National Guard HazMat response unit visits Synfuels Plant
An Army National Guard HazMat response unit visited the Great Plains Synfuels Plant to showcase how they could assist Dakota Gas, if needed.
Basin Electric Power Cooperative
- April 28, 2010
he Army National Guard 81st Civil Support Team HazMat response unit was at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant April 20 to showcase their abilities and explain how they could assist Dakota Gas if needed. "They brought eight response vehicles and associated equipment and provided information highlighting their capabilities," says Warren Herman, protection services crew chief.
The protection services department also presented information to the National Guard unit noting the training and skilled workforce available at the Synfuels Plant.
The 22-person civil support team was formed in 2005 as a full-time team, according to Lieutenant Colonel Larry Shireley, commander of the team. The team is trained for two years and must pass a certification process. Currently, 55 teams are located across the United States, and the teams are allowed to only respond in the United States.
Shireley explained that the team is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They can be dispatched in 60 minutes and unlike most response agencies, the National Guard provides services at no cost.
The support team's mission is to identify, assess, advise and facilitate when called out to a situation. They can provide a survey team, communications support, modeling, medical operations, a mobile analytical laboratory, and decontamination services.
The team responds to anything from suspicious mailings to hurricane and tornado recovery. Shireley says part or all of the team can be requested, depending on the situation.Herman says hosting the group at the Synfuels Plant provided valuable information regarding the support capabilities available in the event of a class four emergency at the plant or a pipeline emergency. "A class four emergency is when DGC's incident command staff realizes our response capabilities will soon be taxed and outside assistance will be needed," Herman says. "Knowing the response timetable of the Civil Support Team and the expertise they can provide is extremely valuable information."
Headquarters
1600 E. Interstate Ave.
PO Box 5540
Bismarck, ND 58506-5540 USA
701.221.4400
Great Plains Synfuels Plant
420 County Road 26
Beulah, ND 58523-9400 USA
701.873.2100
