United States Department of Transportation
i
Hazardous Materials Training: DOT and Private Sector Initiatives Generally Complement Each Other
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2000-07-01
[PDF-392.00 KB]
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TRIS Online Accession Number:00801962
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Abstract:Every day, trucks and trains transport over 770,000 shipments of hazardous materials across the United States. Accidents involving these materials, spills, fires, and explosions, cost the United States over $459 million annually and can have serious consequences for surrounding communities. For example, in 1996, in Weyauwega, Wisconsin, many rail cars derailed, triggering a fire of propane gas tank cars; the evacuation of over 3,100 people, many for up to 2 weeks; and property damages totaling about $20 million. Public sector emergency responders, such as fire fighters, police, and emergency medical technicians, are trained to respond appropriately to such accidents in order to protect themselves and affected communities. Part of emergency responders training is funded through federal grants administered by the Department of Transportations (DOT) Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA). These training grants, as well as planning grants to develop response plans for hazardous materials emergencies, were authorized by the Hazardous Materials Transportation Uniform Safety Act of 1990, which established the Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness (HMEP) grants program. HMEP training and planning grants go to states, territories, and Native American tribes. Each year, the training grants are used to help train over 120,000 of the nation?s more than 2 million emergency responders. HMEP grants (called planning grants) are also used for developing community plans to respond to emergencies involving hazardous materials.
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