N.Y. Executive Law § 156-a: Establishment of a specialized hazardous materials emergency response training program

§ 156-a. Establishment of a specialized hazardous materials emergency

response training program. 1. The state fire administrator shall

establish a specialized hazardous materials emergency response training

program for individuals responsible for providing emergency response

recovery following incidents involving hazardous materials as such term

is defined in regulations promulgated by the commissioner of

transportation pursuant to section fourteen-f of the transportation law.

The state fire administrator shall inform all fire companies, municipal

corporations and districts, including agencies and departments thereof

and all firefighters, both paid and volunteer, and related officers and

employees and police officers of the implementation and availability of

the hazardous materials emergency response training program and shall,

subject to the availability of an appropriation, conduct such training

with sufficient frequency to assure adequate response to incidents

involving hazardous materials and protection of responders in all

geographic areas of the state.

2. The state fire administrator shall prescribe the curriculum of the

hazardous materials emergency response training program, which shall

include, but shall not be limited to:

(a) hands-on training, including information in regard to leak and

spill control, product neutralization, pickup and disposal, fire

control, decontamination procedures and use and application of foam

agents;

(b) hazard assessment with emphasis on incident scene decision-making,

including: potential threat to public safety and need for evacuation,

calculation of the effect of weather on certain chemicals and evaluation

of the result of chemical exposures to air, water, soil, vegetation,

lives and property and impact on the personal safety of those working in

the accident area;

(c) calibration and use of emergency equipment;

(d) chemical and biological properties of various classes of

chemicals, for example, flammables, oxidizers, corrosives, poisons; and

(e) weapons of mass destruction and response to terrorism.

3. Such specialized hazardous materials emergency response training

program curriculum shall also include guidance regarding emergency

response to incidents involving lithium-ion batteries. For the purposes

of this section, "lithium-ion battery" shall have the same meaning as in

section four hundred ninety-five of the general business law.

4. The state fire administrator is hereby directed to issue a report

to the governor, speaker of the assembly, temporary president of the

senate, chairman of the assembly transportation committee and the

chairman of the senate transportation committee by February fifteenth of

each year on the operations of the program set forth in this section.

5. The state fire administrator shall promulgate such rules and

regulations as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this

section.