SERC Tier II Policy

State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) Policy and Procedures for Public Access to Tier Two Reports

Purpose: TheprimarypurposeofthispolicyistoestablishproceduresfortheAlaska State Emergency Response Commission (SERC), Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC),andLocal Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs)toreceiveandprocessrequestsforTierTwoinformationtomeet Alaska statutoryrequirements(seebelow).Theprimaryintentistoensurethatthe releaseofTierTwodatawillnotbeappliedtoconductillegalactivitieswhichcould jeopardizethepublicsafetyandwelfareofthecitizensofAlaska.NoneoftheHomeland Securityprecautionsidentifiedintheseproceduresstoptheprocessingofavalidrequest forinformationabouthazardousmaterialsbycitizens.TheStateofAlaskaremainsinfullcomplianceofCommunityRight-to-Know(CRTK)laws.

General: TierTworeportsmustbesubmittedannuallybyfacilitieswithreportable quantitiesofchemicalsandhazardoussubstancesintheirinventory(fixedfacilitiesonly; transportationfacilitiesarenotrequiredtoreportunderFederalandStatelaw).Reports mustbesubmittedtotheLEPC,localfire department,andtheDEC,onbehalfof theSERC.ReportsareduebyMarch1ofeachyearandrepresentinventoriesforthe previouscalendaryear.

UndertheFederalEmergencyPlanningandCommunityRight-to-KnowAct(EPCRA), concernedcitizensandthegeneralpublicmayrequestTierTwoinformationonfacilitiesin theircommunity.

FollowingtheSeptember11,2001,terroristattackontheUnitedStates,concerns regardingtheuseofextremelyhazardoussubstancesaschemicalweaponsneededtobe considered.CRTKandHomelandSecurityconcernsarenotdiametricallyopposedand theseprocedurescomplywiththerequirementsofeachconcern.

SummaryofStatutoryAuthorities:

AS26.23(Military Affairs andVeterans-Disasters):FortheSERC,Section26.23.07states: “(e)Thecommissionshall:

(7)establishproceduresforreceivingandprocessingrequestsfrom thepublicforinformationunder42U.S.C.11044,includingtierII informationunder42U.S.C.11022;proceduresestablishedunder thisparagraphshalldesignatetheDepartmentofEnvironmental Conservationasthestateagencytoreceiveandprocessthese requestsonbehalfofthecommission;”

ForLEPCs,Section26.23.071states:

“(g)Eachlocalemergencyplanningcommitteeshall

(1)establishproceduresforreceivingandprocessingrequestsfrom thepublicforinformationunder42U.S.C.11044,includingtierII informationunder42U.S.C.11022;”

AS29.35(MunicipalGovernment): Section29.35.500outlinesTierTworeporting requirements,includingitemstobereportedunderStatelaw.

AS40.25(PublicRecordsandRecorders):Section40.25.120(a)(10)(c)statesinpart: “(a)Everypersonhasarighttoinspectapublicrecordinthestate,includingpublic

recordsinrecorders'offices,except

(10) recordsorinformationpertainingtoaplan,program,orproceduresfor establishing,maintaining,orrestoringsecurityinthestate,ortoadetailed descriptionorevaluationofsystems,facilities,orinfrastructureinthestate, butonlytotheextentthattheproductionoftherecordsorinformation

(A)could reasonably be expected to interfere with the implementation or enforcement of the security plan, program, or procedures;

(B)would disclose confidential guidelines for investigations or enforcement and the disclosure could reasonably be expected to risk circumvention of the law; or

(C)couldreasonablybeexpectedtoendangerthelifeorphysicalsafetyof anindividualortopresentarealandsubstantialrisktothepublichealth andwelfare.”

OtherPrecautionaryMeasures:

SecureStorage: TierTwodatamanagersshould makeaconsciouseffortto secureTierTwodataasmuchaspossible(e.g.,lockingfilecabinetforhardcopy dataandCDswithTierTwodata,aswellasoverallsecurityofinformationstored incomputers).

