Minn. OKs $900K to Create Two Special Response Teams

St. Cloud's efforts to prepare for an oil train disaster or other hazardous materials spill got a significant boost late last week when Gov. Mark Dayton signed a transportation bill into law.

Buried deep within the 50-page bill is language providing $900,000 over the next two years to create two emergency response teams, one in St. Cloud and one in Duluth.

Many transportation advocates were disappointed with the lack of a major funding package for road and bridge repairs this session. But local emergency responders in charge of preparing for a disaster are pleased with St. Cloud's inclusion in the "lights on" bill that did pass.

"It's going to involve more training and additional scope of what they do, as well as training more people," said Erin Hausauer, emergency management director for Stearns County and St. Cloud.

The additional funding will supplement St. Cloud's existing chemical assessment team, Fire Chief Dean Wrobbel said.

"It's one step higher," he said.

Currently, four or five people are sent on a hazardous materials call. If more are needed, the closest teams available to assist are in the Twin Cities, Marshall or Moorhead, Wrobbel said.

With an emergency response team, the number of responders will increase to between nine and 11. The team will be able to respond to disasters all over the state if needed. They could be called to any type of hazardous materials leak, such as a chlorine release from a train derailment or an ammonia spill from a highway accident.

The St. Cloud department is waiting for a final contract to provide details on how the money can be spent. Wrobbel anticipates that will happen by the end of the year. Then the department can get started.

"Anytime that you can boost your response in any area of emergency response ... it's a good thing," Wrobbel said. "This will afford us the ability to get more and better training for all of our people."

Hausauer said the addition of the team will help the St. Cloud area be better prepared in case of a disaster.

"I think having the resource here and having people that we're familiar with that are right in this area, with the volume of trains we have going through the area. ... It certainly helps to have a close resource," she said.

However, advocates of a more comprehensive rail safety package were not successful this year. The transportation bill does include about $5 million for grade crossing improvements, but other rail safety proposals did not pass.

Follow Kirsti Marohn on Twitter @kirstimarohn or reach her by phone at 255-8746.

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