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Newletters From June, 2010
STATE FARM MOVES INSURANCE TEAM TO HELP HURRICAN ALEX VICTIMS
Originally Posted: June 30, 2010 7:17 PM
Last Updated: June 30, 2010 7:17 PM
For other NEEDA Newletter stories about State Farm help in wildfires, floods, hurricanes, and other disasters, use the "Search" application in the upper right of your NEEDA Newsletter screen . . . just type in "State Farm"!
State Farm®, (Bloomington, Illinois) is prepared for Hurricane Alex. The company is reassigning key personnel to focus on preparing for Alex's impact and have ensured our lines of communication are open, clear and ready in advance of the storm.
Catastrophe Response Vehicles are being dispatched from the company's headquarters to a staging area in Austin, Texas. Once Alex makes landfall, the vehicles will move into impacted areas to allow our policyholders to begin the claim process.
State Farm's state-of-the-art Catastrophe Team, a mobile workforce of experienced claim representatives, is ready to respond quickly – and wirelessly – if Hurricane Alex impacts customers. On the ground, the claims team is ready to work with associates, agents and their staff who are spread across Alex's potential impact area. They're ready to start assisting policyholders as soon as help is needed.
MORE INFO? 1-800-SF-CLAIM or www.statefarm.com.
State Farm® insures cars and homes and watercraft. State Farm's 17,700 agents and 67,000 employees serve 81 million auto, fire, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and nearly two million bank accounts.
State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 34 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies.
MORE INFO? -www.statefarm.com
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CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS FACES HURRICAN ALEX AS FLOOD CONTROL BIZ OFFERS MITIGATION AND CLEAN UP
Originally Posted: June 30, 2010 6:35 PM
Last Updated: June 30, 2010 6:51 PM
Flood Control, Inc. has recently mobilized its CAT Teams (Catastrophic Loss Teams) from its other major offices in New York, Illinois and Florida in order to prepare for Hurricane Alex: a hurricane that is soon to hit Southern Texas. Flood Control – a nationwide damage restoration company – currently has its local technicians on call from its Corpus Christi and Brownsville, Texas offices.
Flood Control's North American Director of Operations, Dan DiPrima: "When it comes to hurricane season, it's crucial that we get as many skilled technicians in the affected area as possible so that everyone can get the help they need in order to avoid any secondary damage such as mold to established structures. By preparing for the worst ahead of time, damages can be greatly minimized. In addition to providing flood cleanup, water damage repair and mold remediation services, Flood Control will have generators to supply temporary power to both commercial and residential customers. Temporary power is a necessity during times like these because often, people will go for days or even weeks without any source of power and that can be very dangerous."
In 2008, Flood Control mobilized all of its fleets to aid those suffering from Hurricane Ike. Flood Control serviced both commercial and residential properties and spent a significant amount of time in the area to make sure everyone was accommodated for. The cleanup and assistance effort in Texas was one of Flood Control's greatest successes.
Flood Control, Inc. specializes in flood damage repair, water damage removal, sewage cleanup, mold remediation and fire damage restoration.
MORE INFO? (361) 226-1208, (956) 205-0804, 800-973-0041. Please visit http://www.floodcontroller.com, facebook.com/FloodControlInc, or www.floodcontroller.com
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HOUSE HOLDS HEARINGS IN NEW ORLEANS JULY 12 ON APRIL 20 OIL SPILL
Originally Posted: June 30, 2010 11:19 AM
Last Updated: June 30, 2010 11:19 AM
Congressman Chris Carney (D-PA), Chairman of the US House Committee on Homeland Security’s Subcommittee on Management, Investigations and Oversight, has scheduled a field hearing in New Orleans on July 12th, 2010 to examine the immediate response to the Deepwater Horizon explosion and subsequent oil spill.
The hearing, entitled “The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Chain of Command: An Examination of Information Sharing Practices During a Spill of National Significance,” will include testimony from the Coast Guard, the Department of Homeland Security, BP and state and local officials. The time and location of the hearing have yet to be determined.
Congressman Carney, Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), and six other committee members visited the spill site and surrounding area June 21, 2010.
The response to the spill has left many unanswered questions, including how information was shared in the days immediately after the April 20, 2010 explosion.
Congressman Carney: “We must find out what was done to ensure the severity of this disaster was understood and how that information was shared. This hearing will hopefully shed some light on the current chain of command, the roles and responsibilities of the participants, what the government and BP could have done better in response to this crisis and lessons that should be put to use in the future.”
MORE INFO? Dena Graziano or Adam Comis (202) 225-9978 or Josh Drobnyk at (202) 225-3731
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FIRE TRUCK ROLLS IN MISSOURI AS OBSTRUCTING MOTORIST DRIVES AWAY FROM SCENE OF ACCIDENT
Originally Posted: June 30, 2010 10:40 AM
Last Updated: June 30, 2010 10:40 AM
A 1990 pumper tanker truck rolled over, according to the Associated Press, at 1:30 AM Sunday, June 27, 2010, one that the Missouri State Highway Patrol says was caused by another motorist. Investigators say the driver of the tanker of the Farmington Missouri Fire Department was trying to avoid a motorist during a routine fire call.
The fire crew had their lights and sirens blaring heading down Highway F to a house fire, when they came to a car hugging the center line and not slowing down.
Investigators say the driver of the fire truck was afraid of a collision, so he veered slightly to the right, but on that narrow highway the right wheels of the tanker dropped off the pavement. The fire truck rolled over, ejecting the driver and front passenger.
Sgt. Al Nothum with the Missouri State Highway Patrol: “All these people who don’t yield to our emergency vehicles, whether it’s a stationary emergency vehicle or moving emergency vehicle, are putting our lives at risk as well as theirs and everyone around them. You really have to know the laws.”
That other vehicle left the scene. The driver of the fire truck is at St. John’s Mercy with a pelvic injury. Five volunteer firefighters were treated and released with minor injuries
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US SMALL BIZ OFFICE ISSUES STUDY ON CREDIT AVAILABLE TO DEALERS AND OTHER SMALL COMPANIES
Originally Posted: June 30, 2010 10:02 AM
Last Updated: June 30, 2010 10:02 AM
The US Office of Advocacy (US Small Business Administration) released a study examining the type of credit utilized by small business.
Bank Credit, Trade Credit or No Credit: Evidence from the Surveys of Small Business Finances, by Rebel A. Cole, compares firms that use credit (leveraged) with those that do not (unleveraged). The study also looks at which kind of credit leveraged firms use–bank credit (loans or lines of credit) trade credit (from suppliers) or both. The study found that the two types of credit (bank credit and trade credit) used by small firms are complements, with many small firms using both types of credit simultaneously.
Acting Chief Counsel for Advocacy Susan Walthall: “Access to credit is one of the most important issues facing small business today. A study that provides a better understanding of the credit used by small business is invaluable to policymakers, small business and their suppliers.”
The study finds that small firms that use no credit are significantly smaller, more profitable, more liquid, and have better credit quality; yet they hold fewer tangible assets. The study also finds that those firms that use credit are larger, and the amount of credit used as a percentage of assets is positively related to the firm’s liquidity. In addition, three-fifths of the small firms that use credit use trade credit.
Businesses’ use of credit varies by industry, with firms using no credit found primarily in the service sector or wholesale and retail trade. Bank borrowing and trade credit is found more often in the manufacturing and construction sectors.
The study shows that firms that use trade credit tend to be larger and more liquid, but they also have lower credit scores. Small businesses that use bank credit are larger, younger, and less liquid. Companies that utilize neither bank nor trade credit are significantly smaller, more profitable, more liquid and of better credit quality.
MORE INFO? www.sba.gov/advo.
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FEMA AWARDS $25 MILLION IN SAFER GRANTS FOR FIRE FIGHTERS
Originally Posted: June 29, 2010 6:17 PM
Last Updated: June 29, 2010 6:17 PM
The Department of Homeland Security (June 25, 2010) awarded another round of grants – totaling $25,786,555 -- to IAFF affiliates through the Staffing for Adequate Fire Emergency Response (SAFER) program for Fiscal Year 2009.
IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger: “This is very good news for these fire departments, which have been struggling to remain fully staffed and serving their communities through tough economic times. These SAFER grants are putting 1,000 fire fighters back to work, and state and local governments should approve them as expeditiously as possible.”
IAFF departments have now received $134 million in SAFER grants since March 31, 2010. The grants that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is distributing now are fulfilling $210 million available in Fiscal Year 2009. Another $420 million has been appropriated for Fiscal Year 2010 and will be available under the new guidelines negotiated by the IAFF that allow SAFER funds to be used to rehire fire fighters laid off as a result of the economic crisis. The grants available in Fiscal Year 2010 will restore another 3,400 jobs.
Fall River, MA Local 1314 received $10,837,003 in this latest round, the largest SAFER grant awarded so far to a single community. Local 1314 President Michael Coogan says budget cuts have reduced Fall River’s count of fire fighters by about one third.
The grant, which he expects will win easy approval from local lawmakers, will help make 44 one-year positions permanent and will add another 44 positions, returning fire fighter staffing to levels not seen since 2008.
Coogan: “This grant award has been a big boost to morale because a lot of fire fighters here have been concerned about their job security.” Coogan expects to add fire fighters before the end of the year. “This will allow us to better protect the community and our membership.”
Other communities receiving SAFER grants in this round were: Chelsea (Massachusetts) Fire Department, $1,827,300; City of Clermont (Florida) Fire Department, $212,452; City of Petaluma (California) Fire Department, $1,230,180;
Cleveland (Ohio) Fire Department, $1,029,725; Kokomo (Indiana) Fire Department, $1,946,640; and New Orleans (Louisiana) Fire Department, $8,535,389.
Once a round of awards is determined, city officials must tell FEMA that it has accepted the grant. FEMA must then give Congress three days’ notice before the official public announcement is made.
While the majority of SAFER grants have been accepted by local officials, some IAFF affiliates have experienced trouble getting their cities to accept the grants. Some local officials have resisted hiring back fire fighters at a time when tight budgets are forcing cuts among other public sector employees.
Lehigh Acres Fire and Rescue District (represented by Southwest Florida Professional Fire Fighters Local 1826) was awarded nearly $9 million in SAFER funding in May, 2010. The City, however, initially balked at accepting the funding citing a number of reasons.
The IAFF, with the help of FEMA, was able to clarify misconceptions about the grant and convince Lehigh Acres officials to accept the funding.
