LEPC representative details recent hazmat responses, CISA briefing and guidance on cost recovery
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Summary
Bob Morlino, the Statewide LEPC representative, summarized Jan. 13 hazmat responses across Vermont, a CISA protective-security briefing, planned 2026 exercises and guidance on documenting costs for reimbursement after spills; a resident praised Arlington Fire Department’s response.
Bob Morlino, the Statewide Local Emergency Planning Commission (LEPC) representative, told the Rutland County Emergency Management Committee on April 3 that the LEPC’s Jan. 13 quarterly meeting drew 71 attendees and reviewed several recent hazardous-material responses and preparedness actions.
At the Jan. 13 session, Morlino listed incidents that prompted HAZMAT responses, including a fuel-oil truck rollover in Arlington, a box truck that went into the river in Hartland with a diesel spill, a fuel-tank leak near Essex, a flooded chemical room in Rutland, and a mail-truck explosion in South Burlington that responders later determined was caused by a dog-repellent can. "We had, 71 attendees," Morlino said, summarizing turnout at the quarterly meeting.
Morlino said the HAZMAT team also assisted in a suspected anthrax investigation after a call from UVM Medical Center; soil samples were checked and no anthrax was detected at the time of the report. He listed planned 2026 exercises with industry partners, naming Perrigo Nutritionals, Central Vermont Solid Waste District, Ben & Jerry’s and Mac Moulding among sites already scheduled for drills.
The LEPC discussion included a presentation from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) on the agency’s protective-critical-infrastructure program. Morlino said the CISA program will review physical and cyber protections for industry and municipal infrastructure and provide recommendations. "It's the feds come in and they check on your physical and cybersecurity," he said, noting the assessments are provided to participants without charge.
A resident who identified herself during the meeting praised Arlington Fire Department’s response to the fuel-oil crash: "He was so impressed... very, very, very little oil actually went into our water stream," she said. Morlino credited Arlington firefighters for the initial containment and described the HAZMAT team’s later work to pump and remove product from damaged tanks.
Committee member Mike Jones raised a question about dissemination of guidance on billing and cost recovery after incidents and noted one local case in which a responsible company agreed to pay $15,262 for time and resources used by local response agencies. "They're gonna pay that $15,262," Jones said, describing a recovered payment for Castleton-area services. Morlino advised that responders should track materials used and time spent on scenes because those costs "almost always" are reimbursed by the responsible party or its insurer.
The LEPC encouraged towns and departments to attend upcoming trainings and exercises; Morlino invited meeting participants to the next LEPC meeting on April 21 at the Norwich Fire Department and said staff would circulate meeting links to interested attendees.
The committee did not take formal legislative action during this presentation; the session proceeded to other agenda items after the LEPC report.
