The bill would let the Federal Railroad Administration declare a hazardous train event after certain train incidents involving dangerous materials. After a declaration, it must award at least $250,000 from a new fund to local or state emergency response groups. Additional awards may bring the total to no more than $3 million per event. The bill would also require railroads carrying hazardous materials to give local responders advance information about train loads and timing, plus location updates. It would create annual fees for certain large shippers and carriers to support the fund.
If you live in a community along a route used by trains carrying hazardous materials, local emergency responders would receive advance train information and location updates. Eligible response groups could seek reimbursement for certain response costs, such as overtime, damaged equipment, and operations. They would have to document how they used the assistance.
The bill would establish a fund supported by annual fees on rail shippers and carriers of hazardous materials with at least $10 million in total annual collections. It does not specify the fee amounts. Awards would be at least $250,000 after a declaration, with additional awards capped so total assistance for an event does not exceed $3 million.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.