Guidelines Developed with Input from National Association of State Fire Marshals

WASHINGTON, August 17, 2023 – Building on the oil and natural gas industry’s commitment to ensuring safe operations, the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the Liquid Energy Pipeline Association (LEPA) today released a carbon dioxide (CO2) pipeline safety tactical guide for pipeline operators and emergency response personnel. CO2 pipelines have operated safely in the U.S. for decades, with thousands of miles of pipelines across the country. This guide, developed with input from the National Association of State Fire Marshals, helps operators advance a zero-incident safety culture by outlining best practices for CO2 pipeline safety and emergency preparedness. 

“We are pleased to work with the oil and natural gas industry on a guide for CO2 pipeline safety, helping ensure CO2 operations remain safe and secure,” said National Association of State Fire Marshalls Chief of Operations and Training Phillip Oakes. 

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The HazMat Roundtable was formed to identify critical issues and suggest plans of action to strengthen HazMat preparedness throughout the United States. Comprised of technical specialists and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), the Roundtable meets annually to address pressing challenges and, consequently, help improve the nation’s public safety.

The goal of the Roundtable was to discuss challenges in HazMat preparedness, offer recommendations and solutions to these challenges, and review the accomplishments and best practices that the Roundtable members and their organizations have been doing in the HazMat arena since the 2021–2022 Roundtable meetings.

On May 9–10, 2023, the 2023 HazMat Roundtable was hosted by the National Fire Academy (NFA) in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Sponsored by the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), the event was attended by HazMat technical specialists and practitioners from over 20 organizations including its host, sponsors, and other organizations. Organizations in attendance included NASFM, the EPA, CHEMTREC, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), the National Association of SARA Title III Officers (NASTTPO), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to name a few.

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Critical safety training for fire and emergency officials in dealing with incidents of civil unrest is now available.

Brusly, LA, March 9, 2023 — The National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM) has launched an awareness and prevention training course focused on helping fire prevention agencies to move from a paradigm of preventing accidental fires to one which includes the prevention of intentional fires in times of civil unrest.

The course offering was made possible through the FEMA Assistance to Firefighters grant program—grants aimed to support projects that enhance the safety of the public and firefighters from fire and related hazards. The primary goal of the funding is to reduce injury and prevent death among high-risk populations.

Increasing Safety - 

“In recent years, we’ve seen an increase in injuries and deaths of firefighters and others responding to public events that have turned violent,” said Phil Oakes, NASFM Chief of Operations and Training. “First responders, including firefighters, are trained to expect the unexpected when responding to emergency calls. This new online training gives them additional awareness and strategies to help them better protect themselves and others while dealing with incidents of civil unrest.”

Click here for the full press release and click here to go straight to the NASFM Training Site.