Those responsible for causing hazardous materials spills in
McKean County will soon be paying the price for clean-up
efforts.
During Tuesday’s commissioners’ meeting, county leaders are
expected to pass an updated version of a 2002 ordinance which calls
for the Emergency Management Agency to collect fees associated with
battling hazardous incidents and pass them down to fire departments
and first responders.
The method is a way for fire departments and first responders
across the county to recoup the costs for any materials used during
the incidents. The Emergency Management Agency will not reap any
monetary benefits from the proposal, however.
“The departments respond to these types of things and everybody
says what a great job they do, but in the end, nobody says who is
going to help pay for the cost of doing all that great work,”
County Administrator Richard Casey said. “Now, our EMA folks are
going to come to the responsible party with a bill.”
Casey said the commissioners will also be looking at passing a
related resolution which establishes a rate schedule for the
materials used in the abatement and for the use of equipment and
man hours, such as an hourly charge for fire trucks and
ambulances.
There was no set schedule available for the charges as of
Tuesday afternoon.
One incident that comes to mind is the 2002 tractor-trailer
accident that spilled nearly 3,000 gallons of gasoline onto the
U.S. Route 219 on-ramp by Georgia Pacific in Bradford and down into
the nearby Tunungwant Creek.
In that incident, numerous first responders and local agencies
responded for rescue and clean-up efforts, which lasted months. The
hazardous situation was caused after a rig owned by Rinker Oil Co.
of Cuba, N.Y., tipped over when the weight of the gasoline inside
the trailer shifted to one side.
“When that type of incident happens, a lot of people respond to
it,” Casey said. “They go out there and help clean it up and use
their materials, but have no way of getting paid back for
that.”
Emergency Management Agency Director Steve Nelson said a couple
of other counties are also pursuing such an ordinance.
Nelson said Clarion County has already asked for a copy of
McKean County’s ordinance.
“It really has become a huge burden on fire departments and
local emergency planning committees,” Nelson said. “This is a good
way to help them recoup their costs, which come out of their
pockets, and to help with the survival of our emergency management
partnerships.
“This really benefits everybody all the way around,” Nelson
added, noting American Refining Group provides its vacuum truck and
personnel to numerous accidents. “Without this ordinance, we have
no way of paying ARG for their time.”
According to Nelson, the ordinance is not a way for the
Emergency Management Agency to make money.
“This is not a money-maker for us,” Nelson said. “The only thing
we get out of it is replenishing our equipment. No extra dollars go
into our coffers that we can save up.”
As an example of the costs associated with responding to a
hazardous materials accident, Nelson said it took four “bales of
pads,” or absorbent material, to soak up 150 gallons of diesel fuel
after a car hit a tractor-trailer last month along U.S. Route 219,
just north of Lantz Corners in Hamlin Township.
A Kane man died as a result of the crash.
“Those pads cost in the neighborhood of $65 to $80,” Nelson
said. “Up until the ordinance was originally passed, responding
agencies could ultimately be left holding the tab to replace that
equipment. When you are talking about the smaller fire departments
in this area, financially you just can’t pay for it all.”
According to Nelson, there are currently several fire
departments nationwide which are already billing for costs
associated with vehicle crashes.
“All the fire departments in the county are on board with this,”
Nelson said. “It’s pretty good for the residents of McKean County
to know these people are out there and will stay on a scene for
hours to make sure people’s lives are protected.”
A copy of the ordinance indicates those agencies that responded
to a hazardous materials incident have 30 days to submit expenses
to the Emergency Management Agency for review. At that time, the
agency will draft a bill for the responsible party.
For any responsible party who doesn’t pay a bill, the county has
the right to take civil action against them to recoup the
funds.
