Managing HazMat Risk During Natural Disasters: The Katrina Experience P070148

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Managing HazMat Risk During Natural Disasters
The Katrina Experience (P07-0148)

• Joe DeLorenzo
• Midwest HazMat Program Manager
• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

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Outline

• The Effects of Katrina
• The FMCSA Response
• Implications on Safety and Security

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The Effects of Katrina
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The Effects of Katrina
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The Effects of Katrina
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FMCSA Emergency Role

• Support ESF 1 - Transportation
• Communication with Industry and State Law
  Enforcement Partners
• Issue Emergency Exemptions as necessary

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FMCSA Emergency Role

• Exemption from regulatory requirements provided
  to motor carriers operating commercial vehicles
  providing emergency relief
• Emergency relief means direct assistance to
  supplement State and local efforts and
  capabilities to save lives or property or to
  protect public health and safety as a result of
  an emergency

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FMCSA Emergency Role

• Emergency Exemptions
• Exemption Rules Found in 49 CFR Part 390.23
• Relief From Parts 390-399 (Federal Motor Carrier
  Safety Regulations)
• HazMat Exemptions Issued by Pipeline and
  Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

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FMCSA Emergency Role

• 2 methods for emergency provisions to take
  effect
• Declaration by President, Governor, or authorized
  representative
• Declaration by FMCSA Field Administrator
• Duration End of motor carriers direct
  assistance or 30 days

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FMCSA Emergency Role

• Example Hurricane Relief
• Governors Declarations
• Presidential declaration to save lives property
• Presidential declaration for evacuation
• FMCSA Exemptions for FL, LA, TX MS
• FMCSA Regional Exemptions for Fuel Transport due
  to needs arising from the hurricane disaster
• Additional State exemptions for size weight etc.

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FMCSA Emergency Role

• Note FMCSA DOT Exemptions are only part of
  those transportation related exemptions/waivers
• EPA fuel waivers
• DHS/CBP fee waiver
• TSA Waiver of background check

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Implications on Safety Security

• In order to prevent significant disruptions to
  the nations transportation system
• Necessary due to the severity of emergency needs
  and the appropriate coordination of . . .
  responses
• for the purposes of disaster relief efforts in
  the Gulf coastal region is in the public interest

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Implications on Safety Security

• Based on a determination that is necessary to
  avoid a risk of significant harm to persons or
  property in order to facilitated expedited
  transportation of hazardous materials to, from or
  within the disaster areas.

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Implications on Safety and Security

• Management of risk is a balancing act between
  acceptable risk and acceptable cost
• Public perception can influence this balance
• Transportation risk vs. risk to disaster victims
• Trade-offs are inevitable

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• Joe DeLorenzo
• joseph.delorenzo_at_dot.gov
• 708-283-3572