DOT Announces Over $23.8 Million in FY 2017 Hazardous Materials Planning and Training Grants

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.

Table 1: FY 2017 HMEP Grant Funding

      Grantee                   Amount  

Alabama                 $ 565,067

Alaska                     $ 148,518

American Samoa    $ 67,148

Arizona                   $ 271,345

Arkansas                 $ 373,837

California                $ 1,016,425

Colorado                 $ 453,303

Connecticut            $ 166,772

Delaware                $ 106,804

Florida                    $ 643,447

Georgia                   $ 448,640

Guam                      $ 69,580

Hawaii                    $ 128,074

Idaho                      $ 174,688

Illinois                     $ 685,903

Indiana                   $ 550,682

Iowa                       $ 394,100

Kansas                    $ 327,179

Kentucky                $ 385,235

Louisiana                $ 572,788

Maine                      $ 129,664

Maryland                $ 320,896

Massachusetts         $ 290,789

Michigan                 $ 294,493

Minnesota               $ 414,340

Mississippi              $ 409,690

Missouri                  $ 358,122

Montana                 $ 266,378

Nebraska                 $ 209,026

Nevada                   $ 179,922

New Hampshire      $ 109,581

New Jersey             $ 372,563

New Mexico           $ 217,490

New York               $ 458,573

North Carolina        $ 468,679

North Dakota          $ 516,715

Northern Mariana

   Islands                 $ 67,647

Ohio                        $ 752,707

Oklahoma               $ 412,420

Oregon                    $ 252,088

Pennsylvania           $ 830,141

Puerto Rico             $ 176,244

Rhode Island          $ 126,607

South Carolina        $ 261,280

South Dakota          $ 143,519

Tennessee               $ 625,248

Texas                      $ 1,594,000

Utah                        $ 278,155

Vermont                 $ 128,134

Virgin Islands         $ 68,103

Virginia                   $ 339,010

Washington            $ 314,496

West Virginia         $ 320,048

Wisconsin               $ 364,031

Wyoming                $ 168,283

Tribes

Bad River Band of Lake Superior Tribe                    $25,000

Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona                $220,000

Kawerak, Inc.         $99,282

Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Tribe   $101,045

Nez Perce               $23,940

Paiute-Shoshone Tribe FRC           $68,042

Pueblo Laguna       $52,239

Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe     $50,467

Total               $ 20,470,045