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RECEIVED AT IRC-GCC MEETING <br /> c,OUNTy Date <br /> RE Cir-FIEF Item# <br /> o Buddy Emerson <br /> ton a <br /> ` 5160 N.W.Milner Drive a Port St.Lucie,Florida 34983 ByDeputy C Terk <br /> �FDISI F`�C Tel: (772)621-3312 ^ Fax: (772)621-3600 <br /> bemerson@slcfd.org o www.slcfd.com <br /> January 7,2016 <br /> Alex Vohr,AVP <br /> Operating Policy&Procedures <br /> Florida East Coast Railway <br /> 7411 Fullerton Street, Suite 300 <br /> Jacksonville,FL 32256 <br /> RE: Informational Meeting held at the St.Lucie County Fire District—November 12,2015 <br /> Dear Mr. Vohr, <br /> Thank you for taking the time to meet with our staff concerning FECR's plan to use LNG as a fuel source for <br /> its locomotives in the near future. Although we are aware of numerous ventures involving rail that will <br /> certainly spur economic development in the State,what is often taken for granted from our local public <br /> safety perspective is that those endeavors require considerable preparations on our part. After all,we are the <br /> ones who will be responding to any emergencies along more than 20 miles of FEC rail passing through our <br /> jurisdiction. With few exceptions, every proposed railway operational change, including the use of more <br /> economical and cleaner burning LNG, necessitates changes in first responder capabilities and tactics in order <br /> to mitigate potential problems. <br /> As proud as I am of our organization,our firefighters, and our capabilities to handle the vast majority of <br /> emergencies that occur in St.Lucie County, I must admit that we have concerns regarding the increased use <br /> and transportation of LNG by rail,the increased freight traffic containing all kinds of hazards in volumes we <br /> may not be accustomed to, and passenger traffic along the FEC railway which we have never had to deal <br /> with before. It troubles me to say it, but we are simply not adequately prepared for these changes. <br /> Though you were here to provide information on the new locomotives and LNG tenders and listen to what <br /> we had to say about that topic, I asked for much more during the meeting. What I said is that we need a <br /> strategic partner in FECR, or public/private partnerships with FECR,New Fortress Energy,and others,to <br /> help us prepare for what's coming. In summary,we need: <br /> • Advanced railway operations emergency training for our hazardous materials and special operations <br /> teams. <br /> • Proper equipment to handle and/or contain chemical spills, including LNG and other substances. <br /> • A centralized Fire/EMS station in a location capable of housing a combined Special Operations and <br /> Hazardous Materials team so they can respond quickly and effectively to rail emergencies. <br /> Railway operations training for all our firefighters so they become familiar with what they may encounter <br /> when attempting to mitigate an emergency involving any type of rail car(locomotive,tender,tanker,etc.). <br /> • Passenger service/operations familiarization training so that we can prepare for the worst case mass <br /> casualty/derailment emergency. <br /> • Resource planning/assistance so that our Standard Operating Guidelines and procedures adequately <br /> address your needs. <br /> L-1 <br />