SAFER grants for Fiscal Year 2010 could be made available as early as this summer.
MORE INFO? Jennifer Stewart at (202) 824-8631 or jstewart@iaff.org
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WILDFIRE CONTAINED: HELICOPTERS AND AIR TANKERS USED
Originally Posted: June 29, 2010 6:08 PM
Last Updated: June 29, 2010 6:08 PM
As you have read in NEEDA Newsletter, the National Emergency Equipment Dealers Association has proposed that President Obama convene a White House Conference on Wildfires to bring Federal help to areas repeatedly threatened by fires that destroy property and threaten lives.
So don't be surprised if NEEDA mentions "wildfires" as the wildfire season picks up this year!
Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times says a fire her paper has been covering is 100% contained.
Evacuations had been forced by the 45-acre grass fire burning in Homeland but was two-thirds contained as of Sunday night July 27, 2010, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
Updated at 10:31 PM.: Riverside fire department said the fire is 100% contained, according to the county Fire Department.
Nearly 200 firefighters were battling the blaze, first reported at 6:48 PM. near Allen Avenue and Gutheridge Lane, east of Perris. In addition to lighting backfires to control the blaze, firefighters attacked it with helicopters and air tankers.
No injuries or property damage have been reported, according to the Riverside Department. The cause of the fire was unknown.
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SPARTAN SAYS GOODBYE TO ROAD RESCUE AMBULANCE OPERATIONS IN MARION, SOUTH CAROLINA; CUTS BOARD AND EXECUTIVE FEES AND EXPENSES
Originally Posted: June 29, 2010 5:58 PM
Last Updated: June 29, 2010 5:58 PM
Spartan Motors, Inc. (Charlotte, Michigan) today announced its intent to sell its Road Rescue ambulance operation (Marion, South Carolina) by the end of 2010.
Spartan announced other actions to reduce expenses and better align its costs.
The exit from Spartan's Road Rescue ambulance operation in Marion, South Carolina is part of a long-term strategic review initiated at the beginning of the year of all parts of the Company's business.
Spartan expects to complete the exit by the end of the year following the fulfillment of existing customer orders.
Spartan is in discussions with potential purchasers to facilitate a sale of the operations or facilities as part of the exit plan. Road Rescue generated approximately $20 million in revenues in 2009 and employs 132 full-time associates.
John Sztykiel, President and CEO: Spartan seeks "good momentum at Spartan Chassis and Crimson Fire, as well as our recently announced new commercial van product at Utilimaster and our collaborative efforts with Isuzu. Over the last 12 months, Spartan has evolved, as has the emergency response market, and the Road Rescue operation is not large enough to justify the resource commitment when we have greater potential elsewhere."
Sztykiel: "Road Rescue partnered with another ambulance company, where there is additional scale and product breadth, would be a real asset."
Spartan is cutting Board of Directors' retainer fees, salaries of members of the executive leadership team and other senior leaders, some select workforce reductions, and other actions as part of its efforts to reduce fixed costs to better match its current level of business.
Spartans cutbacks are to focus Spartan's five core markets – emergency response, outdoor recreation/RV, defense, delivery and service, and specialty – while maximizing demand for Spartan chassis, aftermarket parts and assemblies and the Isuzu strategic alliance.
With the realignment actions and exit from Road Rescue, Spartan expects to incur pre-tax one-time charges of approximately $6 - $7 million, the majority of which will be recognized in the Company's second and third quarter results. Management expects these actions to reduce the Company's permanent cost structure by $5 - $6 million on an annualized pre-tax basis.
Joe Nowicki, Chief Financial Officer: "Our exit from Road Rescue is a result of our ongoing evaluation of all areas of Spartan's business and is an important next step in executing on our previously announced strategic financial plan. It will allow us to concentrate our resources and product development in our highest growth, most profitable opportunities, and we believe it was necessary to ensure our long-term success."
Spartan Motors, Inc. designs, engineers and manufactures specialty chassis, specialty vehicles and truck bodies and aftermarket parts for the Outdoor Recreation/RV, emergency-response, defense, government services, delivery and service markets.
The Company's brand names are Spartan™, Crimson Fire™, Crimson Fire Aerials™, Road Rescue™ and Utilimaster®. The Company employs 1,500 at facilities in Michigan, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Indiana and Texas. Spartan had sales of $430 million in 2009.
MORE INFO? www.spartanmotors.com
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WANT TO MAKE A PRESENTATION AT 2011 FDIC? DEADLINE IS THURSDAY, JULY 1, 2010
Originally Posted: June 29, 2010 5:22 PM
Last Updated: June 29, 2010 5:22 PM
By Peter Prochilo, Fire Engineering, Online Editor
The deadline for FDIC 2011 (INDIANAPOLIS) presentation proposals is next week, July 1, 2010. Please download a "Call for Presentations" form from www.fdic.com
MORE INFO? www.fdic.com
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TYCO ISSUES SALES RESULTS JULY 29, 2010
Originally Posted: June 29, 2010 1:23 PM
Last Updated: June 29, 2010 1:23 PM
Tyco International Ltd. (Schaffhausen, Switzerland) will issue results for the third quarter of fiscal 2010 Thursday, July 29, 2010. A conference call at 8:30 a.m. ET can be accessed: http://investors.tyco.com.
For both "listen-only" participants and those participants who wish to take part in the question-and-answer portion of the call, the telephone dial-in number in the United States is (800) 857-9797.
An audio replay of the conference call will be available at 10:00am (ET) on July 29, 2010 and ending at 11:59pm (ET) on August 4, 2010. The dial-in number for participants in the United States is (866) 501-8776. For participants outside the United States, the replay dial-in number is (203) 369-1856.
Tyco International Ltd. is a provider of security products and services, fire protection and detection products and services, valves and controls, and other industrial products.
Tyco had 2009 revenue of $17 billion and has 100,000 employees worldwide.
MORE INFO? www.tyco.com
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DEALER BIZ OPPORTUNITY: SELL INDIVIDUAL GAS MONITORS AND TRAINING?
Originally Posted: June 29, 2010 1:12 PM
Last Updated: June 29, 2010 1:12 PM
Selling gas monitors and training may be a business for emergency equipment dealers.
Hand-held gas monitors are standard issue for people in safety and emergency response jobs. Miners use them, firefighters use them, workers in a hazmat suit uses them.
A pair of Bismarck entrepreneurs hope they can make entire industries use them, according to a Copyright 2010 Bismarck Tribune article which also appeared in Fire Engineering.
John Holtan, who has developed a program to train safety workers to better use devices to detect dangerous gas in confined spaces: "Everywhere there's a gas out there, we can help."
Lights On Safety Solutions has received money from a federal work safety research agency to create a training system for the underground mining industry. They are trying to tap other industries where poisonous gases are a fact of the job.
They describe their product as a more realistic way to teach people to use gas monitors. It is an app for an iPhone that turns the mobile phone into a replica of a gas monitor. With the system, the trainer can send data on levels of carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, oxygen or other vapors to trainees via their phones, prompting the students to react according to standard procedures.
Holtan: In most trainings he has seen, participants get numbers on gas levels through something written on a floor in a training area or on a sticky note stuck to a wall.
Holtan, who has taught power plant and safety procedures at Bismarck State College.
The federal Mine Act of 2006, prompted by the Sago Mine and other mining accidents, called for improvements in how the mining industry monitors hazardous gases.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health gave Holtan and Holman $388,000 to develop a training system, which they are completing now.
Holtan and Holman are working with the IDEA Center, a Bismarck business incubator, using office space and assistance for marketing and developing a business plan.
The Bismarck Fire Department and parts of the state's energy industry to develop an on-site training business for power plants and fire departments in the region.
Holtan: "When you're a trainer, you have a social responsibility to the people you're training. There are miners that die and individuals that die in confined spaces every day."
MORE INFO? Christopher Bjorke 250-8261 or chris.bjorke@bismarcktribune.com
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ASSISTANCE FOR FIREFIGHTERS GETS $30 MILLION INCREASE BY US HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE
Originally Posted: June 28, 2010 12:18 PM
Last Updated: June 28, 2010 12:18 PM
On Thursday, June 24th 2010 the US House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security approved the Fiscal Year 2011 spending bill for homeland security (bill number pending at press time). The bill funds both the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program at $420 million. Whereas the funding level for SAFER remains the same as last year's figure, funding for the AFG program would increase by $30 million under the proposed measure.
In addition, the bill contains $45.9 million for the United States Fire Administration, a slight increase over last year's figure.
The subcommittee's bill will now be considered by the full House Appropriations Committee. Following approval by the committee, it will be considered by the full House. The Senate Appropriations Committee has not taken action on the homeland bill. Once both houses of Congress have approved their respective spending bills, they will still need to resolve any differences before sending the final bill to the White House for the President's signature.
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FIRE TRUCK SIREN TRIAL BY FIREFIGHTERS ENDS IN FAVOR OF FEDERAL SIGNAL
Originally Posted: June 26, 2010 6:35 AM
Last Updated: June 26, 2010 6:35 AM
A Philadelphia, Pennsylvania jury absolved the Federal Signal Company (Oak Brook, Illinois) from liability in lawsuits brought by nine Philadelphia firefighters and found that the siren product was not defective.
These firefighters claimed that they had developed hearing loss caused by exposure to sirens manufactured by Federal Signal.
This trial was the first trial in Philadelphia involving the consolidated claims of several firefighters claiming hearing loss.
Federal Signal previously had a consolidated trial in Cook County, Illinois involving 27 firefighters in 2008. The Federal Signal lost a jury trial in 2009 involving consolidated claims of nine firefighters, which Federal Signal is appealing.
Jennifer Sherman, General Counsel for the General Signal: "Our success in this trial demonstrates that our position in aggressively defending these cases is justified. We believe that sirens are important public safety products and we are committed to successfully defending these cases."
Phil Beck, the Company's lead attorney : "After a long trial this reaffirms that Federal Signal's sirens help to protect the public in a way that is safe for firefighters."
Federal Signal Corporation operates four groups: Safety and Security Systems, Environmental Solutions, Federal Signal Technologies and Fire Rescue.
MORE INFO? www.federalsignal.com
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HYDROGEN CYANIDE EXPOSURE: THREAT TO FIREFIGHTERS
Originally Posted: June 18, 2010 9:38 AM
Last Updated: June 18, 2010 9:38 AM
Firefighter deaths due to heart attacks may not be due to bad diets, but from exposure to hydrogen cyanide in fire smoke.
