PHMSA releases $23.8m in hazmat training grants

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued three separate training grants totaling $23.8 million to help improve the safety of hazardous materials (hazmat) transportation nationwide.    The U.S. Transportation Department’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA) has issued three separate hazardous materials (hazmat) training grants totaling $23,870,045.
   The grants are part of PHMSA’s efforts to improve the safety of hazardous materials transportation nationwide.
   “The department’s hazardous materials grants allow recipients to design and implement planning and training programs that meet their specific needs,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao said in a statement.
   Specifically, 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,” the agency said.
   The agency is also issuing $2.4 million in Assistance for Local Emergency Response Training (ALERT) grants. These grants assist non-profit organizations with training 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).
   In addition, PHMSA selected the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance to receive $1 million 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, the agency said.