Background

In 2004 the National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM) developed a new training program on Pipeline Emergencies under a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). In 2005, the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute (MFRI), under contract with NASFM, will be delivering a series of Train-The-Trainer courses throughout the U.S. to export the Pipeline Emergencies training program to the fire service. Pipelines are important to both our national economy and security. Approximately 327,000 miles of natural gas transmission pipelines, 1.8 million miles of natural gas distribution pipelines, and 161,000 miles of liquid pipelines safely transport natural gas and a range of liquid petroleum products daily within the U.S. Within the State of Maryland, there are hundreds of miles of liquid and gas transmission lines carrying hazardous materials including natural gas, LNG, and petroleum products. Despite the high costs of initially constructing pipelines, they are a safe and relatively economical means of transportation. But like any industry that deals with hazardous materials, there are still risks in the transportation process. Although infrequent, when a pipeline accident does occur, the emergency response community must respond in a timely and effective manner to protect people and the environment.



Pipeline Emergencies Training Program

The Pipeline Emergencies Train-The-Trainer course is designed for experienced emergency response training instructors to prepare them to deliver the Pipeline Emergencies curriculum to other emergency responders. The course focuses on familiarizing instructors with the Pipeline Emergencies training materials and the options available for delivering the course to various audiences and skill levels. The relationship in the classroom for the Train-The-Trainer course will be Instructor-To-Instructor rather than Instructor-To-Student. The Train-The-Trainer course will provide instructors with an overview of the basic principles of both liquid and gas pipeline system operations, including common products transported, and their associated physical and chemical properties. Tactical procedures for handling 10 different pipeline incidents will also be reviewed, including guidelines for common pipeline response scenarios. All instructors attending the course will receive a copy of the complete training program.



Train-The-Trainer Course

The Pipeline Emergencies training program explains how to safely and effectively respond to pipeline emergencies. It was developed by emergency responders for emergency responders, and integrates technical information from product and container specialists within the pipeline industry. Its purpose is to provide emergency responders with the knowledge and understanding of how pipelines operate, the common products that may be transported through transmission and distribution pipeline systems, and tactical response guidelines that will facilitate a safe and effective response to a pipeline incident should an accident occur.

The Pipeline Emergencies training program is supported by a 179-page full color textbook developed by Greg Noll and Mike Hildebrand for NASFM and DOT in cooperation with the pipeline industry and emergency response agencies. The textbook is supported by a Curriculum Instructor's Guide and companion Power Point presentation developed by Mike Callan. The Power Point program includes 10 interactive pipeline emergency scenarios that permit the instructor to explore fire and non-fire situations involving liquid and gas pipelines with the students. The program also includes CD-Rom and training video-tape developed by Emergency Film Group, and a dedicated website (www.pipelineemergencies.com) where instructors can acquire information on training materials, instructor tips, and links to other websites. All of the training materials described above are distributed at no cost to fire training agencies through NASFM.



Train-The-Trainer Course

Please contact Courtney Clyatt at (202) 737-1226 or via email at cclyatt@firemarshals.org for ordering information.