Monitoring Shipping Procedures
All of five of Sunoco's refineries were subject to hazardous materials transportation audits during 2005. The audits, conducted by Sunoco's Transportation Safety Group with assistance from Bureau of Explosives personnel focused on the transportation of hazardous materials by rail and truck, including hazardous waste manifesting. The audit program covered transportation of dangerous goods by air cargo or ground transport, OSHA hazard communication labeling requirements, and inland marine terminal requirements (i.e., United States Coast Guard regulations).

The purpose of the audits was to verify compliance with regulations governing the transportation of hazardous materials and dangerous goods. Items identified during the audits were addressed and tracked to resolution through Sunoco's HES Audit process.

Transportation Response Training
Sunoco's Transportation Incident Response Specialist (TIRS) Group attended training at the Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI) in Pueblo, CO on June 20 - 23, 2005. Joining the TIRS Group were emergency response professionals from a number of companies, including Conrail, Burlington Norfolk and Southern Railroad, Specialized Professional Services, Inc., Union Pacific Railroad, SPSI, React Environmental, other motor carrier personnel, and several Sunoco in-house experts. Training with these organizations that handle/transport our products provides us with a knowledgeable core group that can respond appropriately and interact with Sunoco personnel should there be an emergency involving our products.

Training consisted of both classroom sessions and hands-on drills. The training course included emergency response field exercises specific to products shipped by Sunoco facilities. Topics covered during the week included:

• Sunoco Product/Facilities Review;
• Personnel Protective Equipment/Monitoring Devices;
• Incident Command System;
• Media training;
• Tank car and related equipment;
• Case studies of events;
• Use of fire fighting foam;
• Emergency Response at Rail Incidents; and
• Product transfers at emergency sites.

Transportation Safety
Safe transportation of Sunoco products and raw materials used by the plants doesn’t just happen. It takes diligent employees and sound practices. Over the past several years, Sunoco has implemented a number of processes, procedures, and programs aimed at accomplishing this goal. Some examples of these are:

• Database management to allow analysis of mechanical defects and securement issues;
• Rail repair facility audits;
• Railcar design improvements (elimination of bottom outlet valves and discontinuing use of non-closed system gauge devices);
• Residue tank car inspection process to ensure customers have properly secured residue cars being returned to Sunoco;
• Inbound railcar inspections;
• Employee training, both proper shipping requirements and emergency response; and
• Quarterly management reviews of all transportation-related incidents, industry trends, regulatory changes, etc.

Transportation Emergency Preparedness

Bottom row from left to right: Allen Richter (Conrail), Pam Witmer (PA Chemical Industry Council), Susan Lieth (Air Products), Art Kaplan (Schuylkill County Emergency Management), Jake Rozman (Pennsylvania Emergency Management Association). Back row from left to right: Randy Wood (Marshall Miller & Associates), Steve Neidlinger (Pennsylvania Chemical Industry Council), Jim Weakland (PA State Police), Ed Patterson (Sunoco), Craig Curry (React Environmental).

Transportation Community Awareness and Emergency Response (TransCAER) is a nationwide community outreach program supported by the industries involved with the shipping, handling, manufacturing, distribution, and transportation of hazardous materials. The mission of the Pennsylvania TransCAER (PATC) is to promote community awareness of the transportation of chemicals in Pennsylvania, provide assistance to Local Emergency Planning Committees and Emergency Management Agencies in developing and evaluating their transportation emergency response plans, and encourage municipalities to share their emergency preparedness capabilities.

Sunoco has been a participant in PATC since 1998 and our Regional Transportation Specialist is currently the National TransCAER Chair as well as the chair of PATC. Other members of PATC include individuals from chemical companies, transportation companies, state government, emergency response contractors, county emergency management, and chemical industry advisory groups.

On September 15, 2005 PATC was awarded the 2004 National TransCAER Regional Approach Award by Paul Williams, Co-Chair National TransCAER, at the NSRR Whistle Stop Tour stop in Allentown, Pennsylvania. PATC received this award for their dedication concerning the promotion of safe transportation of hazardous materials in Pennsylvania. In particular, PATC sponsored seven tabletop drills in 2004 in various Pennsylvania counties. The tabletops were funded by U. S. Department of Transportation grants and PATC. Approximately 300 people participated in the tabletop exercises, which were based on a railroad crossing accident involving hazardous materials. Participants included personnel from fire and police departments, county and contractor emergency responders, hospital and EMS, utilities companies, local and state government, FBI, and many others.

HES Glossary
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Conversion Table
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Summary Report
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