Murphy Oil USA, Inc.
Superior Refinery Community Advisory Panel
April 3, 2003
Minutes
Attendees: Robyn Bass, Bob Browne, Bobbi Germond, Steve Gotelaere, Mark Johnson, Keith Kesler, Tad Matheson, Fariba Pendleton, Sister Genevieve Schillo, Tom Strewler.
Industry Representatives: Liz Lundmark, Corey Mead, Dave Podratz.
Facilitator: Ann Green, Ann Green Communications, Inc.
Minutes: Liz Lundmark.
Ann Green was not able to facilitate because of the horrible weather and driving conditions. Dave Podratz was late because of the Tree Tales ceremony.
The meeting was called to order on April 3, 2003 at 6:05 p.m. by Liz Lundmark. Liz welcomed CAP members and explained the absence of Dave and Ann. The agenda and team agreement were reviewed. The minutes of the previous meeting were approved without changes.
The annual report concept discussion was deferred until Ann could come to the meeting.
Liz very briefly discussed the new permit—it was issued on the 18th and a reception was held to thank the community for their support and to say goodbye to Herb Fox (president) who is retiring.
Shelter-in-Place Outreach
Keith Kessler indicated the LEPC would appreciate any help the CAP could provide and suggested CAP members could deliver information packets or signs like the ones presented by Ann at the previous meeting.
Steve Gotelaere said shelter in place has changed since it was first utilized. Steve suggested the CAP could put together a packet or a single page informational sheet that could be included with the local telephone directory. It could include instructions for what to do in various scenarios and a door hanger that would say “WE HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED.”
The CAP would need to determine if something like this could be placed in the publication and the mechanism for getting something like this into the book. Steve noted this is the one publication that EVERYONE gets. The CAP would need to check with Century Tel and Check Tel who are local phone providers.
Keith added the CAP needs to make sure there are financial resources available for the long term; this is not just a one-time exercise. Keith also wanted to make sure the campaign started with the bigger institutions first such as the schools, malls, larger stores—to ensure that parents would not be trying to get their kids and would be assured that they would be taken care of wherever they were.
Fariba wanted to make sure the message could be taught without creating any kind of panic in the population.
It was felt that it would be more appropriate for the information to come from the LEPC rather than the CAP itself. This would be more like a public information campaign (like the old “duck and cover” training) rather than, “Why is Murphy Oil so concerned with shelter in place—what do they know that we don’t know?”
Bob Browne suggested a skit be developed with people doing it right and people doing it wrong and make it more entertaining.
Keith suggested the St. Bernard parish video could be broadcast on the local PBS station and Duluth to try to get the information out. It also could be delivered by radio somehow. Also, Emergency Management has such material. He said the objective is to make people understand they need to prepare IN ADVANCE—just like for a blizzard or any other problem.
Steve Gotelaere felt people will simply forget after they are trained. If the information is published in the phone book, it could be part of the “One Call” message that people could go to their phone book to find the information on page so-and-so. A hard-sell approach was recommended for the beginning with information released periodically as part of a long-range program.
Discussion followed on how to implement a program. Keith Kesler said the LEPC does not have enough staff to do a good job on the public education. We need to make sure that people actually LISTEN to the first call message, he said.
Tom suggested we try to get someone like Wal-Mart to market a “shelter in place” kit like they do for winter driving.
The Red Cross also has some good information—contact there is Tony Guerra.
Steve agreed to put together a list of information that should be incorporated into a one-page outline of shelter-in-place information.
Fariba wanted to make sure the CAP considers non-readers/non-English speaking and elderly populations when working through the education systems.
Sister Schillo added there are senior care centers where one could reach these people.
Tad suggested the CAP could participate in this effort by using the same format used to inform community groups about the existence of the CAP—go as committees and circulate this kind of information to various civic groups.
Schools would need to be done school-by-school. There is not a good forum to get everyone at once.
There were no presentations this month but a thank you letter was sent to the principal of Great Lakes Elementary for the use of facilities for the neighborhood meeting.
Tom Strewler indicated the grant application for the CAP mini-grant program is at the printers and will be distributed to teachers in late summer and/or early fall so they can get their grants for the next school year. He also updated progress on the EPA grant between Superior School District/Murphy/Superior Water Light and Power. They were to hold a meeting on the 4th of April and Tom said he would bring information from that meeting to the next CAP meeting.
Fariba thanked Murphy for contributing to the after school program and wondered if there were any opportunities for the CAP or Murphy to provide environmental education opportunities to the students who participate in the after school programs. Tom indicated that Ed Johnson—the school forest educator—has students who do service projects for him and this would be a good opportunity for them to do their outreach projects. Tom indicated he would contact Mr. Johnson to discuss this possibility. Al Batterman of EPA also was mentioned as a source for this type of education as well as the local section of the American Chemical Society.
Already discussed.
Bob Browne wondered if we could discuss as a topic, “What will happen if the Refinery Closes.” He wondered what would the community do and what would happen to the property, etc. Bob was unaware the refinery had put together the information on the economic impact the refinery has in the community. Others wanted to caution against such speculation because the rumor would start that the refinery was closing—which it is not. Bob wanted to be able to have the information so he could remind people who always have a negative view of the refinery that it does have an important positive impact. He said he goes to a lot of environmental meetings and the view is that the refinery is just a source of pollution. Liz cautioned against the CAP becoming a cheering section for the refinery. She added it was really the refinery’s responsibility to do this on its own and Dave said he could give information to Bob since he had not seen the economic impact presentation.
The CAP indicated it would like to continue with the emergency preparedness discussions at the May meeting.
Mark Johnson suggested scheduling an update on the Newton Creek project after the work was completed. Dave thought it was a good idea and suggested getting the WDNR to come in October to give a report on the project.
Because the CAP has had two tours of the refinery already and only a couple of people had not been on a tour—Bob Browne and Mark—Dave said they could each have their own tour if they wanted.
Corey thought it might be a good idea to have a topic covering the refinery turn around which will be conducted in May, with pictures and discussion of what is involved in a turn around.
Sister Schillo would like an educational topic—something like “What Lives in our Natural Environment.” Dave suggested getting Kurt Schmude from the university to discuss the Benthic community in streams and this would tie in to the Newton Creek information we had gotten last month. Amy Elliot from WDNR was another possible speaker. The CAP thought this might be a good topic for August.
Dave discussed the monthly report. He was late to this meeting because he had been at the Tree Tales award ceremony. At least 150 people had come to the ceremony. A planned live broadcast of the event was cancelled because of the weather.
Safety is going very well so far this year. The refinery had a good month for water. Dave discussed a number of air events and emphasized that while these events were reportable, the total emissions of all the events did not add up to one day of regular operational emissions before the tail gas unit went on line.
Next Meeting Location: Dave will check into the following locations: Barkers Island, Holiday Inn Express, and the Challenge Center.
Holiday Inn Express
5:30 p.m. - Dinner
6 p.m. – Meeting