MANDAN, N.D. -- As part of its nationwide training tour to educate safety officials on how to respond to anhydrous ammonia release incidents, a TRANSCAER Anhydrous Ammonia Training Tour event is scheduled for July 7 in Dickinson, N.D.
Registration will begin at 9 a.m. and training will run from 10 a.m. to about 2:30 p.m. The training will be held in the Burlington Northern Santa Fe rail yard near southeast corner of South State Ave and West Broadway. TRANSCAER (Transportation Community Awareness and Emergency Response) is a voluntary, nationwide outreach effort that helps communities prepare for and respond to hazardous material transportation incidents. TRANSCAER launched its nationwide Anhydrous Ammonia Training Tour in 2011 as a multi-stakeholder effort to educate and train officials in states across the country on emergency response to anhydrous ammonia incidents. To date, the tour has held hands-on educational training workshops in more than 65 cities in 26 states all across the country. North Dakota's events will bring the total to 29 states.
Ammonia, along with other potentially hazardous materials, is used in a variety of beneficial applications -- anhydrous ammonia is rich in nitrogen and is the primary component of fertilizer. Because anhydrous ammonia is classified as a hazardous substance and used and stored under high pressure, those who work with anhydrous ammonia must be properly trained on specific handling procedures. Primarily aimed at emergency responders, agricultural business, ammonia industry personnel, emergency management officials and public safety representatives, the information provided would be of interest to all those who handle anhydrous ammonia in their installations, including ammonia refrigeration plants, natural gas processing plants and agricultural/agronomy centers, as well as over-the-road transporters. Attendees are taught how to open transport trailers for ammonia, and the necessary precautions to take when faced with an emergency situation. North Dakota event coordination is being handled through the North Dakota Fire Fighters Association with support provided by the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services. The training tour is stopping in cities across the country where use of anhydrous ammonia is prevalent. Future scheduled locations in North Dakota for 2012 include:
- Mandan; July 10
- Jamestown; July 13
- Fargo; July 16
- Grand Forks; July 20
- Devils Lake; July 23
- Minot; July 30and 31
- Williston; August 4
Information: www.TRANSCAER.com/events .
