The second National Hazmat Fusion Center Symposium was held November 4, 2009, in Denver, Colorado. Over 100 attendees participated in a variety of sessions which included current hazmat challenges and solutions, alternative fuels, and an interactive Federal Panel discussion. The Federal Panel featured Mr. Wayne Yoder from the National Fire Academy, Mr. Bill Schoonover from the Federal Railroad Administration and Mr. Bob Clatterbuck from the U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). Among many points of interest, attendees were informed about new developments in hazmat training, the interaction between several railroads and CHEMTREC to provide solid information to responders about the location of hazardous materials during a rail incident, and issues on the highways involving nurse tanks. The session featured lively discussion between the panel members and the attendees.
 
Participants were challenged to consider new approaches to responses involving large-scale catastrophic chlorine releases involving railcars during a presentation by Mr. Jack Aherne of the U.S. Transportation Security Administration. The session challenged the attendees to help develop the response to this rapidly evolving field for their local jurisdictions instead of providing them with ready solutions.
 
During the Hazmat Fusion Center session, RIST members conducted an informational session detailing lessons learned from surveys that have been conducted and how best to improve the survey process. Of significance was the determination that implementation of a working Unified Command is still a problem across the country. Attendees were also updated about progress on the Web Portal.
 
More information about the Western Region Symposium will be available in the next E-Update. A full symposium report will be available on the Hazmat Fusion Center website at www.hazmatfc.com by the end of the month.

In partnership with PHMSA, the IAFC has embarked upon a project that will research the applicability and creation of an Electronic Learning Community (ELC). As an extension of the Hazmat Fusion Center, this project explores the feasibility of teaching volunteer and combination departments about hydrogen as an alternative fuel. With exponential advances in technology comes the ability to transcend both geographical and budgetary obstacles that stand between fire fighters and the knowledge they need to safely and effectively do their jobs. Phase I of the project will focus upon establishing current knowledge levels as they pertain to responding to hydrogen as an alternative fuel and evaluating existing and emerging learning technology that may be deployed in the future. Phase I is slated to be completed by the end of March, 2010.