Washington has seen a dramatic shift in oil transportation recently, both in the types of oil and in the locations where large quantities of oil are transported. These changes affect the risks associated with oil transportation. Many communities don’t have response resources for spills of oil or hazardous materials. To help solve this problem, the Washington State Department of Ecology provides equipment and training grants to emergency responders. These grants help local communities effectively prepare for and respond to spills.

Funding is available for the following entities:

• Washington counties, cities, and municipalities
• Other state recognized local governments
  • Ports
  • Public utility districts
  • Other special purpose districts (e.g., Clean Air Agencies, Fire Protection)
• Federally recognized tribal governments
• Washington state agencies

To be considered, the community the agency responds to must have a substantial threat of an oil spill or hazardous materials incident occurring in their jurisdiction. The grant is primarily intended to assist emergency responders in purchasing equipment they would not otherwise be able to purchase.

Grant applications will be accepted January 2, 2019 – March 6, 2019. See Ecology’s grant website for further information.