U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., announced Sept. 3 West Virginia will receive $782,849 from the U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to improve West Virginia’s response to hazardous materials transportation incidents and better protect communities and families.
According to a joint news release from both Manchin and Capito, West Virginia will receive $198,828 through the Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Grants program, allowing the state to: develop or revise emergency plans and training activities to account for bulk transportation of energy products by rail and over the road; conduct commodity flow studies to determine the frequency and quantity of hazmat shipments being transported through local communities; and train emergency responders to respond appropriately to incidents involving bulk shipments of energy products. West Virginia will also receive two 2015 State Base Pipeline Safety Grants in the amount of $28,517 and $555,504 to support the state’s pipeline safety programs.