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Original Date: 09/15/1997
Revision Date: 01/18/2007
Information : Hazardous Materials Response Team
Tooele Army Depot (TEAD) is a storage location and much of that storage is in the form of hazardous materials. The need for a unit to be available in case of an emergency spill, etc. is a necessity. In 1989, TEAD’s Fire Department received tasking for Hazardous Material (HAZMAT) Emergency Response. Prior to 1989, the area could only be secured and clean up provided for the spill. This was accomplished using a fire truck which did not have the proper equipment. Now TEAD maintains an Emergency Response Vehicle with a 24-foot HAZMAT Trailer. The trailer’s conception, design, and manufacture were performed by TEAD.
The first plan discussed involved purchasing a General Services Agency (GSA) custom-built vehicle that would cost more than $210 thousand. This plan had drawbacks the most obvious being the price. Additionally, as a GSA vehicle, it would be subject to rotation, meaning with every set number of miles or specified length of time, the vehicle would be stripped and replaced. Other plans were discussed and the plan to emerge victorious involved the Property Disposal Office recoup of a twin engine fire truck which would be retrofitted on post.
Personnel from the Sheet Metal Shop fabricated an aluminum camper shell and did complete re-wiring, while the Maintenance Paint Shop painted it white. The Depot Sign Shop did the finishing touches to include logos and detail work. Special equipment on the Emergency Response Vehicle includes a cellular telephone, fax machine, manuals, and a radio which is hooked into the local county’s system. The computer on board has all Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) and CHEMTREC, a nationwide emergency database, that gives the most up-to-date information on hazardous materials. The 24-foot HAZMAT Trailer contains the five-step decontamination facilities. Standard equipment includes self-contained breathing apparatus and other personal protective equipment suitable for a variety of emergencies. The cost for this Emergency HAZMAT Vehicle with 24-foot HAZMAT Trailer was less than $55 thousand.
The fire department on the Depot acts as caretakers of this vehicle and has the capability of having a response team on a scene within minutes of an incident. This highly trained Hazardous Materials Response Team (HMRT) also provides support to Deseret Chemical Depot (DCD) with a response time of 18 minutes. By having only one HMRT versus two, TEAD and DCD saved more than $240 thousand the first year of operation.
The Emergency HAZMAT Vehicle is a state-of-the-art hazardous materials response truck that was locally fabricated for only $55 thousand versus $210 thousand. The vehicle improves TEAD’s capability in minimizing the loss of life and property and, due to the quick response time, reduces the danger to the environment.
For more information see the
Point of Contact for this survey.
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