Nationally, six firefighters have literally dropped dead from heart attacks after coming off of a shift of smoky fires and more than 100 were treated or hospitalized for smoke inhalation since January 1, 2010.
Capt. Mike Gagliano, Seattle Fire Department: "Any leader in the fire service who knowingly allows his/her firefighters to be negligent in the use of their SCBA should immediately quit. It is a staggering dereliction of duty to look the other way while the men and women we are supposed to be leading are allowed to inhale smoke that we know will poison them, asphyxiate them, increase the risk of cancer and will kill them."
This year the IAFC theme for Safety Stand Down is "Fit 4 Duty" which includes a variety of educational programs that reduce health and fitness-related deaths or injuries. The CPTC's Safety Stand Down program - Wear Your Air, Take a Shower & Wash Your Gear, sponsored by the Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund, can reduce health-related deaths and injuries - if it is used.
Kevin Reilly, Ridgewood New Jersey Fire Department and president of the CPTC: "Firefighting is inherently dangerous. With today's advancements in technology, training, and the proper use of PPE we can avoid unnecessary risks. Although acute smoke exposures are important to recognize, chronic exposures are often overlooked and preventable. I encourage all firefighters to use this training program. If you can't do it during Safety Stand Down, then schedule it soon."
Schnepp, Chief of Special Operations, Alameda County (CA) Fire Department: "Smoke is something that reaches out and touches a firefighter on a regular basis for an entire career. It's critical that all firefighters know and understand how to protect themselves from acute and chronic smoke exposures, the importance of maintaining their personal protective equipment, and the hazards of fire smoke. It is my hope that during Safety Stand Down all firefighters will take just a moment to think about why it is so important to wear their air."
Shawn Longerich, executive director of the CPTC: "Understanding [that] air is the only line of defense to hydrogen cyanide exposure should be the only incentive required to embrace air management protocols. This comprehensive program highlights the need for education and provides the instruction."
MORE INFO? www.FireSmoke.org
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TAMPA FIRE RESCUE PUMPS 13,500 GALLONS OF WATER PER MINUTE ON DOCK FIRE
Originally Posted: June 18, 2010 7:09 AM
Last Updated: June 18, 2010 7:09 AM
Tampa Fire Rescue responded to a 4-alarm fire at the Port of Tampa, where a conveyor belt caught fire Wednesday morning. The vessel is capable of pumping 13,500 gallons of water per minute, the equivalent of nine fire trucks.
Fire crews had trouble putting out the flames so a second crew used their new multi-million dollar vessel the Patriot to put out the flames.
Cause of fire? The rubber in several conveyor belts caught fire during loading and quickly engulfed the crane being used. Fire crews had trouble putting out the flames so a second crew used their new multi-million dollar vessel the Patriot to put out the flames.
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LATEST NEWS ON GULF OIL SPILL
Originally Posted: June 18, 2010 6:59 AM
Last Updated: June 18, 2010 6:59 AM
Gulf Oil Spill June 17th, 2010
Numbers to Date:
•35,000-60,000 barrels or 1,470,000- 2,520,000 gallons are leaking from the well (Latest Federal estimate based on new and more accurate data)
•Up to 3.48 million barrels or 1.46 billion gallons have leaked from the well since the explosion April 20 (according to the new federal estimates).
•20.7 million gallons of an oil/water mixture have been recovered
•From BP: For the last 12 hours on June 16th (noon to midnight), approximately 7,710 barrels of oil were collected and approximately 2,600 barrels of oil and 22 million cubic feet of natural gas were flared.
• On June 16th, a total of approximately 14,750 barrels of oil were collected and approximately 3,850 barrels of oil and 40 million cubic feet of natural gas were flared.
• Total oil recovered from both the LMRP Cap and Q4000 systems since they were implemented is approximately 179,000 barrels.
The agreed upon plan:
Independent Claims Facility
•Created to make the claims process fairer, faster and more transparent
•Facility will create standards for claims
•A panel of 3 judges will hear appeals of the administrators decisions
•All claims adjudicated under this facility have access to the escrow account
•This facility is specifically for individuals and small business affected by the oil spill
•Local, state, tribal, and federal government claims will continue to be handles by BP directly
•Decisions by this facility are binding on BP under current law
Escrow Account
•BP will contribute $20 billion over a four-year period
•$5 billion per year, (1.25 billion per quarter) including $5 billion within 2010, until the $20B is paid out
•Assurance for these commitments will be set aside in $20 billion in U.S. assets
•The account is neither a floor or ceiling on liability
•The account is assurance that funds are available and can be used for: Claims adjudicated by the independent claims facility, Judgments & Settlements, Natural resource damage costs, State and local response costs
•BP will continue to pay all removal costs and damages it owes as the responsible party
•BP will not assert any liability cap under OPA to avoid liability
Voluntary Contribution for Rig Workers
•BP will contribute $100 million to a foundation to support unemployed oil rig workers
•The May legislative proposal would create a program of unemployment assistance to provide benefits to workers who lose their jobs as a result of an oil spill
Environment and Health Monitoring
•BP committed $500 million for the 10yr GOM Research Initiative to improve understanding of the impacts of and ways to mitigate oil and gas pollution
•BP will work with governors, state and local environmental and health authorities on a long-term monitoring program to assure the environmental and public health of the GOM Region
BP Finances:
As a result of the $20bn escrow account BP has canceled its dividend payout scheduled for June 21st and the rest of the dividend pay outs for 2010. Upon the 4th quarter payment in 2010, BP's board will meet to determine the full impact of the Deepwater Horizon tragedy and determine if dividends will be paid out in 2011.
2010 cash flows from operation are still expected to exceed $30bn before the costs of the oil spill are considered. Stocks rose for BP in London by 6.9% and slightly in the U.S. for a 45 cent increase.
June 15, 2010
Tuesday morning the LMRP containment cap operation was temporarily shut down after a fire ensued on the top deck of the Discoverer Enterprise. The fire was believed to have been caused by lightning. The fire was put out and operations continued as normal hours later.
Dolphins and sharks are showing up in shallow water along Florida’s coast and mullets, crabs rays and small fish are congregating by the thousands off Alabama’s coats.
Marine scientists working in the GOM are seeing thousands of fish and wildlife move closer to the coast. The movement closer to the shore may indicate the animals current habitat is badly polluted. The over crowding of wildlife near the shores could cause mass die-off due to lack of oxygen, competition for food and higher threat from predators.
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HOUSE IS CONSIDERING S. 2868 TO ALLOW THE US GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION TO TAKE BUSINESS AWAY FROM EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT DEALERS
Originally Posted: June 17, 2010 1:41 PM
Last Updated: June 18, 2010 6:59 AM
by Kenton Pattie
Executive Director
National Emergency Equipment Dealers Association (NEEDA)
The Senate has passed the Federal Supply Schedules Usage Act ( S. 2868 ), to make permanent authority for states and local governments to buy fire and emergency equipment and supplies from the General Services Administration’s Multiple Award Schedules program’s contracts. This is a program GSA has long sought so they can expand their Multiple Awards program to all state and local goverments. GSA contends it can deliver equipment at lower prices and with less red tape than local emergency equipment dealers.
NEEDA has long opposed GSA on this issue, contending that the Federal government should not be in competition with local emergency equipment dealers who serve their local city, county and state governments.
S. 2868, if passed by the House will make GSA a permanent and major player in the state and local fire and emergency response business. Permanent bills of this type are rarely repealed. NEEDA has sought repeal of any GSA authority to
sell products in competition with local emergency equipment dealers.
GSA currently has an information technology program that allows state and local governments, as well as the American Red Cross, to buy from the schedules. They can purchase goods and services when recovering from a presidentially declared disaster or if spending federal grant money in response to a public health emergency.
This bill would statutorily expand those authorities to allow governments to buy from the GSA Schedules to prepare for an oncoming disaster and give the American Red Cross permission to use the schedules and for other purposes.
The bill is currently before the US House of Representatives for its consideration.
To express your views on this legislation (S 2868), write:
US Representative ____name_________
US House of Representatives
Washington DC 20515
US Senator ____________name_______
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
US Capitol Switchboard: 202 224 3121
Senate and House Bill Status: 202 225 1772
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foxnews.com
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SENATE NOW CONSIDERING BILL TO PROVIDE 50% OF FUNDING FOR SPRINKLER SYSTEMS AS DEMONSTRATION GRANTS TO COLLEGES, FRATERNITIES AND SORORITIES
Originally Posted: June 17, 2010 1:15 PM
Last Updated: June 17, 2010 1:15 PM
There have been some dramatic fires at colleges and universities. Parents send their sons and daughters expecting safety but the number of deaths and tragedies has warned all, including the Congress, that without adequate safety equipment and systems, college dorms are often lacking in the safety expected by parents, administrators and the public.
The US House of Representatives has passed HR 2136 111th Congress (2009-2010), the Honorable Stephanie Tubbs Jones College Fire Prevention Act, which was introduced by Rep Marcia L. Fudge, [OH-11] (introduced 4/28/2009).
The bill has 69 House Cosponsors. A similar bill is pending in the US Senate: S. 1791 which was referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on May 20, 2010
Latest major action on this bill: 5/20/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Passed House without amendment 5/19/2010
This bill has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.
Honorable Stephanie Tubbs Jones College Fire Prevention Act - (Sec. 2) Directs the Secretary of Education to make competitive demonstration grants to institutions of higher education (IHEs), fraternities, and sororities for up to half the cost of installing fire sprinkler systems, or other fire suppression or prevention technologies, in student housing and dormitories owned or controlled by such entities.
Gives grant priority to applicants that demonstrate the greatest financial need.
Reserves the following portions of grant funds made available for each fiscal year: (1) at least 10% for historically Black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, and IHEs that are eligible for Institutional Aid under the Higher Education Act of 1965; and (2) at least 10% for social fraternities and sororities. Requires the Secretary to develop a plan to inform such entities that they may be eligible for such grants.
Prohibits more than 2% of a grant from being used for administrative expenses.
Directs the Secretary to report to Congress regarding the program within one year of this Act's enactment and annually thereafter until program completion.
Authorizes appropriations for such program for FY2010-FY2012.
