MINUTES OF THE
SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
Sixty-seventh Session
April 6, 1993
The Senate Committee on Natural Resources was called to order by Chairman R. Hal Smith, at 8:00 a.m., on Tuesday, April 6, 1993, in Room 224 of the Legislative Building, Carson City, Nevada. Exhibit A is the Meeting Agenda. Exhibit B is the Attendance Roster.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:
Senator R. Hal Smith, Chairman
Senator Dean A. Rhoads, Vice Chairman
Senator Mark A. James
Senator Joseph M. Neal, Jr.
Senator Thomas J. Hickey
Senator Ernest E. Adler
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Dina Titus (Excused)
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:
Caren Jenkins, Senior Research Analyst
Caroline Allen, Committee Secretary
OTHERS PRESENT:
Ray Blehm, State Fire Marshal
William ("Bill") R. Goddard, Captain, Office of Chief, State of Nevada Highway Patrol
Bob Andrews, Executive Director, State Emergency Response Commission
Joe Quinn, Chief of Operations, Nevada Division of Emergency Management
* * * * *
Chairman Smith opened the hearing on Assembly Bill (A.B.) 125.
ASSEMBLY BILL 125: Makes various changes relating to repository of information concerning hazardous materials in Nevada.
Ray Blehm, State Fire Marshal, introduced himself to members of the committee. He stated the staff of the State Fire Marshal's division does not operate the information for hazardous materials repository, although they were heavy users of it. He also stated much of the information they were in the process of gathering, becomes resident in that particular program. He stated the only reason he was there was to come and support the repository and further stated he believed it was a valuable tool. He further expounded on his views.
William ("Bill") R. Goddard, Captain, Office of Chief, Nevada State Highway Patrol, introduced himself to members of the committee. He also stated they were in support of the current bill.
Chairman Smith stated he was curious about the State Emergency Planning Commission, that is, who they are and how they were established?
Mr. Goddard stated that he would prefer to refer that question to Bob Andrews, who was with the above mentioned commission, however, he proceeded to explain that the commission was set up by statute, he believed, to identify hazardous material facilities and materials within their region.
Senator Hickey asked what was the reason for Assembly Bill 125?
Mr. Goddard responded by stating, he thought Senator Hickey was asking the wrong person and he did not know why the bill was submitted. He further indicated, he felt someone thought there should be a central repository for all the information.
Senator Hickey asked if this information came from the study committee?
Mr. Goddard responded, yes.
Further discussion ensued around this subject.
Bob Andrews, Executive Director, State Emergency Response Commission introduced himself to members of the committtee. He explained that the discussion and purpose of the bill, that is, in looking at hazardous materials, was that there needed to be identified a single hazardous material repository in the state. He further expounded on his views.
Senator Hickey asked what were they modeling this system after?
Mr. Andrews stated the computer technicians may be using a model, but he was not involved in the technical aspect of setting up this process. He further stated he was only aware of its intentions.
Senator Hickey stated he understood the use of a central repository
and about the use of computers, further stating there had been a major problem within the department in developing compatibility. He asked if there was a fiscal note used with this process?
Mr. Andrews responded, no.
Senator Hickey asked why?
Mr. Goddard responded by stating they were already doing many of the things that had been addressed, as far as the repository and further indicated they were currently obtaining that information. He also stated he felt the impact would be minimal and explained about the procedure of writing the data programs and of receiving the incoming information.
Senator Adler explained that the financial responsibity was on the county and that this procedure only organizes the information.
Further discussion ensued concerning this matter.
Senator Hickey further asked if the use of this repository had been modeled after that used in any other state?
Mr. Goddard stated they previously have had an electronic repository in the Nevada Highway Patrol for some time and it was in an older system, called a maverick system. He also indicated the availability of information was somehow restricted and it was difficult to extract information from it. He stated they had been in the process since last summer of upgrading that system with the current resources that were within his agency. He further expounded on his views.
Further discussion ensued on this matter.
Joe Quinn, Chief of Operation, Nevada Division of Emergency Management, introduced himself to members of the committee. He explained his division had been working over a number of years with the Nevada Highway Patrol in inputting information into the main frame repository that they have maintained. He further explained this procedure.
Senator Neal asked what information of a hazardous nature was available, that the public would not be able to access?
Mr. Goddard responded by stating there was some patent information, perhaps, on what a product is made up from and he thought there were some safeguards for a company on what their products are and how they
are made.
Further discussion ensued on this matter.
Chairman Smith closed the hearing on Assembly Bill 125.
There being no further business before the Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Chairman Smith adjourned the hearing at 9:06 a.m.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:
Caroline Allen, Committee Secretary
APPROVED BY:
Senator R. Hal Smith, Chairman
DATE:
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Senate Committee on Natural Resources
April 6, 1993
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