.

DECISION:
ACCEPTED AS PRESENTED.

Recommendation no. 33
Transport Canada provide first responders and emergency planners with information on the contents and resources available to them in the event of a dangerous goods incident and that these documents be made available on line and as part of the Outreach and Awareness program.

DECISION:
ACCEPTED AS PRESENTED.

Recommendation no. 34
Transport Canada require railways to provide to CANUTEC train consist information, in an electronic format, immediately upon becoming aware of a rail incident involving the release or potential release of dangerous goods.
DECISION:
ACCEPTED AS PRESENTED.

Next Steps:
The ERTF Secretariat is finalizing the drafting of the Subgroup Report and will circulate to ERTF members for comments.
The deck on performance targets, TASC, deck will also be circulated.

The ERTF Secretariat will include the accepted recommendations from Subgroup 3, 4 and 5 and will circulate a draft of the Third Quarterly Report to members the first week of July for comment. The intent is to present the Report to Director General - TDG at the end of July. If the mandate of the Task Force is not extended, it will become the final report.

The Executive Director informed members that the ERTF Secretariat would keep them informed of the progress on these activities over the summer, even though there would be no plenary meetings. The Chair announced that he would take a leave over the summer months until the future status of the ERTF was decided. The ERTF Secretariat and members expressed their gratitude for Chris’s exceptional leadership as Chair of the ERTF.

Fall 2015