(Sec. 3) Provides that any application for assistance under this Act, any negative determination on the part of the Secretary with respect to such application, or any statement of reasons for the determination, shall not be admissible as evidence in any proceeding of any court, agency, board, or other entity (except a proceeding to enforce an agreement entered into between the Secretary and a grantee under this Act).
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COLLINS, MAKER OF AMBULANCES, HAS SUBSIDIARY CAPACITY OF TEXAS WITH NEW TERMINAL TRACTOR CAPABLE OF GETTING POWER FROM MANY SOURCES
Originally Posted: June 17, 2010 12:08 PM
Last Updated: June 17, 2010 12:08 PM
Collins Industries, Inc (Longview, Texas) is a manufacturer of ambulances (including medical attack vehicles, rescue vehicles and fire emergency vehicles), Type "A" small school buses, and road construction and industrial sweeper markets. Collins subsidiary Capacity of Texas has now built a Pluggable Hybrid Terminal Tractor (PHETT).
Since 1971, Collins Industries, Inc. has grown to 900 employees in three plants comprising over eight-hundred thousand combined square feet of manufacturing space. Collins Industries, Inc. sells its products throughout North America and abroad.
The project was funded by the State of Texas through a grant from the Texas Environmental Research Consortium and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The final PEMS report for the project submitted to TERC/TCEQ marks the successful completion of the grant and project. Capacity developed a modular hybrid electric terminal tractor capable of operating in either a generator set "charge-sustaining" hybrid mode or in a "zero-emissions" mode using grid power.
Emisstar performed on-board emission testing and performance validation to quantify the impressive fuel economy improvements and emissions reductions of the PHETT®. Emisstar's testing documented fuel economy improvement of 47 percent compared to traditional diesel powered terminal tractors, and similar reductions in the total mass emissions of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide.
The new Terminal Tractor is capable of accepting power source from Hybrids (diesel and fuel cell technology), CNG and LNG alternative fuels, SCR and EGR diesel engine options along with gasoline engine options provides customers options which work best within their respective applications.
MORE INFO? www.capacitytexas.com
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IS THERE A TANK FAR NEAR YOU? GOT PLENTY OF FOAM? GOT A HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT? GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA TANK FIRE OFFERS ADVICE FOR ALL COMMUNITIES
Originally Posted: June 17, 2010 11:27 AM
Last Updated: June 17, 2010 11:27 AM
Colonial Pipeline Co. (Greensboro, NC) is working on prevention of fire at gasoline storage tanks after one was struck by lightning 1 AM Sunday June 13, 2010 near Interstate 40. It took firefighters five and a half hours
to kill the fire.
Lightning is the primary cause for tank fires. A widely used grounding system designed to deflect electrical charges did not prevent a fire among 72 tanks.
One hundred fifty firefighters from Greensboro, High Point, Raleigh and Charlotte were involved. They used 2,200 gallons of specialized foam created to fight petroleum fires.
Four firefighters were treated on the scene for heat exhaustion due to 100 degrees temperatures.
Twenty law enforcement officials from the Greensboro Police Department, Guilford County Sheriff's Office and the state Highway Patrol closed roads such as I-40.
Fire Chief Gregory Grayson: cited good preparation for the speed with which the fire was handled included training at the site of the strike.
"Two weeks ago, our personnel was on the site doing a training exercise for this very type of event," Grayson said.
Douglas: The fire began early Sunday when businesses were closed and traffic was at a minimum, the operation was able to occur with clockwork precision, with responders from the fire, EMS and police departments concentrating on the emergency.
Douglas: the fire department was fighting three structure fires brought on by the overnight storms.
Colonial Pipeline's director of operations, Darren Pruitt: the fire was expected to have no environmental impact and shouldn't affect local gas prices or availability.
Colonial is working with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Douglas: There was extensive training on disaster scenarios at the tank farm and precise execution of protocols in keeping the fire from spreading and becoming a catastrophic event.
Douglas: "Approximately four years ago, we entered into a partnership with many of the local pipelines and terminals, applied for a federal grant under Homeland Security and were awarded funds to purchase equipment specific to protection of the petroleum tank farm here in Greensboro."
Colonial spent its own money to install devices allowing the fire department to pump maximum amounts of water over long distances.
Douglas: "Today, our 'attack' lines exceeded 2,500 feet in length, involving supply hoses up to 7.5 inches in diameter. At present, we are unsure of our total water usage, but it is safe to say that it will be in the hundreds of thousands."
He said that firefighters who first arrived immediately began spraying water on other nearby tanks to keep them cool as heat escaped from the burning tank.
Also working in firefighters' favor was the fact that the surrounding tanks were mostly empty, containing only about 3,000 barrels of their 52,000-barrel capacity.
The fire was 20 to 30 feet off the ground, while the fuel level in the other tanks was about 10 feet.
Douglas: the geometric dome on the tanks keep vapors from releasing and prevent other tanks from failing.
Douglas: While the fire was ongoing, Colonial also removed fuel from the burning tank that prevented spreading.
Douglas: "Only the top foot of fuel was getting heated up. We were able to transfer most of the product out of the tank."
Douglas: "We have said for years there is no danger of an explosion out there,. The tanks will burn, but they will not explode and this fire will dispel that myth."
Colonial workers shut down fuel lines.
"A guy said it was a small fire that he could cover with a hat," Douglas said.
"A worker started shutting off lines and before they knew it, the whole tank was on fire."
The fire department and Colonial representatives will sit down in the coming weeks for a critical analysis of all aspects of the fire and existing protocols to see how their response can be improved if it ever happens again.
MORE INFO? Joe Killian 373-7023 or joe.killian @news-record.com
Ryan Seals 373-7077 or ryan.seals @news-record.com
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ARSONIST GETS 108 MONTHS FOR BURNING AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHURCH PROTESTING OBAMA'S ELECTION VICTORY
Originally Posted: June 17, 2010 5:28 AM
Last Updated: June 17, 2010 5:29 AM
Benjamin Haskell, 23, of Springfield, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty to two crimes for burning the Macedonia Church of God in Christ, an African-American church, in Springfield on the morning after President Barack Obama was elected as the first African-American President of the United States.
Early morning Nov. 5, 2008, within hours of President Obama being elected, Haskell and his co-conspirators burned the Macedonia Church of God in Christ's newly constructed building of an African-American congregation. The building was 75% completed at the time of the fire.
The fire left only the metal superstructure and a small portion of the front corner intact. The fire was caused by gasoline applied to the exterior and interior of the building.
U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz of the District of Massachusetts: "Today's conviction should send a strong message that hate crimes will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted."
U.S. District Judge Michael A. Ponsor of Springfield scheduled sentencing for September. 29, 2010. Haskell gets 108 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $7,500 fine.
The case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, FBI, Massachusetts State Police, Hampden County District Attorney's Office and the Springfield Police Department.
MORE INFO? www.justice.gov
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BOB VACCARO SHARES VIEW OF APPARATUS INDUSTRY: HOW IS BUSINESS HOLDING UP DURING ECONOMIC DOWNTURN?
Originally Posted: June 16, 2010 3:40 PM
Last Updated: June 16, 2010 3:40 PM
by Bob Vaccaro who has 30 years of fire-service experience. He is a former chief of the Deer Park (NY) Fire Department. Vaccaro has also worked for the Insurance Services Office, the New York Fire Patrol and several major commercial insurance companies as a senior loss-control consultant. Vaccaro is a life member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs.
Fire Rescue Magazine on June 16, 2010 said: The economy has been wreaking havoc on the fire service all around the country. Station closures and firefighter layoffs are taking place as you read this.
However, the fire apparatus industry seems to be weathering the storm with announcements of new contracts for vehicles in both large cities and smaller suburban areas.
Also coming into play: the 2010 EPA engine requirements, which are adding significant costs to the base price of an apparatus. Many manufacturers have stockpiled 2007-compliant engines and will sell these apparatus until their supplies run out, likely around September 2010.
As I comb through the apparatus manufacturer Web sites, I see many more demo vehicles being built and advertised to departments around the country. Most are being built with the most common options sought by fire departments. If you buy a demo, you can save money and take delivery a lot faster than if you had a custom unit built. Plus, if you attend any of the fire service shows, I can guarantee you’ll see a lot of deal-making right there on the exhibit floor as departments buy vehicles on site.
The other area that’s picking up some steam: refurbs. Many departments are holding onto older vehicles, bringing them up to the current NFPA 1910 standards and, therefore, saving a lot of money by avoiding purchasing new apparatus.
Let’s turn now to some of those contract announcements I referenced above:
Ferrara is building 20 rear-mounted aerials and five heavy rescues for the City of New York, 10 vehicles for Plaquemines Parish, La. (outside of New Orleans), as well as vehicles for Columbus, Ohio, Indianapolis, Houston and Knoxville, Tenn.
Crimson signed a 3-year contract with Chicago to provide 30 custom aerials. They also delivered nine custom pumpers with the possibility of delivering 50 total over the life of the contract. They’ve already delivered 131 pumpers to the city since 1992.
E-One has been awarded a contract for 10 Titan Force 4 x 4 ARFF vehicles for the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Command and 11 Titan Force 6 x 6 ARFF units for the U.S. Army Defense Logistics Command.
Pierce just delivered 12 industrial vehicles, all built on an Arrow XT Chassis, to Venezuela. The order consists of pumper tankers, heavy rescues and aerials. Also ordered: 15 Contender Series pumpers for the U.S. Army, six Arrow XT pumpers for Arlington, Va., and six pumpers for Jiangsu Province in China.
KME has orders for 23 pumpers built on its severe service chassis from the Los Angeles City Fire Department; 15 pumpers, four tractor-drawn tiller Quints and a tender for the Los Angeles County Fire Department; and 10 wildland units for the U.S. Forest Service.
Seagrave is in the process of delivering 12-plus Marauder II/Aerialscope II tower ladders to the FDNY with an add-on order for more Marauder II pumpers (in addition to the already delivered 71 engines).
As you can see from this small list, the industry seems to be doing well despite what the current economic situation is doing to other aspects of the fire service. Let’s all hope this trend continues, saving firefighter jobs and manufacturing jobs.
Copyright © Elsevier Inc., a division of Reed Elsevier Inc.
