Maloney Participates in Hazmat Foam Firefighting Exercise, Calls for More Investments for First Responders

Newburgh, NY – Today during a hazmat foam response exercise at the Newburgh Boat Launch, Representative Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18) urged Congress to provide more resources to first responders who combat fires and spills of any flammable liquids from train accidents. Maloney is a co-sponsor of the RESPONSE Act, which would increase training and resource allocation for first responders who deal with hazardous materials incidents involving railroads. This August, Rep. Maloney secured a new fire boat for the Newburgh Fire Department, and just last night the Newburgh City Council voted unanimously to approve the boat. This vessel will be used to provide a faster and more equipped response to incidents on the Hudson River or along its banks. Maloney was joined by Newburgh Fire Department Chief Michael Vatter. 

“The firefighters here today risk their lives to protect our neighbors - we can never repay them for their bravery and selflessness, but we can invest in them so they have the resources they need to do their jobs and keep our families safe,” said Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney. “As the amount of hazardous material traveling through the Hudson Valley by rail grows, we must be even more prepared for potential accidents. That is why I fought to bring a fire boat to Newburgh this summer, and why I am fighting to pass the RESPONSE Act to increase training and resources for first responders who protect our communities from any hazardous material spills.”

This August, Rep. Maloney successfully secured this investment through the Department of Homeland Security’s Port Security Program. The Newburgh Fire Department is tasked with protecting and responding to emergencies on the Hudson River between the Tappen Zee Bridge and the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge, a distance of 70 linear miles.  The Department’s jurisdiction includes five major bridges and multiple riverfront communities.  This portion of the Hudson River is also central to moving cargo and is utilized by major commercial shipping companies.  As a result, increasing Newburgh Fire Department’s presence on the Hudson River will allow the implementation of additional public safety aspects to the region’s waterborne commerce, protect several homeland security targets, and ensure safe recreational experiences on the waterway. 

The boat will have fire suppression capabilities including water and foam, which will allow it to address all threats it may face, including residential fires, oil fires, and rail incidents. The boat will also have the capacity to rescue a large amount of victims should there ever be a catastrophic incident on the Hudson.

Rep. Maloney has been working with the Newburgh Fire Department since his first months in office in 2013 to secure this vessel, and has pushed FEMA and other agencies to provide adequate funding. His correspondence with FEMA can be found here and here.

Maloney is also a co-sponsor of the Railroad Emergency Services Preparedness, Operational Needs, and Safety (RESPONSE) Act, which amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to establish the Railroad Emergency Services Preparedness, Operational Needs, and Safety Evaluation Subcommittee of the National Advisory Council. The legislation also directs the Subcommittee to evaluate the following topics and develop recommendations for improving emergency responder training and resource allocation for hazardous materials incidents involving railroads:

• the quality and application of training for local emergency first responders related to rail hazardous materials incidents, with a particular focus on local emergency responders and small communities near railroads;
• the effectiveness of funding levels related to training local emergency responders for rail hazardous materials incidents, with a particular focus on local emergency responders and small communities;
• a strategy for integration of commodity flow studies, mapping, and access platforms for local emergency responders and how to increase the rate of access to the individual responder in existing or emerging communications technology;
• the need for emergency response plans for rail, similar to existing law related to maritime and stationary facility emergency response plans for hazardous materials;
• the need for a rail hazardous materials incident database;
• increasing access to relevant, useful, and timely information for the local emergency responder for training purposes and in the event of a rail hazardous materials incident; and
• determining the most appropriate agencies and offices for the implementation of the recommendations.