Owens Announces DOT Grant for Utah’s Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness

WASHINGTON — Congressman Burgess Owens (UT-04) announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded a $355,349 grant to the Utah State Fire Marshal’s Office under the FY24 Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness (HMEP) Grant Program. This funding will support statewide efforts in Utah to enhance the preparedness and response capabilities of local communities in dealing with hazardous materials transportation incidents.

“Ensuring the safety of our communities is a top priority,” said Rep. Owens. “With this grant, we are not only providing our first responders with the critical training and resources, but also taking proactive steps to protect our communities and the Utah way of life. By enhancing our preparedness and response capabilities, we are ensuring that Utah remains a safe and resilient place for all who live and work here.”

Background:

The Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Grant assists states, territories, and tribes in executing their hazardous materials response duties and bolstering emergency plans for local communities. The Utah State Fire Marshal’s Office will utilize the funds to carry out several key activities, including:

• Developing and revising emergency plans to address the transportation of hazardous materials by rail and road.
• Conducting commodity flow studies to assess the frequency and quantity of hazardous materials transported through local communities.
• Training emergency responders to effectively handle incidents involving hazardous materials, including bulk energy products.

Planned initiatives include a commodity flow study, a 24-hour hazardous materials training for emergency medical technicians, tanker emergency training, ICS 100 and 700 courses, and an annual boom exercise, with an aim to train approximately 97 individuals.

This grant, administered by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, underscores the federal commitment to enhancing public safety and ensuring the readiness of emergency responders in Utah.

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