Assistance for Local Heroes During Train Crises Act
Impact
The implementation of SB844 is expected to provide critical financial resources to states and local governments, ensuring they are better equipped to handle train-related crises. By allowing for rapid declarations of hazardous events, the bill aims to streamline emergency responses and improve preparedness against incidents involving hazardous materials. Additionally, it promotes proactive measures by requiring railroads to provide advance warnings to local emergency responders about hazardous materials they transport.
Summary
SB844, officially titled the 'Assistance for Local Heroes During Train Crises Act,' aims to enhance the response to hazardous train events. The bill authorizes the declaration of such events by the Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, allowing for a structured response and allocation of resources. It establishes the Hazardous Train Event Emergency Reimbursement Fund, which can be utilized by eligible entities such as local emergency response teams to cover costs incurred during a hazardous train incident, including equipment replacement and overtime pay for responders.
Contention
While SB844 has bipartisan support, contentions may arise around the funding mechanisms and responsibilities placed upon shippers and carriers of hazardous materials. The proposed Hazardous Materials Emergency Reimbursement Fee could lead to concerns about increased costs for businesses involved in transporting such materials, potentially impacting the economic viability of rail transport. Furthermore, the bill's approach to federal oversight and the allocation of emergency funds may spark debates about the balance between state autonomy and federal intervention in emergency management.
Assistance for Local Heroes During Train Crises ActThis bill establishes a Hazardous Train Event Emergency Reimbursement Fund for state and local emergency response groups.Upon a declaration by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) that a hazardous train event has occurred, the FRA must immediately award at least $250,000 from the emergency fund to one or more eligible groups (e.g., law enforcement agencies and fire departments). Additional amounts may be awarded, but may not exceed $3 million per hazardous train event. The FRA may declare a hazardous train event has occurred following a derailment or crash involving a train carrying hazardous materials, hazardous waste, or other materials that pose a threat to public health, safety, and the environment.Costs associated with a response to a hazardous train event that are eligible for reimbursement include (1) replacing damaged or contaminated equipment, (2) overtime pay for firefighters or law enforcement officers, and (3) retroactively covering these types of incurred costs after the event date.The FRA must also (1) establish annual fees for shippers and carriers of hazardous materials by rail that have total annual collections of at least $10 million, and (2) deposit the fees into the reimbursement fund.Further, the Department of Transportation must issue regulations requiring railroads that transport hazardous materials by train to provide county and local emergency response groups with (1) advance warning of the train's load and timing, and (2) real-time location information on the train when it enters and exits the community's service area.