GeneralProcessforReceiving andDisseminating TierTwoInformation:

ReportingFacility

Submits TierTwoReportstothethree entities below

(reports aredueMarch1 ofeachyear)

LocalEmergency

Planning Committee

LocalFireDepartment

StateEmergency ResponseCommission (DEC onbehalfoftheSERC)

InformationRequestGeneralpublic, community,otherindividualsmaysubmit awritten requestforTierTwoinformationtotheSERC,LEPC,or localfiredepartment.

ProcessforProvidingTierTwoInformationtotheGeneralPublic

ChecklistforReleasingTierTwoData:

General: TierTwodatawillnotbereleasedelectronically(emailorfax),telephonically, orviahardcopy.The data may only be reviewed in person; notes can be taken but no copies can be made.

AwrittenrequestmustbesubmittedtotheSERCortheappropriateLEPC.Bylaw,the SERCandLEPCshaveupto45daystoprocessrequestsandprovidetheinformationto therequestor.WrittenrequestswillincludetheTierTwoDataRequestForm(attached).

WhenDEC(onbehalfoftheSERC)receivesawrittenrequest,staffwilldetermineifthe requestorcanvisittheDECAnchorageorJuneauoffices.Ifnot,therequestorwillbe referredtotheLEPCwherethefacilityinquestionislocated.WhenanLEPCreceivesa writtenrequest,itwillforwardittotheSERCCoordinator.

TheproceduresoutlinedinthisdocumentaremandatoryforanyreleaseofTierTwo informationbyanystateagencyandtheSERCstronglyencourageseachLEPCtomirror thestatepolicy.LEPCswilldeveloplocalprocedurestoimplementthisprogram.

Thefollowingprocedureswillapply:

Notifications:

□Uponreceiptofawrittenrequest,DECortheSERCCoordinatorwillsendthe“TierTwo DataRequestForm”(seeattached)totheindividualandrequesttheformbe completedandreturnedwithaphotocopyoftheindividual’sproofofidentification(driver’s license,passport,ormilitaryID).

□ Upon receipt of the Tier Two Data Request Form, identification information provided on the form will be validated with the Department of Public Safety(DPS).

□DECortheSERCCoordinatorwillalsonotifytheowner/managerofthespecific facilitytoinformhim/herofthisrequestforinformation,anddetermineifthereisany additionalinformationontheindividual(e.g.,formerdisgruntledemployee,etc.).

□DEC or the SERC Coordinator willeitherprovide accesstotheinformationorinformtheLEPCthatsubmittedtherequesttoprovide the datarequested by appointment.

□□IfthepersonrequestingtheinformationrefusestoprovideID,thereasonfor requestingdata,orotherwiserefusestocomplywiththeseprocedures,contactthe AttorneyGeneral’sofficeat907-269-5157.

ProceduresforReleasingTierTwoDatatotheRequestor:

□Meetindividualattheappointedtimeandplaceandverifyidentification.

□Explainthefollowinggeneralguidelinestotherequestor.

•Nophotocopyingofinformationallowed.Informationmayberecordedona pieceofpaper.

•Anescortwillbeprovidedatalltimesduringthereviewperiod.

□Escorttherequestortothedesignatedareaforreviewingdocumentsandremain withtheindividualatalltimes.

□Provide a hard copy of the requested information for review. . DonotallowviewingoftheTierTwodatabaseviaacomputer.Donotprovidefacility mapsorspecificlocationsofthehazardoussubstanceinventory.

□Aftercompletionofthereview,retrieveallhardcopiesoftheTierTworecords provided.

□Uponrequestofthefacilityowner/manager,blockoutorotherwisewithholdthe locationofspecificchemicals

TIER TWO DATAREQUEST FORM

IndividualRequestingData:

Name: Last,First,MiddleInitial

PhysicalAddress/Residence:

Telephone: / Work:
Home:

TypeofIdentificationProvided:(checkallthatapply,ANDattacha photocopyofyourproofofidentificationtothisform)

□ / Driver’s License
□ / Passport (ifnotU.S.,specify country / )
□ / Military ID

Representing:

□Self

□Company/Agency

NameofCompany/Agency:ReasonforRequestingData:(provide a shortsummary below)

SignatureDate