September 8, 2003 - Safety and Security Presentations (U.S. Coast Guard and Dow)

The meeting of the Dow Community Advisory Panel was held on September 08, 2003 at 6:00 P.M. in the Dow Conference Center in Plaquemine, Louisiana.

Those in attendance were:

Panel members, Dr. Debbie Barker, Ms. Mary Alice Crockett, Mr. Wayne Fourroux, Ms. Georgia Harmason, Ms. Bonnie Kleinpeter, Ms. Rosemary Rylander-Young, and Mr. Charlie Tobias, were un­able to attend the meeting. Guests attending the meeting were Ms. Charlot Edwards, Ms. Laurie Doiron, Representative Emma Devillier, and Mr. Al Cunningham. After the facilitator welcomed those present, the panel made approved the minutes of the August 11, 2003 meeting.

U.S. Coast Guard Safety on the River Presentation
Mr. Shipp stated that since the passage of the Homeland Security Act, Dow’s relationship with the U.S. Coast Guard has grown stronger, and will continue to do so.

LCDR Paul Dittman stated that a merchant marine officer by trade, he has been in the Coast Guard for 12 years, serving in New Orleans, St. Louis, Port Arthur, Charleston, SC, and Baton Rouge. The Baton Rouge port is a busy area and a critical component of the U.S. economy. There are three major offices located in New Orleans, Morgan City, and Lafayette, and subunits located in Baton Rouge and Houma. The Baton Rouge Marine Safety Unit is a subunit of the New Orleans Marine Service Office. The unit is located in the Siegen Lane area of Baton Rouge. There are 24 active duty employees and 14 reservists assigned to the Baton Rouge unit. Louisiana is the busiest maritime state in the U.S. and has the highest concentration of Coast Guard personnel in the U.S. The Baton Rouge Marine Safety Unit is responsible for marine safety in the area between the Mississippi River at the Sunshine Bridge and the Arkansas state line, traffic on the Ouachita and Red Rivers, and the Atchafalaya River south of Krotz Springs. It is responsible for carrying out the Coast Guard marine safety mission as follows:

1. Search and Rescue.
   a. Maritime 911.
   b. Aid to Navigation (maintenance of buoys, sign posts, etc.)
   c. Marine Law Enforcement (drug interdiction and migrant operations (illegal entries into the U.S.)).
   
2. Marine Safety (largest division)
   a. Ice Breaking in U.S. Waters (has 2 polar class icebreakers).
   b. Oil/HAZMAT Response (federal end of HAZMAT covering the area contained between the Louisiana/Arkansas line and the Sunshine Bridge at Donaldsonville.) – insures timely and effective responses to HAZMAT matters to insure public safety and minimal environmental impact.
   c. Vessel and Facility Inspections. Domestic vessels are inspected to insure that they meet fire guidelines. The U.S. Coast Guard also oversees construction and maintenance of these domestic vessels. International vessels are inspected to insure that they meet required standards.
   
3. Marine Casualty Investigations. (Fires, groundings, collisions, and injuries of boats on U.S. waters are investigated).
   
4. Waterways Management.
   
5. Port Security. (This mission has moved to the forefront since 9/11/01.) There is a 4-man security duty crew on duty 24 hours a day, 7 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The U.S. Coast Guard is now housed under the Department of Homeland Security umbrella, along with the former Immigration and Naturalization Service, and Customs. Although the Coast Guard continues to perform the same missions as it did when housed under the Department of Treasury, there is more coordination with the other agencies now. The Coast Guard was created in 1791 and is both a military and federal law enforcement agency. The entire U.S. Coast Guard has 45,000 members. The remaining 4 branches of the armed services are under the Department of Defense.

LCDR Dittman then explained that port security is important because over 95% of all foreign trade is shipped by barge into the U.S, over 2 billion tons of commerce is handled via marine traffic yearly, and over 7.5% of the gross domestic profit is handled via marine transportation.

He then explained the Coast Guard Vessel/Facility Security Plans stating that the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code was adopted by the U.S., and is used to implement regulations that are pending and due late November. Foreign vessels, domestic vessels, and domestic companies that have commercial vessels will all be required to have security plans. Additionally, Vessel/Facility Security Plans will be used for monitoring restricted areas, access control, and supervision of cargo operations. Port security plans will have input from local police departments, the Louisiana State Police, area sheriffs, riverboat pilots, and representatives of the towing and chemical industries. The focus of the port security plan will be on power grids, bridges, etc., and vulnerability assessment and strategies.

The maritime security levels, MARSEC, are similar to Homeland Security levels, as follows:

Level 1. The new normalcy since 9/11/01 (green, blue, or yellow alert level).
Level 2. Heightened concern (orange alert level).
Level 3. Indication of probable terrorist event (red alert level).

In developing the port security plan, representatives of the Coast Guard have talked with various agencies to establish a relationship and to develop a professional rapport. It is important that the various agencies work together.

With regard to foreign screening, LCDR Dittman stated that prior to 9/11/01, there was a required 24-hour advance notice of arrival of foreign vessels to the captain of the port of arrival. Since 9/11/01, all information about a boat and its crew is required at a centralized point 96 hours prior to arrival at that point. An average of 500+ vessels and 10,000 people are screened each day for safety and security. If there is any doubt at all, the vessel and crew are checked out.

Operation Riverwatch is a joint Coast Guard and Louisiana State Police initiative. This is similar to a neighborhood watch along the river. If something seems to be out of the ordinary, it is checked out. Every call is answered. Governmental agencies are using information and intelligence to win the battle against terrorism.

