U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Rodney E. Slater today announced grants to states, territories and native American tribes totaling almost $12.8 million for planning and training to improve response to hazardous materials transportation incidents.

The funds were made available by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA).

"Safety is President Clinton and Vice President Gore’s highest transportation priority," Secretary Slater said. "RSPA’s hazardous materials emergency training program is a valuable tool in our effort to improve safety. This important tool helps emergency responders to be prepared in case of hazardous materials incidents."

The Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness grant program is funded by user fees paid by shippers and carriers of certain hazardous materials. Since 1993 approximately 814,000 responders and others have received training assistance nationwide using Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness grants funds. Assistance was also given to the nation’s approximately 4,000 local emergency planning committees in preparing and exercising hazardous materials emergency response plans and in conducting commodity flow studies that identify transportation hazards.

"Training people to respond safely and efficiently to a hazardous materials incident helps further the department’s goal of protecting the public and the environment," RSPA Administrator Kelley S. Coyner said.

Other federal agencies are participating in the program by assisting DOT in developing hazardous materials curriculum guidelines. These agencies include the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Energy, Department of Labor, and Department of Health and Human Services.

The five largest grants were awarded to California, $968, 081; Texas, $644, 428; Illinois, $627,683; Ohio, $525, 378; and New York, $505,572. A list of the fiscal year 2000 grant amounts to states, territories and Native American tribes follows.

State/Amount

Alabama/$234,957
Alaska/$81,870
Arizona/$163,390
Arkansas/$145,952
California/$968,081
Colorado/$166,906
Connecticut/$150,041
Delaware/$89,190
Florida/ $432,317
Georgia/$285,628
Hawaii/ $89,045
Idaho/$117,496
Illinois/$627,683
Indiana/$302,308
Iowa/$208,943
Kansas/$233,105
Kentucky/$180,362
Louisiana/$207,412
Maine/$107,180
Maryland/$187,905
Massachusetts/$216,762
Michigan/$338,439
Minnesota/$258,659
Mississippi/$176,963
Missouri/$269,925
Montana/$117,561
Nebraska/$183,468
Nevada/$117,030
New Hampshire/$103,807
New Jersey/$311,035
New Mexico/$146,658
New York/$505,572
North Carolina/$302,243
North Dakota/$153,727
Ohio/$525,378
Oklahoma/$189,247
Oregon/$183,750
Pennsylvania/$420,164
Rhode Island/$92,064
South Carolina/$183,137
South Dakota/$123,089
Tennessee/$245,487
Texas/$644,428
Utah/$139,661
Vermont/$83,387
Virginia/$241,893
Washington/$198,471
West Virginia/$142,641
Wisconsin/$259,057
Wyoming/$99,313

American Samoa/$65,120
District. of Columbia/$74,421
Guam/$66,635
Northern Mariana Islands/$65,119
Puerto Rico/$137,209
Virgin Islands/$65,880

Native American Tribes Amount

Campo/$14,000
Menominee/$14,683
Fallon/$18,923
Inter Tribal Council, Ariz./$147,665
Choctaw/$16,150
Prairie Island/$18,923
Pueblo Acoma/$18,923
Reno Sparks/$18,923
St. Regis/$18,923
Pyramid Lake/$18,923
Salish & Kootenai/$10,000
Winnebago/$18,923
Kaw/$18,923
Tanacross/$18,923

Briefing Room