The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) requests applications from states and territories to provide assistance to public sector employees for training and planning for emergency response in transportation. The purpose of the Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness (HMEP) grant program is to increase state, territorial, tribal and local effectiveness in safely and efficiently handling hazardous materials incidents, enhance implementation of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 (EPCRA) and encourage a comprehensive approach to emergency training and planning by incorporating the unique challenges of responses to transportation situations.
Eligibility
Local Emergency Planning Committees or public sector employees seeking training or planning funds for an emergency response to hazardous materials in transportation.
Match Requirement
In accordance with 49 U.S.C. § 5116(d), States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico must contribute a minimum of 20 percent matching share to the total cost of the grant project. The matching requirement must be satisfied by costs incurred or by the value of in-kind contributions. All matching funds must meet the federal requirements as described in 2 CFR § 200.306 Cost sharing or matching.
Allowable Use
The program funds may be used for the following purposes:
Planning Examples
- Develop, improve and implement emergency plans.
- Perform exercises that test the emergency plan.
- Assess flow patterns of the hazardous materials.
- Assess current local response capabilities.
- Assess the need for regional hazardous materials emergency response teams.
- Conduct emergency response drills and exercises associated with emergency preparedness plans.
Training Examples
- Design and deliver preparedness and response training.
- Test and evaluate emergency preparedness plans.
- Perform emergency response drills and exercises associated with training.
For additional information on eligible activities for the HMEP grant program, please review the HMEP Expenditure Guide or the DOT guide.
Grant Announcement
Application information and deadlines are online at the CO.EMGrants website.