LGA is presenting, “At a Moment’s Notice: Rail Transportation Emergencies, Community Response and Health,” from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., July 30, at the Allegheny County Emergency Operations Center, 400 N. Lexington St., #200, Pittsburgh, PA 15208.

This event is open to all municipal officials and employees, emergency personnel and interested people throughout southwestern Pennsylvania.

Increases in rail traffic have resulted in increased concerns about the risk of and response to tanker-car derailments and spills. Several high profile accidents have residents and local officials alike giving new scrutiny to the cargo on the trains that have run through their communities for generations. What commodities are moving through our region on the extensive network of rail lines located here? What should communities do before finding themselves in an urgent situation? What is the range of situations for which they should be preparing? What are the protocols when emergencies occur?

This program will address how local, state and national agencies are preparing and responding to rail accidents. Additionally we will review the potential long-term health and environmental consequences of rail accidents, and the responsibilities for avoiding, addressing and mitigating environmental damage.

Speakers include:

• Court Gould, Executive Director, Sustainable Pittsburgh
• Paul  Zottola, Hazardous Materials Compliance Officer, Norfolk Southern
• Alvin Henderson Jr., Chief Allegheny County Department of Emergency Services
• Philip Barker, Western Regional Office Director, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency
• Kerry Leib, Director of Department of Environmental Protection, Emergency Response
• Karen Hacker, Director, Allegheny County Health Department

Michael P. Lynch Scholarship Fund (MPLSF) communities are eligible for a 50-percent discount for this event. Click here for a complete list of scholarship communities. If your community is on the scholarship list, please contact Kelly Garrett at 412-586-5659 for the discount code.

Registration for this program is now closed. Please click here to visit LGA’s Catalog of other training programs.  

The Local Communities/Healthy Communities series is being offered as part of the Sustainable Development Academy.