WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA) today announced it is issuing three separate hazardous materials training related grants totaling $23,870,045. The grants are part of PHMSA’s comprehensive approach to improving the safe transportation of hazardous materials across the country.
“The Department’s hazardous materials grants allow recipients to design and implement planning and training programs that meet their specific needs,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao. “Improving the response capabilities of our emergency responders is an integral part of our strong national safety program.”
PHMSA is issuing $20,470,045 in Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness (HMEP) grants to provide funding to states, territories and Native American tribes to enhance the abilities of their emergency response personnel in protecting themselves and the public when responding to hazardous materials related transportation incidents. See the HMEP grant funding chart below for a complete breakdown of the grant recipients and awarded amounts.
Additionally, PHMSA is issuing $2,400,000 in Assistance for Local Emergency Response Training (ALERT) grants. The grants offer resources to non-profit organizations to train volunteer or remote emergency responders to safely respond to rail accidents involving highly flammable crude oil and ethanol products. Recipients include the Center for Rural Development ($950,000), the University of Findlay ($950,000), and the International Association of Fire Chiefs ($500,000).
Finally, PHMSA selected the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance to receive $1,000,000 as part of its Community Safety Training grant program. The grant allows community organizations to help train state and local personnel responsible for enforcing the safe transportation of hazardous materials.
State, local, and tribal emergency officials are almost always the first to respond to hazardous materials incidents,” said Drue Pearce, PHMSA’s Acting Administrator. “These grants are another important resource PHMSA offers communities and response officials to educate, plan, and stay prepared for transportation incidents, including those involving high-hazard flammable trains,
The following table identifies the states, territories, and Native American tribes receiving PHMSA’s FY2017 HMEP grants.
