The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration Announces $4.7 Million in Hazmat Grants to Help First Responders Protect Communities Nationwide
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
May 14, 2013
PHMSA 07-13
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
WASHINGTON – U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced grants totaling $4.7 million for first responder training to improve the nation’s ability to quickly and effectively manage hazardous materials transportation incidents.
“Public safety is our top priority, and these hazmat grants will help train thousands of emergency first responders to better protect their local communities and the environment,” said Secretary LaHood.
Hazardous Materials Instructor Training (HMIT) Grants ($3.7 M) fund non-profit hazardous materials employee organizations to train instructors and trainers who then train private-sector hazmat employees in the proper response to hazmat transportation incidents.
“Responding to hazmat incidents requires an understanding of the material and the specific steps that must be taken to prevent or mitigate damage,” said Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administrator Cynthia Quarterman. “That knowledge comes in a great part from training supported by DOT hazmat grants.”
The grants are funded by annual registration fees paid by commercial shippers and carriers of certain hazardous materials and provided to the non-profit organizations by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.
| NON-PROFIT EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATIONS | HMIT GRANT AWARD |
|---|---|
| International Brotherhood of Teamsters | $1,000,000.00 |
| National Labor College | $1,000,000.00
|
| International Association of Machinists | $ 985,506.00 |
| International Chemical Workers Union | $ 506,470.00 |
| The Sustainable Workplace Alliance | $ 257,870.00 |
TOTAL: $3,749,846.00 | |
In addition to these grants, DOT also awarded a $950,000 Supplemental Public Sector Training (SPST) grant to the International Association of Fire Fighters, which supports organizations engaged solely in fighting fires. SPST grants increase the number of hazmat training instructors available to conduct training programs for local emergency responders.
| NON-PROFIT EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATION | SPST GRANT AWARD |
| International Association of Fire Fighters | $950,000.00 |
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration develops and enforces regulations for the safe, reliable, and environmentally sound operation of the nation's 2.6 million mile pipeline transportation system and the nearly 1 million daily shipments of hazardous materials by land, sea, and air. Please visit http://#### or https://twitter.com/PHMSA_DOT for more information.
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