Communities to get training money for transportation hazmat incidents
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is making $1 million in grant funding available for training and outreach programs to help local communities prepare for transportation incidents involving hazardous materials, including crude oil and ethanol. The new grant program was created by the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act), which was passed on December 4, 2015.This funding can also be used to improve training for state and local personnel who enforce hazardous materials regulations.
“Enhancing the safe transport of hazardous materials by rail is one of the Department’s top priorities,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Foxx. “Community Safety Grants will focus on training state and local personnel responsible for enforcing its safe transportation, and fills a critical gap in funding. This new grant program offers another tool in their toolbox.”