Distribution system valve requirements and emergency response drills

official summaryN.J.A.C. 14:7-1.9 governs the spacing of sectionalizing distribution valves. The proposed amendments would amend the section to also govern "emergency response drills." These drills are necessary to test and validate existing plans and procedures in a realistic setting. The conduct of emergency response drills for distribution system incidents provides an opportunity to train operator and local emergency response personnel for real-world incidents and can improve community resilience and reduce loss of life and property damage. Many operators already conduct distribution emergency response drills, and the proposed amendments would standardize the frequency of these drills and require an operator to conduct a drill during normal business hours at least once every four years. This provides an opportunity for Board staff to observe these drills during normal business hours.#

adopted amendment14:7-1.9 Distribution system valve requirements and emergency response drills (a)-(e) (No change.) (f) Effective July 1, 2023, an operator shall perform a distribution system emergency response drill simulating a reportable incident, as set forth at N.J.A.C. 14:7-1.17, in each operator district or division at least once every two years. Each call center and dispatch operation center shall participate in at least one emergency response drill every two years. An operator shall not conduct a district or division emergency response drill within two weeks of another district or division emergency response drill. Each operator shall conduct a site-specific emergency response drill at a training center facility or field site within two years of July 1, 2023. At least once every four years thereafter, each operator shall conduct a site- specific emergency response drill at a field site between Monday and Friday during normal business hours. After the first site-specific emergency response drill, an operator may conduct a tabletop emergency response drill to meet this requirement for no more than one out of two consecutive emergency response drills for each district or division. (g) An operator shall notify Board staff at least five business days prior to performing any emergency response drill pursuant to (f) above. Notwithstanding this requirement, an operator may schedule an emergency response drill on a rainy day (or similar weather event), upon notice to Board staff as soon as possible prior to the drill, but no later than two hours before the drill is to occur. Each operator shall submit a final audit report of each emergency response drill to Board staff within two months after the emergency response drill.#