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US HOUSE CONSIDERS NEW BILL TO PREPARE US AGAINST WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION: INVOKE THE 9-11-01 COMMISSION REPORT
Originally Posted: June 11, 2010 5:36 AM
Last Updated: June 11, 2010 5:36 AM
US Representatives Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) and Peter T. King (R-NY), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, introduced the Weapons of Mass Destruction Prevention and Preparedness Act of 2010 (HR 5498). This legislation will help fulfill the goals of the Weapons of Mass Destructin (WMD) Commission.
US Senators Bob Graham and Jim Talent: “Our years of experience in Congress tell us this bill will require vigorous support from Congressional leadership on both sides of the aisle. We pledge our full support."
Pascrell: “Nine years after 9/11 we still do not have a comprehensive national strategy to counter the grave threat that weapons of mass destruction pose to our nation.”
King: "A WMD attack is ‘likely’ to occur somewhere in the world by 2013, something that Senators Graham and Talent reiterated in April when they testified before the Homeland Security Committee. Public reports from former intelligence community officials indicate that al-Qaeda is seeking to acquire or develop WMDs, which they surely would seek to use against the U.S. This legislation will enhance America’s capabilities to protect American lives from such a WMD attack.”
Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security: “ There is no time to waste, as we speak America’s adversaries are seeking weapons of mass destruction, including biological weapons, to harm us. This bill authorizes programs to enhance our nation’s prevention, deterrence, and preparedness capabilities but also bolsters our diction, attribution, response and recovery capabilities.”
Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology "The bill addresses every stage of the threat – from pre-event prevention and deterrence through to post-event recovery, and will strengthen our capabilities to address biological attacks.”
Rep. Dan Lungren (R-CA), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology: "I, along with all my colleagues on the Homeland Security Committee, will do everything I can to make sure these weapons do not fall into the hands of people whose only wish is to destroy, maim and disrupt our way of life.”
In December 2008, the WMD Commission, headed by Sen. Bob Graham and Sen. Jim Talent, issued its original report. In January 2010, the Commission issued a ‘report card’ that gave mixed grades for U.S. efforts, including three “Fs” for U.S. failure to effectively prepare for a biological attack, failure to implement retention and recruiting programs for the next generation of national security experts, and failure on the part of Congress to reform Congressional oversight to better address intelligence, homeland security and other national security missions.
MORE INFO? Dena Graziano (202) 225-9978 or (202) 226-8417
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THERE ARE 3,442 ACTIVE RIGS IN THE GULF: WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO OIL SPILLS?
Originally Posted: June 9, 2010 12:20 PM
Last Updated: June 9, 2010 12:24 PM
by Kenton Pattie
Executive Director
National Emergency Equipment Dealers Association
KentonP1@aol.com
Thank you NEEDA NEWSLETTER readers for your thoughtful observations and analysis of the Gulf Oil Spill and prospects for future disasters of all kinds!
We will be hearing about the forthcoming litigation before we hear about the prevention of future disasters of this size.
Twenty seven years ago Congress dictated a Congressional moratorium on offshore drilling. It ended September 29, 2008. Within a few years we got into today's trouble -- fifty days and counting.
One Maritime expert calls this the "Energy Pearl Harbor." Another tells about the Louisiana State University subsea vessel Pelican which has
found a 400-foot underwater plume of thick oil sitting on the ocean floor.
NOAA has aready dispatched the Thomas Jefferson research vessel to
determine the extent of underwater damage being done.
It hasn't helped to observe that offshore oil drilling was allowed but there was no emergency response plan, nothing like a marine fire and prevention service for all the offshore platforms reaching 5,000 feet below the surface.
Deepwater technologies, such as they are, have outstripped government regulators' ability to understand and respond to the reality of a catastrophic oil spill event.
Later on, it will become public knowledge that, by legislation, there are limits on the amount of damages any company or individual will have to pay. Not to mention the fact that there is absolutely no way to put a figure on the ruin that has already struck.
The governor who said Louisiana wants to get the Federal government out of his state's hair missed the fact that the BP lobbying budget in Washington is approximately $17 million a year. Whether or not he's getting his share, for their $17 million BP expects something in return.
The public probably doesn't realize there are 3,442 active rigs in the Gulf, many are 30 years old or more. Someone will have to hire a lot of inspectors, ships and helicopters to step up regulation. They certainly need some research and engineering to preceed the next oil spill disaster.
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AMBULANCE COMPANIES PAY $2.85 MILLION UNDER FALSE CLAIMS ACT FOR FORGING FALSE PATIENT AND AMBULANCE FEES; WHISTLEBLOWER KAPLAN GETS SHARE OF SETTLEMENT
Originally Posted: June 8, 2010 5:56 PM
Last Updated: June 8, 2010 5:56 PM
In Washington DC today June 8, 2010 New York City ambulance companies paid $2.85 million to resolve claims for fraudulent Medicare appeals.
Metropolitan Ambulance & First Aid Corp. (now known as SEZ Metro Corp.), Metro North Ambulance Corp. (now known as SEZ North Corp.), and Big Apple Ambulance Service Inc. (formerly known as United Ambulance) have paid the United States $2.85 million to resolve false claims they made to Medicare.
The US Justice Department acted against the companies, including their president, Steve Zakheim.
The United States alleged that the companies and Zakheim used, or caused the use of, falsified records to appeal a Medicare program refund demand. Medicare had demanded the companies return millions of dollars they had been paid for medically unnecessary ambulance trips.
Under Medicare rules, the companies could bill for these expensive non-emergency transports only if the patient could not be transported by any other means, such as by car or by wheelchair van. Medicare audited the companies' past billings and concluded that the companies had charged Medicare tens of millions of dollars for ambulance trips that did not meet this standard. Medicare demanded a refund and afforded the companies an extensive informal and formal appeals process to prove that their billings were proper.
The US government contended that, rather than contesting the refund demand fairly, the companies resorted to fraud when they could not otherwise prove an ambulance was medically needed.
According to the suit, Zakheim caused the use of hundreds of letters attesting to the need for an ambulance that were forged or otherwise purported to come from some neutral, disinterested health care provider when they in fact did not.
Tony West, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division of the Department of Justice: "Those who benefit from Medicare must play by the rules. We will diligently protect taxpayer dollars from those who use fraud and deceit to take advantage of federal health care programs."
U.S. Attorney Loretta E. Lynch: "Healthcare providers who seek to defraud the Medicare program by submitting false documents will be vigorously pursued and held accountable for their fraud."
This action was originally filed by Larry Kaplan, a former Chief Financial Officer for one of the companies, under the False Claims Act. The qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the Act permit private citizens to file suit on behalf of the United States and share in any recovery. Mr. Kaplan's share of the settlement announced today will be $618,450.
The investigation, litigation, and resolution of these allegations resulted from a coordinated effort by the Justice Department's Civil Division, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York, the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
This settlement is part of the Obama Administration to combat health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in that effort is the False Claims Act, which the Justice Department has used to recover approximately $3 billion since January 2009 in cases involving fraud against federal health care programs.
The suit is United States ex rel. Kaplan v. Metropolitan Ambulance & First-Aid Corp. et al., Civil Action No. 00-3010 (E.D.N.Y.).
MORE INFO? www.justice.gov
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SPARTAN GETS $27 MILLION SUBCONTRACT FROM BAE SYSTEMS
Originally Posted: June 8, 2010 5:38 PM
Last Updated: June 8, 2010 5:39 PM
(For other NEEDA NEWSLETTER stories about Spartan's contributions to the fire industry, use the "Search" application in the upper right of your NEEDA NEWSLETTER screen.)
Spartan Motors Chassis, Inc., a subsidiary of Spartan Motors, Inc. (Charlotte, Michigan), won orders of $27 million from defense contractor BAE Systems, to support the production of advanced tactical vehicles under the Medium Mine Protected Vehicle (MMPV) program.
John Sztykiel, President and CEO of Spartan Motors: "These subcontracts provide validation that Spartan has a definitive role in the defense business. Spartan clearly possesses the agility to efficiently and effectively provide major customers like BAE Systems with the high-quality, unique components needed to produce mission capable, yet life-saving, vehicles."
Spartan will supply to BAE Systems powertrain kits and components to support the production of the vehicles at Letterkenny Army Depot (Pennsylvania). This subcontract is to begin in June 2010 and be completed by the end of the first quarter 2011.
Sztykiel: "Smaller contracts such as these are in direct alignment with Spartan's strategic and operational strengths. Spartan is known and has been publicly recognized for its reliability, speed of manufacturing, and effectively supporting customer needs related to parts and assemblies."
Spartan continues its ongoing support of MRAP prime contractors and the U.S. Government by providing spare/replacement parts for many of the MRAP vehicles built at Spartan since 2005.
Spartan Motors Chassis, Inc., engineers, manufactures and sells chassis and aftermarket parts for emergency-response, outdoor recreation/RV, defense and specialty vehicles.
Spartan Motors, Inc. designs, engineers and manufactures specialty chassis, specialty vehicles and truck bodies and aftermarket parts for the Outdoor Recreation/RV, emergency-response, defense, government services, delivery and service markets: Brand names - Spartan™, Crimson Fire™, Crimson Fire Aerials™, Road Rescue™ and Utilimaster®. The Company employs 1,600 in Michigan, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Indiana and Texas. Spartan had sales of $430 million in 2009.
MORE INFO?/www.spartanmotors.com or www.spartanchassis.com
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STOCKTON FIREFIGHTERS AGREE TO TAKE SOME CUTS TO SAVE THE SERVICE FROM FORCE REDUCTION
Originally Posted: June 7, 2010 8:46 PM
Last Updated: June 7, 2010 8:46 PM
Stockton Firefighters, Stockton, California gathered at the Fallen Firefighter Memorial to provide the City of Stockton with $5.7 million in salary, benefit and other concessions in order to prevent cuts to fire and emergency medical services.
The proposal is the largest concession offer of any employee group for the upcoming budget and brings the total amount of firefighter concessions to nearly $19 million over the last three years—well above any employee group.
Dave Macedo, President of Stockton Firefighters, Local 456: "Stockton Firefighters have always made personal sacrifices to save the critical fire and emergency medical services our residents deserve."
Stockton's Interim City Manager, Kevin O'Rourke has proposed reducing the number of firefighters on duty and ready to respond to emergencies by 23%. His proposal would significantly increase response times, specifically for fires, and reduce staffing to pre-1980 levels.
In addition to the concessions, Stockton Firefighters agreed to discuss changes in the way employee pensions are structured and paid for.
