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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFire-and-Emergency-Plan_9_16-1.pdf Fire Prevention and Emergency Preparedness Plan for Black Oak Wind Farm 1.0 Project Description The Black Oak Wind Farm Project is a commercial scale wind farm project proposed by Black Oak Wind Farm, LLC. The project includes the construction and operation of 7 wind turbines, the installation and operation of associated collection lines, and related facilities including a substation in Enfield, NY. 2.0 Emergency Management Responsibilities The Tompkins County Department of Emergency Response is the lead coordinating agency for regional preparedness and emergency management efforts. Its 911 dispatch center provides computer-aided dispatch services related to law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services. Law enforcement services are provided to the Town of Enfield by the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Department The all-volunteer Enfield Fire Company provides fire services to the Project area, as well as advanced Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), life support, and critical care services. Bangs Ambulance Service also provides life support and critical care transport. One hospital serves Tompkins County directly, Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca, about 11 miles from the wind project site. In addition, helicopter services operating out of Syracuse, New York and Sayre Pennsylvania are also available through the 911 dispatch center at Tompkins County Department of Emergency Response. Prior to the start of construction, a meeting will be held with the General Contractor building the project, and local emergency response providers to establish their responsibilities. The Project operator will also be responsible for communicating hazards to employees and contractors; establishing an accident/injury reporting procedure, as well as protocol for employees to report significant “near- miss” incidents; and conducting emergency response drills to test the effectiveness of emergency communications and response systems and procedures. These procedures will be followed throughout construction and operation. In the event of an emergency, the emergency response team will consist of project employees who assume the following roles: • Emergency care provider: The role of the emergency care provider(s) (ECP) is to administer first aid/CPR to injured person, as needed. At least two ECP’s will be present on the jobsite at all times. • Communicator The role of the communicator is to maintain contact with appropriate emergency services and to provide as much information as possible, such as the number injured, the type and extent of injuries, and the exact location of the accident scene. The communicator will be located as close to the scene as possible to transmit to the emergency care providers any additional instructions that may be given by emergency services personnel en route. • Site Supervisor The site supervisor will survey and assess existing and potential hazards, evacuate personnel as needed, and contain the hazard. Follow up responsibilities include replacing or repairing damaged equipment, documenting the incident, and notifying appropriate personnel/agencies. 3.0 Emergency Response Procedures This Emergency Response Plan covers a number of events that may occur at the Project site by natural causes, equipment failure or by human mistake. The following is a list of potential events: • Minor injuries; • Major injuries; • Fire or explosion; and • Project evacuation. The primary responder for these events is the ECP who will be supported by the site supervisor. 3.1 Minor Injuries If a minor medical incident occurs (small cuts, abrasions, etc.) personnel should: • Perform first aid, as necessary; and • Consult the accident/injury reporting procedure to report the incident to the appropriate personnel. 3.2 Major Injuries If a medical emergency exists, including the need for hospitalization or emergency services, personnel should: • Contact the designated site supervisor; • Consult the emergency phone number list and request assistance immediately; • Perform first aid/CPR, as needed; • Stabilize the injured; decontaminate if necessary, and extricate only if the environment of the injured/ill person is dangerous or unsafe and if the rescuers are appropriately protected from potential hazards that might be encountered during the rescue; • Communicate directly with the 911 operators to determine the most appropriate way to transfer the injured person to the hospital; • When site emergency services personnel arrive, communicate all first aid activities that have occurred; • Transfer responsibility for the care of the injured/ill to the site emergency care providers; and • Consult the accident/injury reporting procedure to report the incident to the appropriate personnel. • Enfield Volunteer Fire Company is not responsible for any rescue activity at heights in relation to wind turbines. This is performed by Project staff trained in turbine rescue. Ambulance service would be provided by whichever ambulance Tompkins County Dispatch sends. 3.3 Fire or Explosion Turbine operations will be monitored 24 hours/day by a remote operations center in Schenectady, NY. Permanent on-site maintenance crew is not anticipated. However, a local project manager will be available on-call in case of emergency. Effective human intervention at the time of a fire or explosion at the site of a wind turbine is often hampered by the extreme heights of wind turbine nacelles. The towers are designed with internal fire suppression systems that will automatically activate if a fire escapes the nacelle. In the event that a fire escapes the nacelle, personnel should:  Notify Tompkins County Department of Emergency Response to make them aware of the situation; and  Use onsite water access points to saturate the ground to prevent spreading; • Allow the tower to “burn-out”; • Consult the accident/injury reporting procedure to report the incident to the appropriate personnel. Maintenance and ancillary buildings will meet all federal, state and local building and safety codes. This includes the presence of fire emergency equipment, such as fire alarms (pull boxes) and fire extinguishers. Building evacuation procedures will also be established and posted in easily visible areas. In the event of a fire, personnel should: • Use fire alarms to initiate building evacuation procedures; • Call 911 to notify Tompkins County Department of Emergency Response • Use onsite fire extinguishers to contain the fire, within reason Enfield Volunteer Fire Company is not responsible for firefighting activities on any portion of wind turbines. A fire in the nacelle is allowed to burn out by itself, as it cannot be fought from the ground. Local fire professionals are responsible for keeping the public at a safe distance, and ensuring no ground fires start from any falling debris. This approach is consistent with that taken by wind projects across New York State and the US generally.