Rail safety and hazmat emergency response training and equipment

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) awarded $150,000 in project grant funding to the American Chemistry Council, Inc. (through its Chemtrec LLC Division, doing business as Chemstar Division) under the Railroad Safety program (CFDA 20.301) to support rail safety and hazardous materials (HAZMAT) emergency response training and equipment initiatives. The award, obligated on September 1, 2025, with a completion date of January 31, 2027, will fund comprehensive training programs and equipment designed to enhance emergency responder preparedness for railroad-related incidents involving hazardous materials transportation.

The awardee will deliver training services focused on emergency response procedures, railroad operations, and hazardous materials safety protocols for emergency responders including emergency medical technicians, police, and fire personnel across Virginia. The funding supports the development and delivery of both in-person and web-based training programs, along with equipment rehabilitation to enable hands-on learning experiences. This award aligns with the FRA's mission to reduce railroad-related accidents and injuries through specialized emergency responder training on hazardous materials mitigation and tank car operations, building on the awardee's established expertise in providing 24-hour emergency response services and training programs to federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial agencies.