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AGENCY Texas Department of Public Safety
ISSUE 09/30/2016
ACTION Miscellaneous

Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Sub-Grant Application Notice

INTRODUCTION: The Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM), acting on behalf of the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC), is requesting applications from Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) for Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness (HMEP) grants to be awarded to cities/counties/regions represented by LEPCs or authorities to further their work in hazardous materials transportation emergency planning.

DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES: LEPCs are mandated by the federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) to provide planning and information for communities relating to the use, storage and/or transit of hazardous chemicals. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has made grant money available to enhance communities readiness for responding to hazardous materials transportation incidents. A grant may be used by an LEPC or authority in various ways depending upon needs.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS: Each application must be developed by an LEPC or authority in cooperation with county and/or city governments or regional authority. LEPC membership and regional authority standing must be recognized by the SERC. The LEPC application must be approved by an LEPC vote. Each LEPC or authority shall arrange for a city or county to serve as its fiscal agent for the management of any and all money awarded under this grant.

CERTIFICATION: The fiscal agent must provide appropriate certification to commit funds for this project. The certification must be in the form of an enabling resolution from the county or an authorization to commit funds from the city.

LIMITATIONS: Total funding for these grants is dependent on the amount granted to the state from the U.S. DOT. Grants will be awarded based upon project, population, hazardous materials risk, need, and cost-effectiveness as determined by the SERC. TDEM will fund a maximum of eighty percent of the total project amount approved by the SERC and the remaining costs must be borne by the grantee. Approved in-kind contributions may be used to satisfy this twenty percent minimum requirement. In addition to the grant, LEPCs or authorities must maintain the same level of spending for planning as an average of the past two years.

Examples of proposals:

(a) Development, improvement, and implementation of emergency plans required under the EPCRA, as well as exercises, which test the emergency plan. Improvement of emergency plans may include hazard analysis or risk assessment as well as response procedures for emergencies involving transportation of hazardous materials including radioactive materials.

(b) An assessment to determine flow patterns of hazardous materials within a State, between a State and another State, Territory or Native American Land, and development and maintenance of a system to keep such information current.

(c) An assessment of the need for regional hazardous materials emergency response teams or to assess local response capabilities.

(d) Conducting emergency response drills and exercises associated with transportation-related emergency response plans.

(e) Temporary technical staff to support the planning effort. (Staff funding under planning grants cannot be diverted to support other requirements of EPCRA.)

(f) Any other planning project related to the transportation of hazardous materials approved by TDEM, using U.S. DOT approved projects as a reference base.

contract period: Grant contracts begin as early as October 1, 2016, and end no later than September 30, 2017.

final selection: TDEM will review the applications and the SERC Subcommittee on Planning will make the final selections. The State is under no obligation to award grants to any or all applicants.

APPLICATION FORMS AND DEADLINE: You can obtain a "Request for Application" package by downloading the documents from the TDEM website at http://www.dps.texas.gov/dem/GrantsResources/index.htm. A copy can also be requested from Joshua Bryant, Technological Hazards Unit Supervisor, by calling him at (512) 424-5989 or emailing him at Joshua.bryant@dps.texas.gov. The completed (original) application package may be sent via email to Mr. Bryant at Joshua.bryant@dps.texas.gov, but the executed hard copy must be sent via certified/registered mail, or other private mail delivery service requiring a signature, to the Texas Division of Emergency Management, Preparedness Section, Technological Hazards Unit, P.O. Box 4087, Austin, Texas 78773-0223. The application(s) must be received by 5:00 p.m. on October 17, 2016.

TRD-201604827

D. Phillip Adkins

General Counsel

Texas Department of Public Safety

Filed: September 19, 2016



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