Anthony Silva, President and CEO of the Stockton Boys and Girls Club of Stockton: "I commend the Stockton Firefighters for their willingness to take pay cuts in order to keep us safe. They're dedication to our community is heartwarming. We appreciate their sacrifice."
Stockton resident Gary Bohannon: "I greatly appreciate our firefighters' sacrifice to preserve our services. Thanks to their quick response and decisive actions, I'm alive today. I cannot imagine what would have happened to me if staffing cuts or station closures had been implemented in my neighborhood." Bohannon suffered a massive heart attack approximately two weeks ago and was saved "in the field" by firefighters and paramedics from Stockton Fire Department's Station 14. Station 14's response time to the call was three minutes.
Macedo: "Over the last two years, on average every firefighter has given back over $15,000 per year to the City in order to keep fire stations opened and fully staffed. That number goes up to $21,000 this year if our offer is accepted. We're hoping all city employees follow our lead, from the front line employees to high-level managers, including the City Manager. We all need to contribute to save services."
The Stockton Fire Department has 220 firefighters housed in 14 stations protecting 350,000 people and covering 87 square miles.
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HOW WILL US RESPOND TO LATEST NATIONAL DISASTER? DO LESSONS LEARNED FROM PAST DISASTERS HELP US IN GULF OIL SPILL? WHAT IS THE PRESIDENT TO DO?
Originally Posted: June 7, 2010 3:14 PM
Last Updated: June 7, 2010 3:14 PM
by Kenton Pattie
Executive Director
National Emergency Equipment Dealers Association
With the Exxon Valdez oil spill, the Katrina oil spill, and now
the Gulf oil spill US laws are being tested to see if they really work.
The fact that President Obama is directly involved in the Gulf recovery as is the President of British Petroleum further complicates the situation. For example,
will all the victims of the latest spill get Federal or BP aid, or both? In fact, will BP merit any Federal aid?
And for the future, what have we learned about how to improve our national
response to huge disasters like the one in the Gulf?
The main Federal legislation that applies is the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Public Law 93-288). But, most
of the US action so far has been under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (Public
Law 101-380).
If the President were to issue a major disaster declaration the Stafford Act would be his natural tool. Under the act the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) would be launched in full gear. In the case of the Stafford
Act, the Governor or combined Governors of the affected states would need
to petition the Federal government. Two such appeals by the Alaska Governor
were made following the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989.
The two Alaska appeals were turned down because the US government
figured there was going to be litigation against Exxon and giving Federal assistance might undermine the US position in Court. Similarly, giving
assistance to Louisiana and other Gulf states under the Stafford Act may give British Petroleum an upper hand in any subsequent Court proceedings.
Using the Stafford process just five years after the Hurricane Katrina
landfall would remind Louisiana and other states about how complex
and perplexing Katrina recovery had been in the hands of the Federal government.
The US government’s Disaster Relief fund is depleted although the President
has asked for $5.1 billion in supplemental funds. Critics of the US system
point out that long term recovery was never provided for in the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 and hasn’t been resolved to this day.
Meanwhile, a new National Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF) has been
drafted by FEMA and this, plus the Stafford act, might work for the Gulf oil spill. Under the Stafford Act, the president would issue a “major disaster or emergency” declaration that would trigger a broad Federal authority to provide supplemental assistance to state and local governments, to families and individuals, and to non-profit organizations.
But the President, in declaring an emergency, has to assert “the primary responsibility for response rests with the United States because the emergency involves a subject area for which, under the Constitution or laws of the United States, the United States exercises exclusive or preeminent responsibility and authority.” (USC 5192)
In addition, there is available the Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) program to help unemployment that was caused by the disaster already
mentioned in a Presidential emergency declaration.
In the past, FEMA has used the DUA to pay fishermen hurt by El Ninio in 1994
in Washington, Oregon, and California: $10 million was offered in Individual
Assistance. Such funds can also be used for temporary housing. The US Department of Commerce comes in at some point under DUA assistance as they gave help to the fisheries industry (Commercial Fishery Disaster Assistance by Harold F. Upton).
Disaster aid has to be given over and above the ability of the state and local governments to respond.
Any declaration by the President would indicate cost–sharing formulas. The share might be 75% Federal and 25% local. Temporary housing could be 100% Federal. FEMA will set up disaster recovery centers.
The removal of 9 million gallons of spilled oil and other damage after Hurricane Katrina was the result of combined efforts by the Department of Homeland Security, Coast Guard, Environmental Protection Agency and state agencies. So recovery can happen without going to Court.
Federal mitigation comes under a FEMA run “Hazard Mitigation Grant Program” which can help with damaged or ruined structures and the need for community planning initiatives such as zoning and flood plans. The Federal share? 75%
So some of this may be resolved when FEMA releases the final version of the National Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF).
The chances seem good for the adoption of the Stafford Act Declaration to be applied to the Gulf Oil disaster. FEMA already has experience with Gulf states.
But some argue that the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 is enough. They also point to the lack of available funds to pay for the commitments made in the Disaster
Relief Framework. Congress may have to find more funds – very difficult in this budget cycle.
Some say the US could come up with the needed money by getting it from
the “responsible parties,’ i.e. British Petroleum and its business associates
with a stake in the Gulf Oil operation.
Facing BP et. al is the law which says:
“Any person who intentionally causes a condition for which Federal assistance is provided under this Act or under any other Federal law as a result of a declaration of a major disaster or emergency under this Act shall be liable to the United States for reasonable costs incurred by the United States in responding to such disaster or emergency to the extent that such costs are attributable to the intentional act or omission of such person which caused such condition.” (42 U.S.C. 5160)
So, maybe Congress will stick with making the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 do the job in the Gulf oil spill.
Or maybe, the President will be inspired to issue an emergency declaration (42 U.S.C 5192).
Or how about a “Major Disaster Declaration” that would go as far as assisting citizens, communities and provide such things as crisis counseling and disaster unemployment assistance. This choice would certainly provide a better outcome than did the US response to the Exxon Valdez or Hurricane Katrina.
I’m sure that FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate (former Florida emergency management exec), the President, and Congress are pondering all of this.
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CANADIAN WILDFIRE HALTS COPPER MINING AS YUKON WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT GOES TO WORK ON BACKBURNS AND OTHER PREVENTIVE MEASURES
Originally Posted: June 7, 2010 10:25 AM
Last Updated: June 7, 2010 10:26 AM
On June 3, 2010 NEEDA Newsletter reported on the fire approaching the Minto
Mine near Vancouver, Canada. However, since our report the situation has grown worse as the fire has continued to approach the mining operations and the owners have not stopped the fire.
Capstone which owns Minto Mine is closing the mining operations and initiating a back burn in the land near the mine by the Yukon Wildland Fire Management.,
Since NEEDA's June 3 report, the fire progressed along the west bank of the Yukon River and has turned westward and is now just over 6km from the mine.
Due to the weather conditions and the abundance of dry, fallen timber from previous forest fires, Yukon Wildland Fire Management ("YWFM") says the fire will continue to spread.
YWFM plans a back burn around the Minto Mine site, pre-burning available fuel for the fire under controlled conditions to prevent the wildfire reaching the mine property.
The mine workforce will be reduced to a maintenance crew, and mining and milling operations will be suspended for five to seven days.
Stephen Quin, President of Capstone Mining: "Yukon's Wildland Fire Management personnel have been using helicopters and ground personnel to slow the wildfire."
Since the commencement of the fire, fire breaks have been prepared, sprinklers set up, and water conveyance systems reconfigured to support water distribution around the site, as recommended by Yukon Wildland Fire Management.
The Minto Mine is a high grade open pit copper-gold mine, and is located in the Yukon, Canada.
MORE INFO? www.capstonemining.com
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ILLINOIS FIRE MARSHALL INVESTIGATING TWO FIRE DEATHS IN JERSEYVILLE
Originally Posted: June 6, 2010 7:39 PM
Last Updated: June 6, 2010 7:39 PM
An 11 PM fire Friday, June 4, 2010 in Jerseyville, Illinois is under investigation by the Illinois State Fire Marshall. A man and his 7 year old niece were found dead in the fire.
Jersey County Coroner Larry Alexander says the cause of death for the niece and 18 year old Jason Holyfield was smoke inhalation. No foul play is suspected.
Jerseyville police say officers and firefighters responded to the fire after the house was fully engulfed in flames.
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MAJORITY OF COMMUNITIES HAVE AMBULANCE FEES AND MANY ARE INCREASING FEES TO PAY FOR SERVICES NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE+
Originally Posted: June 4, 2010 4:26 PM
Last Updated: June 4, 2010 4:26 PM
Beginning on February 1, 2010, patients transported to a hospital by three of Virginia’s Albemarle County's ambulance squads will no longer ride for free.
Albemarle County did not charge for ambulance transports. But the rising costs of providing emergency medical services has forced up ambulance service costs.
Eighty percent of Virginians and 85 percent of Americans live in municipalities that have ambulance cost recovery programs. The jurisdictions surrounding Albemarle County all have similar programs.
The county spends approximately $4.5 million to support the volunteer and career rescue squads, paid entirely by personal property taxes. In an effort to prevent a tax increase, the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors decided to implement a plan to offset the cost of providing high quality EMS services.
If all of the rescue companies take part in the plan, the county could recover $1.6 million from Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance companies. A transport will cost from $350 to $550.
In April 2002 Medicare issued its final rules on ambulance services and their fee structure has helped inspire local ambulance services to initiate or raise fees.
In March 2008, Washington DC Mayor Adrian Fenty directed the city to double
ambulance service fees. He used his emergency rule-making authority to issue the order. Basic life support went from $268 to $530 per ride. Advanced life support went from $471 to $832 and a new added Advanced life support (level 2) fee would cost $6.06 per mile more for all distances.
Recently, the Los Angeles City Council has raised ambulance fees by 37% starting July 1, 2010. This will increase basic life support ambulances from $712 to $974 and advanced life support ambulances from $1,004 to $1373. The city already charges $15.75 per mile which has not been changed.
The LA increases will produce $7.2 million in revenue.
Fees for many services have risen these days but ambulance fees get paid by insurance and Medicare. Opponents of the new ambulance fees predict that more and higher fees will raise insurance costs.
