ASHLAND — The last hazardous material study completed in Ashland County took place more than three decades ago.
But what is this study and why does it matter?
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, commodity studies (also referred to as commodity flow studies or hazardous material studies) are completed to provide thorough information about the “type, quantity, volume, and spatial distribution of hazardous materials” traveling through a county via its highways, rail and, in Ashland County’s case, its airport.
Anne Strouth, director of the Ashland County Emergency Management Agency, said she recently applied for and received Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness grant — administered by the Ohio EMA — to cover the cost of a commodity study.
“We are completely outdated of knowing what type of hazardous materials we have coming in and out and being stored in our county,” Strouth said. “Through this grant, it really gives us an opportunity to think, ‘How much has Ashland County changed in the last 30 years?'”
The county EMA director said much has changed significantly since 1994, particularly through growth at the city of Ashland’s industrial park — which does include some Tier II facilities, she said.
Throughout the study, hazardous materials traveling through the county will be identified by their placards. Strouth said the county will be working with Norwalk-based Resource Solutions Associates to complete the study, which is scheduled for May 27 through June 4.
The Ashland County Board of Commissioners approved the $9,700 contract with Resource Solutions Associates during its meeting Thursday morning.
“We identified points throughout the county where he (consultant) could sit and obtain that data of whatever the transportation would be, looking at rail, airport and roadways,” she said.
A report, similar to the county’s mitigation plan, will be created by the end of the study — designed to improve hazardous material response planning. It will also help the county EMA position its equipment and resources more strategically based on the data collected.
“It also will enhance firefighter safety and any law enforcement responder safety and really strengthen our training exercises,” Strouth said. “Now we can train for the actual material that’s really here (in the county) instead of just guessing what it would be and picking something simple.
“The biggest benefit is preparedness and that’s part of the mission of the emergency management agency,” she said.
An updated commodity study could also open the door for more grant opportunities, Strouth said, based on having the newly-collected data.
