NPGA Completes Hazmat Instructor Training Program

NPGA successfully completed its FY 2024 Hazardous Materials Instructor Training (HMIT) program. Supported by funding from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), the program delivered comprehensive hazardous materials training to 2,104 personnel across 74 events held in 16 states, exceeding all initial projections.

The HMIT initiative aims to strengthen the nation’s readiness and capabilities for the safe transportation and handling of hazardous materials. This program provided funds to train private industry personnel and first responders about safe propane transportation and handling across their communities through classroom and hands-on events with live propane fires, overturned bobtails, and more. NPGA worked in partnership with state and regional organizations to ensure that propane industry professionals receive state-of-the-art instruction in safety standards, emergency fire suppression procedures, first-response coordination with local emergency personnel, and federal and state hazardous materials regulations—all essential for ensuring clean, safe, and reliable energy to millions of Americans nationwide.

The program’s geographic reach reflected a true national effort, spanning from New Mexico to West Virginia, Hawaii to Wisconsin, and many states in between. Collectively, the personnel trained through this program serve a population of nearly 140 million Americans, many of whom reside in rural communities. Propane plays a vital role in the U.S. energy landscape, not only as a clean-burning fuel used by millions of households and small businesses, but also as a resilient energy source during natural disasters and power disruptions. The HMIT program directly supports this national energy resilience by ensuring that the industry’s personnel are trained to the highest safety and regulatory standards.

Beyond the impressive numbers, NPGA’s regional partners used this opportunity to develop curricula and training models that will continue beyond the grant period, ensuring ongoing value for the propane industry and public safety. NPGA expects that these resources will serve as blueprints for future instruction and outreach, particularly as the industry continues to evolve alongside new safety technologies and regulatory frameworks and expands into new markets, such as bridge power supply for datacenters.

Should NPGA receive an additional award for FY 2025, the Association plans to build on this momentum, expanding outreach to more partner organizations serving tens of millions of Americans. To learn more about the HMIT program or find out how your regional association can partner with NPGA’s efforts for FY 2025, contact NPGA’s manager of grants and agency engagement, Nicholas Edward.