New Hazmat Training Site Strengthens California’s Derailment Incident Response – Cal OES News (.gov)

Report on the Hazmat Derailment Training Site Initiative and its Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Introduction

This report details the establishment of the Hazmat Derailment Training Site in Roseville, California. The initiative, a direct response to a 2020 hazardous material incident in Tulare County, serves as a critical advancement in emergency preparedness. It strongly aligns with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning community safety, resilient infrastructure, public health, and institutional partnerships.

2.0 Incident Catalyst and Identified Needs

A 2020 freight train derailment in Tulare County, which resulted in the release of hazardous chemicals and the evacuation of local communities, highlighted a critical gap in practical training for first responders. This event underscored the need for enhanced preparedness to protect public health and the environment, directly linking to the objectives of SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

• Incident: Union Pacific train derailment near Goshen, California, on November 23, 2020.
• Impact: Release of hazardous materials, including butane and hydrochloric acid.
• Outcome: Community evacuation and recognition of the need for advanced, hands-on training for rail car incidents.

3.0 The Roseville Training Site: An Innovative Solution

In response, the Hazmat Derailment Training Site was established at the Roseville Fire Training Center. This facility represents an investment in resilient infrastructure and institutional capacity, aligning with SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).

3.1 Facility Features

The site provides a realistic training environment to ensure first responders are prepared for complex derailment scenarios.

1. It replicates the physical conditions of the 2020 Tulare County incident.
2. It features derailed tank cars positioned at realistic, challenging angles.
3. It utilizes simulated hazardous materials and smoke to create an immersive training experience.

This practical application of knowledge enhances the skills of emergency personnel, contributing to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by ensuring a safer work environment for responders and protecting critical economic infrastructure.

4.0 Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration: A Model for SDG 17

The successful creation of the training site exemplifies SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), showcasing a powerful public-private partnership.

• California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES): Provided resources to transport and install the derailed rail cars.
• Roseville Fire Department: Expanded its campus to host the new training site.
• Union Pacific Railroad: Decontaminated and donated the actual tank cars from the 2020 incident for training use.

5.0 Direct Contributions to Sustainable Development Goals

The initiative makes significant contributions to building a more sustainable and resilient future.

• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): By training responders to effectively manage hazardous chemical spills, the program directly mitigates public health risks and reduces potential illness and injury from pollution.
• SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): The site is an innovative solution for building resilience within the state’s critical transportation infrastructure, preparing for industrial accidents, and protecting economic corridors.
• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): The core objective is to make communities safer and more resilient to disasters. Enhanced hazmat response capabilities protect human settlements from environmental and health hazards.
• SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions): The project strengthens the capacity of local and state institutions to protect citizens, demonstrating effective and accountable governance in disaster risk reduction.

6.0 Conclusion

The Roseville Hazmat Derailment Training Site is a forward-thinking initiative that moves beyond reactive emergency response to proactive preparedness. Through strategic collaboration and a focus on practical skill-building, the project not only enhances the safety of California’s communities but also serves as a tangible example of how targeted actions can advance the global Sustainable Development Goals.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   The article highlights issues and actions that are directly connected to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary focus on disaster preparedness, infrastructure safety, public health, and collaborative efforts aligns with the following goals:

   • SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

     This goal is relevant because the derailment involved the release of “hazardous chemicals such as butane and hydrochloric acid,” which pose a direct threat to human health. The response, including the evacuation of communities and the development of better training, is aimed at preventing injuries, illnesses, and deaths from such chemical exposures.

   • SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

     The article explicitly states that “rail is critical to keep our economy rolling.” The train derailment represents a failure in infrastructure safety. The creation of the training facility is an investment in making the response to infrastructure failures more resilient and effective, thereby supporting sustainable and safe industrial activity.

   • SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

     This goal is addressed through the focus on making communities safer and more resilient to disasters. The 2020 incident required the “evacuation of nearby communities,” highlighting their vulnerability. The new training site is a direct measure for disaster risk reduction, aiming to protect citizens and minimize the impact of industrial accidents on human settlements.

   • SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

     The article provides a clear example of a multi-stakeholder partnership. It details how “Cal OES, in partnership with the Roseville Fire Department and the Union Pacific Railroad, collaborated to make the training site a reality.” This public-private partnership is essential for achieving the other related goals by pooling resources, expertise, and assets.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   Based on the article’s content, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

   • SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

     • Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination. The training for firefighters to handle hazardous materials like “butane and hydrochloric acid” directly contributes to mitigating the health risks associated with chemical spills, thereby aiming to reduce potential illnesses and deaths in future incidents.

   • SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

     • Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being. The initiative improves the resilience of the system supporting critical rail infrastructure. By enhancing the ability to respond to derailments, it helps ensure the reliability and safety of this economic lifeline.

   • SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

     • Target 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters… with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations. The hazmat derailment is a technological disaster. The training program is a disaster risk reduction strategy designed to improve response and thereby reduce the number of people affected and the economic disruption caused by such events.
     • Target 11.b: By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, disaster risk reduction and holistic disaster risk management at all levels. The creation of the Roseville training site is a concrete implementation of a disaster risk reduction plan at the local and state level, involving collaboration between public and private entities.

   • SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

     • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships. The article is a case study for this target, detailing the successful partnership between Cal OES (public), the Roseville Fire Department (public), and the Union Pacific Railroad (private). It describes how each partner contributed resources: Union Pacific donated the decontaminated tank cars, Roseville Fire provided the land, and Cal OES provided resources to set up the site.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   The article implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets, even if it does not use the official SDG indicator codes:

   • For Targets 3.9 and 11.5 (Health and Disaster Reduction):

     • Number of injuries and deaths from hazmat incidents: The article notes that “there were no injuries recorded during this incident,” establishing a baseline and an implicit goal for future responses. A key measure of the training’s success would be maintaining this number at zero.
     • Number of community evacuations required: The need to evacuate communities is a measure of the severity and risk of an incident. Improved response could reduce the scale or necessity of future evacuations.

   • For Targets 9.1 and 11.b (Resilient Infrastructure and Disaster Risk Reduction):

     • Establishment of specialized training facilities: The creation of the “Hazmat Derailment Training Site” itself is a tangible indicator of investment in disaster preparedness and infrastructure resilience.
     • Number of responders trained and certified: The article mentions the site “has allowed trainees to receive certification since 2021.” The number of firefighters and other responders from “all over California” who complete this training is a direct measure of increased capacity for disaster response.

   • For Target 17.17 (Partnerships):

     • Existence and operational success of public-private partnerships: The collaboration between Cal OES, Roseville Fire Department, and Union Pacific is a direct indicator. The article details the specific contributions of each partner (donated cars, land, resources), which serves as a model for measuring the effectiveness of such partnerships.

SDGs, Targets and Indicators Summary

Source: news.caloes.ca.gov