Answers to Questions Included the Following:

1. There are no exemptions for vessels sailing under any particular flag. Vessels from non-entrant countries are not allowed to enter the U.S.
   
2. A suspicious call from Dow would be for anything that appears out of the ordinary. An example would be boat passengers taking pictures of the Dow dock.
   
3. There have not been any specific threats to ports in Louisiana.
   
4. The qualifications to serve in the Coast Guard include a high school diploma and a desire to serve.
   
5. Security zones are not in effect currently along the Mississippi River. If they were, information would be broadcast on broadband radios to vessels on the river. Additionally, law enforcement vessels would be located along the river.
   
6. The ports of Hong Kong and Rotterdam are the largest ports in the world tonnage-wise.
   
7. The U.S. Coast Guard doesn’t maintain a Weapons of Mass Destruction subunit in the Baton Rouge unit. However, that unit can be called in at any time if deemed necessary.
   
8. The amount of damage to the levee should a tanker hit it would depend upon the size of the tanker and the load. Mr. Mosher stated that a tanker ramming into the levee would not make the levee fail, according to the Corps of Engineers. Mr. Shipp stated that Dow has the capability of closing valves and turning off pumps on the docks should a ship hit it. Approximately 180 deep draft ships are loaded at the Dow docks each year in addition to thousands of barges. Dow relies upon the Coast Guard to make sure nothing hits the levee, and Dow mitigates any problems at the docks. Mr. Mosher stated that response plans have been in place at Dow for a very long time. The best way to respond to an incident is to prevent it.
   
9. Different action levels are set at different river levels.

Dow Presentation on Security
Mr. Mosher stated that security has been part of Dow’s core business since the company’s beginnings. The initial strategy has been revised since 9/11/01. As part of the assessment of site vulnerabilities, Dow has been using the Sandia method at 90 facilities around the world. The focus is on vulnerabilities that would affect people offsite. The assessment looks at intentional acts by external adversaries or knowledgeable insiders and recommends additional layers of protection.

There are over 3,000 people on the Dow site and numerous others that are in and out of the site. Photo ID’s are now required for all personnel; the visitor, retiree, and contractor access policies have been revisited; and security portals to the site have been limited (contractor parking has been consolidated to one lot). Additionally, Dow has spent $1.8 million improving its security infrastructure. A new card access system for all entrants into the site is being designed for implementation in 2004.

Hazardous and key scenarios for emergency response and planning have been identified. Resources identified to mitigate key scenarios are in place and gaps have been identified. A 3-year project to purchase response equipment (2 new fire trucks, additional equipment, and training) has begun, and security drills and training with law enforcement agencies are being conducted.

The current security status for the Dow Plaquemine site has been redefined. The site has maintained a yellow level of security (second highest level) since October 2002. Details of the Responsible Care Security Code requirements are being implemented, along with action items from the Security Vulnerability Assessment site is implementing a security strategy to meet key stakeholder expectations, Dow commitments, and economic realities. The company has an ongoing liaison with legislators, regulatory agencies, and law enforcement agencies on security issues.

Dow plans to implement contractor background screening (which is a very complex and difficult process). Additionally, there will restricted access areas within the site, restricted access for visitors, security exercises and drills, card access for everyone entering the Dow site, vulnerability assessments. Security considerations will be made in project planning and design, also.

Mr. Graham stated that $5 million has been spent on security recently at the Dow site.

Answers to Questions Included the Following:

1. Currently, contractors must prove who they are and must meet safety requirements. Criminal background checks are done selectively.
   
2. A panel member suggested that the “community” be included in security presentations.
   
3. If the site is raised to a “red” level, nearby neighbors will be notified.

Responsible Care Performance Measurements Presentation
Mr. Graham provided the CAP with Responsible Care Performance Measurements for the period August 12-September 8, 2003 (handout). No injuries, spills or incidents affecting the community, agency audits, or serious transportation incidents were reported during that time period. There was an outside complaint about the UP train crossing LA 1 during peak morning times at Dow. Mr. Shipp stated that Dow has no choice other than to use Union Pacific. Ms. Barlow stated that a discussion of this problem is scheduled at the Plaquemine City Council meeting scheduled for September 9, 2003. An update on this problem will be included as an agenda item at the next CAP meeting.

“Dow in the News”
Ms. Babin provided a copy of the August 2003 issue of “Dow Louisiana News. . .” to the CAP members. She then provided the CAP with a listing of upcoming events (attachment).

Dow Business Update
Mr. Shipp stating that the current hiring process at Dow is nearing completion. Approximately 1,200 applications were reviewed for 20 jobs. After the completion of the first screening, 900 applications were still in the process. The final selection should be made prior to the October CAP meeting. After the selection is made, the new employees will complete a 6-week new employee training program before actually beginning work.

The American Electric Power co-generation project is continuing. Dow will use the steam and the electricity made will be sold to the grid.

Business conditions at Dow have not improved, and are similar to other businesses in the manufacturing and industrial sector. No major layoffs are expected in the short term. The company will continue to make sure that security and safety are still funded. The plant does plan to continue its participation in community activities.

“7 Habits of Effective CAPS” Survey
Ms. Babin asked that those panel members who have not already done so to please complete the survey and return it to Donna Carville this week. The results are needed for reporting purposes.

Next Meeting
The next Dow CAP meeting will be held on October 13, 2003 at 6:00 P.M. at the Dow Conference Center. The agenda will include a discussion about improving Dow’s direct economic impact on the community and the “7 Habits of Effective CAP’s” Evaluation.