PUCO

PUCO awards hazardous materials training grants

COLUMBUS, OHIO (June 8, 2011) – The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) today approved six hazardous materials training grants totaling approximately $176,540 to local government agencies and educational institutions across Ohio. The grants will be used to train more than 1,000 public safety and emergency services personnel in the proper techniques for managing hazardous materials transportation and spills.

The PUCO awarded the grants to the following:

• Columbus Public Health – The health department will receive $23,200 to help fund a simulated hazardous materials radiological exercise that will train 350 or more first responders from 16 central Ohio agencies.
• Columbus State Community College – The community college will receive $36,049 to provide 16 hazardous materials training courses to emergency responders in central and southeast Ohio.
• Dayton Regional Hazmat Response Team – The response team will receive $4,985 to help fund a three day cargo tank emergency workshop for 101 emergency responders in the Dayton area.
• Preble Township Local Emergency Planning Committee – The committee will receive $6,559 to conduct a tank truck emergency workshop for 41 emergency responders in Preble County.
• Cincinnati State Technical and Community College – The community college will receive $88,769 to provide hazardous materials training to 425 emergency responders in southwest Ohio.
• Lorain County Emergency Management Agency – The agency will receive $16,978 to provide eight hazardous materials courses to 596 emergency responders.

The PUCO awards hazardous materials planning and training grants to local government subdivisions, educational institutions and state agencies in Ohio. Money for these grants comes from fines paid by hazardous material carriers and shippers. Individual grants are based upon applications to the PUCO and are awarded on a reimbursement basis.

The PUCO has regulatory authority to conduct audits, inspections, and safety reviews to evaluate the safety records, policies, and procedures of motor carriers, including hazardous materials carriers. The PUCO hazardous materials transportation program has been recognized by Battelle Memorial Institute as one of the best and most comprehensive such programs in the nation.

For more information about the PUCO’s hazardous materials planning and training grants program, please visit the motor carrier section of www.PUCO.ohio.gov.

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The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) is the sole agency charged with regulating public utility service. The role of the PUCO is to assure all residential, business, and industrial consumers have access to adequate, safe, and reliable utility services at fair prices while facilitating an environment that provides competitive choices. Consumers with utility-related questions or concerns can call the PUCO hotline at (800) 686-PUCO (7826) and speak with a representative.

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