releases: https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=b53b0dca-44fe-4b1f-ab5a-9ad8c36ec149
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=b53b0dca-44fe-4b1f-ab5a-9ad8c36ec149 | Heitkamp Announces New Federal Funds for Training Facility for First Responders on Hazmat Incidents on Rails, like Derailment in Casselton | 2014-09-30 | 2014 | 2014-09 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | BISMARCK, N.D. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today announced $5 million in federal funding to train and prepare emergency personnel and first responders who are tasked with responding to potential hazmat incidents, including derailments of trains carrying materials like crude oil. The funding will specifically support a federal training center in Pueblo, CO for first responders to help them learn tools to handle hazmat incidents on the rails. Several North Dakota first responders and others across the country have already gone to the facility for training sessions. The funds will enable the facility to train more first responders on how to handle dangerous incidents on the rails, like the derailment of a crude train which happened last December in Casselton. At a Senate hearing in March, Heitkamp specifically pushed on a top FEMA official to allocate the funds to this training center which were stalled. Less than a year later, those funds were finally provided. The oil boom has created tremendous growth in North Dakota, but there are new challenges like the transportation of crude oil on the rails. And we cannot afford to leave the safety and security of our communities to chance, said Heitkamp. We need to invest the proper resources in high-quality preparedness training for our first responders so they get the training to deal with potential incidents on the rails and can keep our communities safe. Were doing everything possible to prevent another derailment of a crude train like we saw in Casselton, but the best offense is a strong defense. Thats why Ive been fighting for investments in these trainings for months, and its why I wrote legislation for better across-the-board emergency preparedness for first responders. Growing up, my dad was a volunteer fire fighter in Mantador, so I know how important it is for families to raise future generations of North Dakotans in a strong, safe environmentIll keep fighting for that just like my dad did, every single day. First responders can apply to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to receive this quality training to better equip them with information for efficient, effective disaster relief. These funds are delivered through the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium (NDPC), a professional alliance through the Department of Homeland Security National Training Program (HSNTP)/FEMA Preparedness Directorate. This interagency program provides training to protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from potential terrorist attacks and other hazards. Heitkamps Railroad Emergency Services Preparedness, Operational Needs, and Safety Evaluation (RESPONSE) Actwould establish a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) panel focused on railroad incident first responders. The committee would be tasked with bringing together all the relevant federal agencies, emergency responders, technical experts and the private sector for a review of training, resources, best practices and unmet needs related to emergency responders to railroad hazmat incidents. Since the Casselton derailment, Heitkamp has worked to understand what happened, and push the need to better prioritize first responder preparedness.In March,Heitkamp brought Casselton Fire Chief Tim McLeanto testify at a Senate hearing she chaired about how to better train our emergency responders for emerging threats and hazards. McLean discussed his teams experience responding admirably to the December train derailment and subsequent explosion. He also shared with Heitkamp and her colleagues what he thinks needs to be done to better prepare our emergency responders. The day after she introduced herRESPONSE Actin June, Heitkampannounced $2 million included in a Senate appropriations billto train first responders for incidents involving hazardous materials transported by rail. Earlier this month, Heitkamp launched her Strong & Safe Communities Initiative to address emerging challenges facing North Dakota as a result of the states energy boom by bringing a greater focus to keeping communities strong and families safe in their homes. Specifically, Heitkamp is leading a Strong & Safe Communities Task Force comprised of North Dakotans from across the state who have strong understandings of many of the new safety challenges the state faces such as increases in drug-related crimes, human trafficking, infrastructure stress, as well as other issues. This Task Force includes the transportation of crude oil by rail through North Dakota towns, so that emergency personnel are sufficiently prepared with the resources needed to mitigate and respond to potential hazmat incidents. Heitkamp continues to prioritize the safety of North Dakota communities, and equipping response teams with the proper tools is inherent to that goal. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |