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Chippewa County LEPC reviews Tier II site updates, HMEP reimbursements and hazard‑mitigation timeline
Summary
At its April 22 meeting the Chippewa County Local Emergency Planning Committee reviewed updates to Tier II hazardous‑materials site plans, confirmed a federally funded HMEP grant reimbursement plan for Tier II software and filing cabinets, and set a 2–3 month timeline to begin hazard mitigation planning.
The Chippewa County Local Emergency Planning Committee met April 22, 2025, at MyMichigan Medical Center Sault and reviewed progress on hazardous‑materials site reporting and upcoming preparedness work, Secretary Greg Postma said.
Greg Postma, Chippewa County EM/911 Director and meeting secretary, opened the meeting at 10:01 a.m. and led a review of Tier II site reporting, including a site visit to the “Big Bear” facility. Postma said he will follow up to obtain product‑amount details needed to complete the facility’s Tier II submission. Ed Miller, chief of the Sault Ste. Marie Fire Department, reported he had visited the Big Bear site and will provide additional information to the committee.
The committee also reviewed a list of large fuel storage sites for which emergency plans are being drafted; Postma said those plans should be completed by the next meeting. Postma said the Meijer plan is nearly complete and will be shared with Fire Chief Ed Miller for further detail before submission to the Michigan State Police. Members flagged Walmart and large auto‑parts retailers for follow‑up on whether lead‑acid battery inventories at those stores meet Tier II reporting thresholds.
On equipment and inspection items, Postma reported a vehicle inspection of a U.S. Coast Guard trailer remains pending. The committee discussed next steps to complete that inspection.
Postma said the 2024–25 Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness (HMEP) grant was signed and sent in January; the committee plans to submit reimbursement requests under that grant for Tier II software and for filing cabinets to support records management.
Postma reported he spoke with Kinross Department of Public Works and that the facility does not maintain reportable quantities of hazardous materials and therefore does not require Tier II reporting. He also said hazard‑mitigation planning for the county will begin in approximately two to three months and that the committee will seek assistance from partner agencies and stakeholders to support that effort.
In committee comments, Ronald Carrick, chief of the Bay Mills Police Department, advised the Bay Mills Indian Community was denied a grant application for an emergency‑manager position. Charlotte Landreville, lead environmental program technician (BMIC), said the position had been applied for under a BRIC grant and that the BRIC application is currently unfunded.
Routine procedural items included approval of the meeting agenda (moved by Kelly Church, supported by Ronald Carrick) and approval of the Jan. 23, 2025 minutes (moved by Ronald Carrick, supported by Ed Miller); both motions carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 10:16 a.m.; the motion to adjourn was moved by Wes Bierling and supported by Ed Miller.
Next steps identified by the committee include Postma’s follow‑up on product amounts at the Big Bear site, completing outstanding vehicle inspections, finalizing fuel‑storage site plans before the next meeting, and starting hazard‑mitigation planning within two to three months.
