Paige Klipstein, Research Analyst
Hazardous materials are present all around us at all times, oftentimes without our awareness of what they are, where they are located, or where they are being transported. They can be found at facilities located near industrial areas, in underground pipelines, on trains passing through our communities, and on the roads we travel every day. These materials can range from diesel fuel and propane to radioactive material and toxic chemicals. While essential that they reach their final destination to serve their unique purpose, the risk of these materials traveling in and through populated areas, near waterways, and essential roads that are heavily utilized every day pose a serious risk to communities, critical infrastructure, and the environment if local officials have not developed an adequate plan in case of emergency.
A hazardous material commodity flow study focuses on the flow of hazardous materials in and through regions in an attempt to answer questions that are essential to local officials when identifying high-risk areas for incident including:
1. What type of hazardous materials are being transported?
2. How much hazardous material is being transported?
3. What are the various modes of transportation for hazardous materials?
Addressing these questions allows local officials and emergency responders to understand the risks that exist from the transportation of hazardous materials. These materials must be transported to their final destination, but it’s imperative to identify areas that are at high risk for spills, leaks, or accidents that can lead to detrimental damage to people, property, and the environment. These areas can include high-volume traffic corridors on major interstates, fixed facilities that store, produce, or sell hazardous materials, or railways and pipelines that travel directly through and under communities near critical infrastructure like hospitals, schools, and densely populated areas.
States with major agricultural activity, like Iowa and Kansas, are not only subject to seeing common hazardous materials like fuel and propane, but also significant volumes of agricultural-related chemicals like anhydrous ammonia. Spring and fall mark critical times for farmers hauling anhydrous to their fields, often in nurse tanks on both rural and two-lane paved roads. Spills or accidents involving anhydrous can cause significant damage to nearby populations and environment. Fertilizers that farmers use every season are commonly located at co-ops throughout the state.
Hazardous materials are most commonly transported by truck along our roadways. A reliable method to capture the type and estimated volume of hazardous materials traveling on roadways is through traffic observation periods. After identifying major interstates, intersections, or other major roadways in a given area, an observation of traffic counts the number of hazardous materials traveling through the area by identifying hazardous material placards (see Figure 1). Each placard identified at specified locations is counted, along with truck type and placard information when applicable.
In addition to traffic observations, an analysis of Tier II reports1 is completed to identify hazardous materials that are produced, stored, and sold in the given area. These facilities, also known as fixed facilities, can range from retail gas stations and auto shops to agricultural co-ops and oil refineries. While these facilities do not move, chemicals and materials are often transported to and from these facilities. Entities are legally required to
submit Tier II reports annually under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 (EPCRA) with inventories of hazardous chemicals. Table 1 is a snippet of summary statistics based on a seven-county region hazardous material analysis that details the top 5 chemicals at fixed facilities, the number of facilities those chemicals are located at, and the respective share of total chemicals reported.
Additionally, an analysis of materials transported via railroad is conducted with findings presented in aggregate form due to the sensitive nature of the data provided by rail companies. Information on pipeline locations and the materials they carry is available through certain state and federal websites, though the quantity is often restricted from public access. Nonetheless, identifying routes and materials is an important detail for local emergency personnel.
The DIS team has conducted flow studies ranging from individual counties to seven-county regions. Hazardous material commodity flow studies are an important tool for local emergency planners and officials to gain a broad understanding of the type and volume of hazardous materials traveling through and located in a given area. This information aids communities and officials prepare for worst-case scenarios, improve resource allocation and inform regulations for identified high-risk areas, while enhancing awareness of hazardous materials traveling through a given area.