advertisement

---

On Sept. 25, U.S. Department of Transportation announced grants to states, territories and Native American tribes totaling $12.8 million to improve response to hazardous-materials transportation incidents involving all modes.

The six largest grants were awarded to California, $964,316; Texas, $668,460; Illinois, $612,982; Ohio, $510,751; New York,
$470,968; and Florida, $453,407.

USDOT's Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) is providing the funds under the Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness (HMEP) Grants Program. Funded through registration fees paid by haz-mat shippers and carriers, HMEP is designed to support state and local government efforts to develop regional emergency-response strategies.

Since the program began in 1993, more than 1 million emergency responders and 3,000 local emergency-planning committees across the nation have received funding for training and support.

RSPA aims to ensure safe and secure haz-mat shipments by all modes, and government agencies' rapid response to emergencies, and promote safety training, and science and technological advances.