Atkinson wants out of regional hazmat group

From the Eagle Tribune;

June 23, 2011
Atkinson wants out of regional hazmat group
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON — If there's a hazardous waste incident in Atkinson, town officials would like to handle it themselves.

The town is one of 15 in a nearly 20-year-old municipal group that formed to respond regionally to hazmat situations. Two years ago, Atkinson stopped paying its $6,000 annual membership dues.

That brought Hampstead Selectman Richard Hartung, who's also chairman of the Southeastern New Hampshire Hazardous Material Mutual Aid District, to the Atkinson selectmen's meeting Monday night.

Hartung asked selectmen to reconsider their decision to leave the group. But if they wouldn't, Hartung said, they should give official notice of their withdrawal.

"There is an allotment of dues for each town for the year and Atkinson chose not to pay theirs," he said. "We haven't had anything official from the town or board. The simple fact of not paying does not exclude you."

The town opted out when fire Chief Michael Murphy recommended the payments be cut to save the town some money.

"They offer a valuable resource, it's just their resources go way beyond what Atkinson needs," he said. "Our exposure is minimal. There's very little risk in town compared to Salem or Derry, where they have major highways going through their communities and a lot of industry and commercial manufacturing. It's good insurance, but I think I provide a level of protection."

Murphy said the town spent $4,500 for its own equipment.

"Last year, we put in a special hazardous vehicle, equipped with spill containment equipment," he said. "We have the capability of getting out there and handling a first response spill until we call in additional resources, whether private or the state. We didn't leave the town without anything."

But Hartung said it's not possible for Atkinson to have the same kind of coverage the Mutual Aid District offers.

"I don't think it's a thing the town can really do on their own," he said. "I took some umbrage with what was said they have their own capacity, I think it's very limited whatever they have."

Hartung said the Emergency Response Team includes 50 members, drawn from fire departments within the district. Those people are trained to deal with chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear incidents. And, he said, those types of spills do happen in member towns.

"The teams are activated numerous times during the year across the district," he said. "Atkinson has been involved for 20 years, but I'm not sure how many times they've needed our services."

Atkinson Selectmen's Chairman William Bennett said the town may still reconsider its decision, but he needs more information first.

"If the bylaws say because we're members and we owe the past dues, we might just pay," he said. "If it requires a formal vote from the board to end our association, we may do that. It depends on what the bylaws say."

Selectman William Friel said the town just doesn't have the money to pay membership dues.

"We can't pay it," he said. "The line item for this was eliminated by the Budget Committee."

Murphy said he stands behind his decision to leave the organization unless more information comes out. Bennett agreed.

"Chief Murphy feels he's adequately equipped to respond to a hazmat spill and he knows a whole lot more about responding to hazmat threats than I do," he said. "If he tells me he's all set, I'm not going to second guess that decision."

Hartung said he still hopes the town will reconsider.

"I believe it's within their capability to pay this, if they choose to," he said. "It is an issue of public safety and this organization brings an outstanding value."

The other member towns include Windham, Hampstead, Hooksett, Auburn, Candia, Chester, Danville, Derry, Litchfield, Londonderry, Pelham, Plaistow, Salem and Sandown.