Subject:
Title
Grant Agreement No. T0438 for Partial Funding to the Emergency Management Hazardous Material Planning and Prevention Program related to the Emergency Planning and Right to Know Act.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval and execution by the County Administrator of Grant Agreement No. T0438 for partial funding to the Emergency Management Hazardous Material Planning and Prevention Program related to the Emergency Planning and Right to Know Act.
• Agreement awards non-federal grant dollars in the amount of $6,317.26 to assist funding to meet program deliverables.
• The grant is used to assess facilities that use and store Extremely Hazardous Substances in the County.
• No prior Board Actions have taken place.
• Funds for this grant are included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Estimate and the FY26 Proposed Budget within the Emergency Management Department in the General Fund. No county match is required.
Body
Strategic Priorities:
Healthy and Safe Communities
2.2 Enhance community safety
Summary:
This annual grant is known as the EPCRA. This State-funded grant is provided to assist Pinellas County (County) meet mandated inspections of EHS at pre-identified sites within the County.
The grant agreement term is July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026.
Background/Explanation:
On October 17, 1986, the United States Congress enacted EPCRA also known as Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA). EPCRA requires hazardous chemical emergency planning by Federal, State and Local governments, Indian Tribes, and industry. Additionally, EPCRA requires industry to report on storage, use and releases of certain hazardous materials.
At the federal level, the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administers EPCRA. At the State level, the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) serves as the lead agency responsible for oversight and coordination of the local planning efforts required by EPCRA. At the local level, Counties perform a Hazards Analysis to include identification of facilities; transportation routes of EHS; description of emergency response procedures; designation of coordinators; emergency notification; evacuation plans; training programs for emergency responders; and methods and schedules for exercising emergency response plans.
The number of facilities required for annual inspection is determined by the number of Pinellas County sites reported as storing or using EHS into the State web-based application E-Plan. The total number of facilities fluctuates annually. Data collected under this agreement will be used to comply with State and Federal planning requirements as stated in Florida Statutes, Chapter 252, part II.
Current Pinellas County total of EHS sites according to E-Plan is thirty-eight (37). The number of site inspections needed to meet the required 50% is nineteen (19).
Emergency Management continues to identify and address and EHS sites not currently in E-Plan.
Fiscal Impact:
The scope of work provides Pinellas County with $6,317.26 State grant funds to assist the County meet deliverables. There is no match requirement.
State funded grant award in the amount of $6,317.26 are included in the FY25 Estimate and the FY26 Proposed Budget within the Emergency Management Department.
Delegated Authority:
Authority for the County Administrator to sign this Grant Agreement No. T0438 is granted under Code Section 2-62(a)(2).
Staff Member Responsible:
Cathie Perkins, Director of Emergency Management
Partners:
Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM)
Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC)
Attachments:
AgreementT0438.PinellasCoHA2025-26