Grant funds short line hazmat training

The Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI) has been awarded a $500,000 grant by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) to create a Hazardous Materials Training Academy.

The SLSI, launched about a year ago by the ASLRRA, provides hazmat education and training to the short line and regional railroad industry.

“Small railroads will greatly benefit from the expertise and resources the Hazardous Materials Training Academy will provide,” said Tom Murta, Executive Director, SLSI. “Through the SLSI, the Academy will provide classroom training, hands-on instruction, response exercises, and support individual railroads in training their personnel,” “Our program will enhance the training currently provided in the industry. We look forward to offering a meaningful solution to an industry challenge.”

Murta underscored the value of partnering with industry experts, emergency response personnel, and small railroads to ensure a sustainable approach to the training needs of the rail industry. The PHMSA grant, part of $4 million in grants for instructor training announced by U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao earlier this week, falls under the federal Hazardous Materials Instructor Training (HMIT) and Supplemental Public Sector Training (SPST) programs for fiscal-year 2017. HMIT grants fund the training of instructors who then train private-sector hazardous materials employees. SPST grants fund national non-profit fire service organizations to train instructors to conduct hazardous materials response training for local responders.