MORE INFO? www.medicare.gov
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HAITI EARTHQUAKE RECOVERY: 54 COUNTRIES PLEDGE HELP . . . $11 BILLION NEEDED
Originally Posted: June 4, 2010 2:26 PM
Last Updated: June 4, 2010 2:32 PM
Representatives of 54 countries and 35 international organizations participating in the World Summit for the Future of Haiti selected specific projects, with a cost of $11 billion that will be paid through their donations, renewing their commitments to the reconstruction of the earthquake stricken Caribbean nation.
Participants Summit held in the Dominican Republic Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, also agreed to provide enough funds to alleviate Haiti's deteriorating fiscal situation, established a fiduciary trust in the World Bank to receive donations and secured new pledges to help the country recover from the January 12 earthquake, which left more than 200,000 dead and 1.3 million homeless.
Dominican President Leonel Fernandez, who hosted the event, called the summit a success, saying that it advanced the work done previously in New York by having donors select the specific projects they will finance for a total likely to surpass $11 billion.
The announcement came as the interest of the international community had begun to wane in the midst of the world's economic problems.
President Fernandez: "In only 30 seconds, more than 300,000 people were injured; in just 30 seconds, more than one million people lost their homes; in just 30 seconds, Haiti lost 120 percent of its GDP; in just 30 seconds thousands of children were made orphans, thousands lost their most close relatives, and thousands were left in anguish."
The head-of-state also stressed that while there has been a great outpouring from the international community, there have been delays in the disbursement of the pledged help, at a time when the Haitian government is facing a drastic shortfall in its fiscal revenues caused by the quake.
Fernandez: "In light of today's work, President Rene Preval can now bring the good news to the Haitian people that in the fringes of this summit the budget deficit issue for 2010 has been completely covered."
(NEEDA Newsletter has published eight reports on the situation in Haiti. To see them use the Search application in the upper right of your NEEDA Newsletter screen.)
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FORMER EPA INVESTIGATOR WEST SAYS BP HAS A RECORD OF ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES
Originally Posted: June 4, 2010 11:42 AM
Last Updated: June 4, 2010 11:44 AM
Scott West, a former investigator with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) who dealt with a BP disaster in Alaska during the late 1990s: "They are criminals -- they have been convicted of several environmental crimes."
West, retired from the EPA in 2008 after 18 years.
West says BP skirted the law in other years.
Federal EPA statutes allow for misdemeanor and felony prosecutions of corporations and individuals stemming from hazardous materials seeping into the environment.
West: "If it was Shell or anyone else, I would've monitored it. But the fact that it's BP, I would have assumed it's criminal and started an investigation before evidence disappeared."
West works as an agent for the oceanic environmental organization Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. His wife, Suzanne, runs a Facebook page titled "BP Beyond Prosecution," designed to monitor the British oil company, which is the fourth largest in the world.
West: learned about the company's practices in 1999 when it was convicted of dumping hazardous waste down an Alaskan well. Six years later, an Alaskan pipeline burst and West gathered intelligence from workers who said they complained to supervisors about the faulty pipe, but were told to ignore it.
West claims the Department of Justice shut down his probe into the pipeline incident.
BP pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor. Then in 2005, a Texas refinery exploded, killing workers and releasing toxic fumes into the air.
West: "At first I thought it was [President] Bush's connection to oil."
West said if an investigation is now underway there will be grand jury subpoenas and visits from a task force of EPA and FBI agents.
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HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEES URGE US DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY TO IMPLEMENT PREPAREDNESS PROGRAM FOR LARGE AND SMALL BUSINESSES TO USE WHEN RESPONDING TO NATIONAL DISASTER LIKE GULF OIL SPILL CONSEQUENCES
Originally Posted: June 3, 2010 9:30 PM
Last Updated: June 3, 2010 9:30 PM
With British Petroleum still unable to cap its gushing oil well more than a month after the pipeline broke, the Chairmen of the Senate and House Homeland Security Committees June 3, 2010 urged the US Department of Homeland Security to step up its implementation of a voluntary program to help private sector companies develop preparedness, response, and business continuity plans.
House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) and Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) sent a letter to DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano noting that the program was required by legislation passed by Congress three years ago, and still has not yet been launched.
The lawmakers wrote: “private sector preparedness is a necessity not a luxury,” given that the private sector owns 85 percent of the nation’s critical infrastructure -- the networks and systems that supply our energy, allow us to communicate, and conduct financial operations, for example.
The law the legislators mentioned is Section 901 of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11/01 Commission (Commission Act of 2007, Public Law 110-53.
They said "unfortunately, the previous Adminisration missed the staturory deadline for implementation and failed to widely promote the program"
A copy of the letter from Congress went to Hon. Craig Fugate, Administrator of Federal Emergency Mangement Agency (FEMA). Included is a request for a plan to help small businesses get prepared for local and regional disasters.
The Natinal commission on Terrorist Attcks Upon The United States (9/11 Commission) found that the private sector remains largely unprepared for disasters.
to address this gap, Congress required the Department of Homeland Security to establish the PS-Prep program to replace ad hoc and isolated preparedness measures. (PS ='s Public Sector and Prep ='s Preparedness)
DHS has already published draft standards for public comment and has had 10 public meetings on this subject. DHS is thus moving forward with the Rule Making stage but in doing so the private sector has not been engaged. Success of the PS-Prep program will depend on the ability of DHS to get private companies and organizations to participate.
The members of Congress said in their letter to Secretary of DHS Janet Napolitano: "The impact of future disasters on vulnerable cities and towns cross the country would be significantly mitigated if businesses were armed with preparedness and recovery programs
MORE INFO?(Rep Thompson) Dena Graziano or Adam Comis at (202) 225-9978
(Sen Lieberman) Leslie Phillips at (202) 224-0384
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INTERSCHUTZ ATTRACTS 100,000 ATTENDANCE PLUS 1000 EXHIBITORS: LEIPZIG, GERMANY JUNE 7-12, 2010
Originally Posted: June 3, 2010 12:17 PM
Last Updated: June 3, 2010 12:17 PM
US and Canadian fiire industry managers are headed to Leipzig, Germany for the June 7 to 12 Interschutz 2010 trade show.
The Leipzig Exhibition Center will be hosting Interschutz, an international trade fair for rescue, fire prevention, disaster relief, safety and civil security.
Organized by Deutsche Messe, Hannover, and the German Fire Protection Association (GFPA), the fair occupies five of the venue's exhibition halls and its open-air site. One thousand exhibitors and 100,000 visitors will be there. It will be co-located with the 28th German Firefighting Convention.
The show focuses on rescue and fire prevention.
In addition to the exhibits there will be supporting programs of specialist forums, seminars, congresses and demonstrations on the open air site.
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MINERS CONTINUE TO DIG FOR COAL AS HUGE WILDFIRE THREATENS ABOVE GROUND POWER AND EQUIPMENT: YUKON WILDLANDS FIRE MANAGEMENT ON ALERT
Originally Posted: June 3, 2010 5:47 AM
Last Updated: June 3, 2010 5:47 AM
A wildfire is burning in the Capstone Mining Corp. (Vancouver, Canada) Minto Mine. So far operations are continuing as normal.
The wildfire started on Sunday May 30th by high winds blowing a dead tree into contact with the spur line supplying power to the Minto Mine, sparking a ground fire that is primarily burning windfall from 1980s and 1990s burns in the area in but is spreading very quickly in hot, dry conditions and strong winds.
The fire tripled in size to over 1,000 hectares and doubled again to over 2,000 hectares on Tuesday and is now within 9.1km of the mine site.
Stephen Quin, President of Capstone Mining: "This wildfire is very intense, aggressive and fast moving and is therefore a matter of serious concern to Capstone. Our personnel at the Minto Mine have developed an emergency plan with a series of triggers that could result in a staged curtailment or complete shut-down of operations and evacuation of personnel based on proximity to the mine infrastructure.Our personnel are working closely with Yukon's Wildlands Fire Management personnel to ensure the protection of personnel, facilities and infrastructure, as well as the natural environment. As of this stage, there has been no damage, but an aggressive fire of this nature requires extreme caution."
Yukon Wildlands Fire Management has crews working to protect infrastructure and contain the fire, where possible, and Capstone has released contract mining equipment from its contractor, Pelly Construction, to assist with fire containment. The Minto Mine has significant water stored on site from the recent spring run-off, as well as considerable resources in pumps, water lines, equipment and personnel to ensure the protection of infrastructure and facilities. As a result of site clearing during construction of the mine, all site infrastructure has a reasonable break between it and the vegetation, but additional fire break preparation, setting up sprinklers to wet down vulnerable infrastructure, establishing water distribution systems and other fire prevention recommendations from Yukon Wildlands Fire Management are being implemented.
Grid power has been turned off and the Minto Mine is running on diesel generators located at the mine site.
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CITY OF ANGELS MEDICAL CENTER CAUGHT SENDING HOMELESS PEOPLE TO HOSPITAL TO RECOVER BOGUS INSURANCE CLAIMS; JUSTICE DEPARTMENT WINS $10 MILLION LAWSUIT ENDING FRAUD
Originally Posted: June 2, 2010 5:13 PM
Last Updated: June 2, 2010 5:13 PM
The US government won a $10 million consent judgment against Intercare Health Systems Inc., doing business as "City of Angels Medical Center," for a Medicare and Medi-Cal fraud scheme in Los Angeles.
The US Justice Department says the former owners of Intercare, Robert Bourseau and Rudra Sabaratnam, agreed to a $10 million consent judgment.
The United States is entitled to recover $10 million.
The US government's complaint said City of Angels paid "recruiters" employed at homeless shelters in the skid row area of Los Angeles to deliver their homeless clients by ambulance to the hospital for medical treatment regardless of whether their clients in fact needed or requested such treatment.
City of Angels then billed the Medicare and Medi-Cal programs for a variety of medical services allegedly rendered to the homeless patients, many of which were not medically necessary.
The scheme violated the False Claims Act.
City of Angels conducted illegal inducements, or kickbacks. This scheme violated the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, which prohibits remuneration intended to induce the referral of patients for health services paid for by the federal government.
Tony West, Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Division of the Department of Justice: "Performing unnecessary medical services on homeless people who are struggling to survive is particularly egregious and will not be tolerated."
The Justice Department's total recoveries in False Claims Act cases since January 2009 have topped $3.7 billion.
MORE INFO? www.justice.gov
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FBI IS READY FOR CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL OR RADIOLOGICAL ATTACK, BUT NOT THE ATF A JUSTICE DEPARTMENT REPORT SAYS
Originally Posted: June 2, 2010 4:56 PM
Last Updated: June 2, 2010 4:56 PM
The FBI appears to be ready for a chemical, biological or radiological terrorist attack, but the rest of the Justice Department "is not prepared," according to a blistering audit released Tuesday.
