Wisconsin Gets Large Grant To Train For Bakken Tanker Incidents

The federal government is sending more than $400,000 to Wisconsin Emergency Management to help improve response to a possible Bakken crude oil train incident.

Even though these first responder grants from the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration have been given out every year since 1993, PHMSA spokesman Joe Delcambre said that now it’s different: About 45 Canadian Pacific and BNSF Railway oil tanker trains travel through 18 Wisconsin counties every week, each loaded with at least a million gallons of volatile Bakken crude oil.

“Crude oil incidents have been noted recently, and we are trying to get the local first responder community to be aware of this kind of hazardous material that may be rolling through their locations, and to be prepared to respond to any kind of accident or incident,” said Delcambre.

Wisconsin Emergency Management spokesperson Lori Getter said the money will be used for planning, training and in some cases, equipment for local first responders.

“We are increasing training towards Bakken oil response which will be used of course in those counties that do have Bakken oil that is transported by rail car through their communities,” said Getter.

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc., said this money is important because of the growing concern of the volume of Bakken crude being shipped through the state.

She said: “These federal grants are strong investments in first responder training and planning for crude oil rail spills and Wisconsin should be taking action to put them to work.”