Glenn A. Fine, Inspector General at the US Department of Justice, criticizes the department's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives saying the bureau is only dimly aware that it had been designated Justice's "lead coordinator" in responding to an attack with weapons of mass destruction.
Fire departments often work with ATF and NEEDA has written articles about the work ATF has done in determining the lawbrakers who start fires.
Fine: "We found that no Department law enforcement component, other than the FBI, has specific WMD operational response plans. ATF, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the United States Marshals Service (USMS) each have groups that manage all-hazards responses, but these groups do not include specific preparations for WMD incidents."
Fine: "When we asked if they were familiar with the FBI's WMD response plan, officials from ATF, the DEA, and the USMS said they were not familiar with the plan and had not asked to see it."
Fine: "Our review concluded that only the FBI has taken adequate steps to prepare to respond to a potential WMD attack" including in the Washington area."
Associate Deputy Attorney General James A. Baker: "We concur in all five recommendations and will implement" them, according to the Washington Post story by Jeff Stein.
Stein: "The DEA, however, protested, saying that it did participate in drills, citing one every year between 2005 and 2008. But auditors said they were not the same kind of exercises under discussion in their report."
The ATF and Marshals Service did not offer a formal defense of their bad grades, Stein wrote in the Post.
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IAFC READY, SET, GO PROGRAM IN SANTA BARBARA, CA FOCUSES ON PREVENTING WILDFIRE DESTRUCTION AND LOSS OF LIFE
Originally Posted: June 2, 2010 10:35 AM
Last Updated: June 2, 2010 10:36 AM
In an effort to reach stakeholders from the building industry, Brandguard Vents along with Hayward Lumber Santa Barbara, California are sponsoring an event on June 3rd, 2010 to bring together local contractors, builders, fire officials from Santa Barbara City, homeowners, HOA's, members of local Firesafe Councils, insurance professionals, and local architects.
The program's goal is to create and maintain fire adapted communities by endorsing safer building practices, maintaining brush clearance, and retrofitting communities in the urban wildland interface (UWI). The International Association of Fire Chiefs calls the program Ready, Set, Go!
Where and when? Hayward Lumber Santa Barbara Thursday June 3, 2010 from 10-2pm. Hayward is located at 421 Laguna St, Santa Barbara, CA.
The goal of the event is to inspire action. Brent Berkompas founder of Brandguard Vents and a fireman in Southern California along with Mark Mei of Hayward Lumber Santa Barbara are coordinating the event.
The event will about a new program developed for a wide and varied group of stakeholders with an emphasis on wildfire preparedness.
The program is based on the idea that during a major wildland fire, especially the early stages, there may not be sufficient fire suppression resources to protect every home. Structures are often destroyed during these first critical hours of a wildland fire by small embers not massive flame fronts.
The Ready, Set, Go! program places special emphasis on fire-safe construction, fire-resistant landscaping, and structural fortification.
Building safety professionals agree that any successful attempt to reduce losses of life, property, and the extra burden on public safety during wildfires must include buildings designed to resist natural disasters. With participation from building and design professionals the result will undoubtedly be safer communities.
Brandguard Vents, invented by a fireman in 2003, makes flame and ember resistant vents for both new construction and retrofits. The vents include roof, soffit, gable, undereave, and foundation vents. Brandguard Vents are state and locally approved and offer a 20 year warranty. They are made of 26ga, G90 Galvanized Steel and contain no chemical reactions or moving parts. Insurance discounts are available.
MORE INFO? www.brandguardvents.com
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IT'S THE LAW: DEALER OWNERS AND MANAGERS FACE LEGAL CHALLENGE WHEN RETALIATING AGAINST WHISTELBLOWER
Originally Posted: June 2, 2010 10:10 AM
Last Updated: June 2, 2010 10:10 AM
Retaliation claims against employers are now the second most frequently filed claim under federal anti-discrimination laws. Suits claiming that an employee
was retaliated against are three times as often as suits for sexual harassment.
Every major law effecting employers also protects whistleblowers. Discrimination, safety, wage/hour, securities fraud law, all prevent employers from retaliating against employees who come forward with complaints of potentially unlawful activity.
Whistleblower claims are the hardest to defend. Too often, the dealer or other employer is exonerated for the underlying claim of unlawful conduct but loses the retaliation claim.
An employee files a lawsuit against the employer alleging discrimination or other unlawful conduct. Subsequently, the employee tacks on another claim alleging he was retaliated against for complaining in the first place. The jury dismisses the underlying claim of wrongful conduct but rules for the employee and against the dealer on the retaliation claim.
Whistleblower and retaliation claims can be costly. Plaintiffs’ attorneys know that these cases boil down to factual disputes that juries must decide as opposed to being dismissed by a judge. Thus, it’s not surprising that multi-million dollar settlements are common. Add to this the media attention that these claims garner and employers are faced with one of their most daunting compliance challenges.
MORE INFO? www.HR.Com
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HOW TO RESPOND TO CRASH INVOLVING ONSTAR VEHICLE TO BE FEATURED AT UPCOMING FIRE CONVENTIONS
Originally Posted: June 2, 2010 5:50 AM
Last Updated: June 2, 2010 10:14 AM
Training sessions helping first responders respond to vehicles equipped with OnStar technology will be held at the IAFC's Fire-Rescue International Conference, Aug. 23-27, 2010 in Chicago and the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials conference Aug. 1-4, 2010 in Houston, and at the NENA conference, June 5-10, 2010 in Indianapolis.
Carmen Benavides, director, Chevrolet Safety: "We believe a first-responder education program is very important to raise the awareness and understanding of electric vehicle technology. This is a natural extension of the collaborative efforts we've had in the past when introducing new safety and other leading technologies."
During the past several months, Chevrolet has collaborated with first-responder representatives from national safety organizations to develop educational materials for firefighters, law enforcement, emergency medical technicians and emergency dispatchers nationwide. This will help ensure the training meets the needs and answers the questions their colleagues are likely to have about electric vehicles.
The training will include animation and illustrations of the Chevrolet Volt, highlighting locations of high-strength steel, cut points for extrication, first-responder labeling, automatic and manual electrical shut-off and more.
The Chevrolet Volt's safety features include safeguards before, during and – thanks to OnStar -- after a crash.
Before a crash, the Volt's safety technology includes standard anti-lock brakes with traction control, StabiliTrak electronic stability control and daytime running lamps. In the event of a crash, the Volt uses occupant protection features such as high-strength steel, crash sensors, eight standard air bags and safety belts with dual pretensioners to reduce the risk of injury. After a crash, the Chevrolet Volt has the added protection of OnStar, which uses built-in vehicle sensors to automatically alert an OnStar advisor in certain types of collisions. The advisor is immediately connected to the vehicle and can request that emergency help be sent to its location.
OnStar, a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Motors, is available on 30 2010 GM models. OnStar is standard for one year on all new GM retail vehicles in the United States and Canada.
MORE INFO? http://www.onstar.com
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MARITIME SECURITY COUNCIL MEETS NEAR WHITE HOUSE RE EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO SECURITY THREATS TO COMMERCIAL MARITIME VESSELS
Originally Posted: June 1, 2010 8:29 PM
Last Updated: June 1, 2010 8:29 PM
The Maritime Security Council (MSC) will hold its 22nd Annual International Conference on Maritime Security at the historic headquarters of the Organization of American States in Washington, D.C. on June 16-17, 2010. The OAS building is located across the street from the Washington zone containing the White House, Executive Office Building, and US Treasury.
The American Red Cross is nearby.
MSC meetings gather an elite group of industry and government leaders to discuss the security issues facing the commercial maritime and supply chain and allows for the exchange of information for everyone responding to or protecting from fires and other threats to maritime traffic.
In collaboration with the OAS, this year’s event will focus on the evolving security challenges facing the maritime industry and the Americas, and address solutions for ensuring the security, transparency, and accountability for cargo moving through the supply chain.
The US is a cofounder of and host for the OAS.
MORE INFO? www.maritimesecurity.org
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HOW BIG IS THE GULF OIL DISASTER? LATEST STATS
Originally Posted: June 1, 2010 8:21 PM
Last Updated: June 1, 2010 8:21 PM
NEEDA Executive Director Kenton Pattie has been participating in conference calls about the Gulf oil disaster and we have published earlier figures. But the stats grow. So here is a list of the latest figures.
Experts estimate between 12,000 and 19,000 barrels of oil are spilling a day, and have been every day since the explosion. This equals 504,000 to 798,000 gallons a day and between 21 million and 33.5 million gallons spilled in total since the explosion. (Estimates from U.S. Geological Survey)
* BP reports their cost of the response to date amounts to about $990 million, including the cost of the spill response, containment, relief well drilling, grants to the Gulf states, claims paid and federal costs. It is too early to quantify other potential costs and liabilities associated with the incident.
* So far approximately 30,000 claims have been submitted and more than 15,000 payments already have been made, totalling some $40 million. BP has received more than 110,000 calls into its help lines to date.
* More than 20,000 personnel are currently responding to protect the shoreline and wildlife and cleanup vital coastlines.
* More than 1,700 vessels are responding on site, including skimmers, tugs, barges, and recovery vessels to assist in containment and cleanup efforts—in addition to dozens of aircraft, remotely operated vehicles, and multiple mobile offshore drilling units.
* Approximately 1.95 million feet of containment boom and 1.85 million feet of sorbent boom have been deployed to contain the spill—and approximately 610,000 feet of containment boom and 1.8 million feet of sorbent boom are available.
* Approximately 13.5 million gallons of an oil-water mix have been recovered.
* Approximately 950,000 gallons of total dispersant have been deployed—740,000 on the surface and 210,000 subsea. More than 430,000 gallons are available.
* 17 staging areas are in place and ready to protect sensitive shorelines, including: Dauphin Island, Ala., Orange Beach, Ala., Theodore, Ala., Panama City, Fla., Pensacola, Fla., Port St. Joe, Fla., St. Marks, Fla., Amelia, La., Cocodrie, La., Grand Isle, La., Shell Beach, La., Slidell, La., St. Mary, La.; Venice, La., Biloxi, Miss., Pascagoula, Miss., and Pass Christian, Miss.
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