MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2000 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Representatives Horne, Robinson (84th)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE CREATION OF THE SOUTHEASTERN TRANSPORTATION SAFETY CENTER TO BE LOCATED IN MERIDIAN, MISSISSIPPI.

WHEREAS, the Southeastern Transportation Safety Center to be located in Meridian, Mississippi, would serve as in intermodel emergency response training center for the Southeast region of the United States in surface transportation incident response and management; and

WHEREAS, using realistic rail-highway incident scenarios, the center would facilitate responder training, skills enhancement and preplanning procedures and for on-scene fire and rescue, law enforcement and emergency management personnel; and

WHEREAS, the training would emphasize the use of actual transportation equipment and facilities for instruction in advanced techniques for fire suppression, passenger rescue, law enforcement or emergency medical situations in passenger and freight transportation; and

WHEREAS, in addition, procedures critical to successful intermodel incident preplanning and risk assessment will also be a feature of training curriculum; and

WHEREAS, the facilities would include rail passenger equipment and trackage, a fully functional rail-highway grade crossing, a specially constructed low rails trestle for passenger rescue and hazardous materials training, and rail and motor carrier hazardous materials vehicles, including intermodel containers; and

WHEREAS, a distance learning capability would be established through an interactive web site to facilitate course enrollment, learning and data access by off-campus students throughout the Southeast region; and

WHEREAS, instruction in the application and use of the Operations Respond Emergency Information System would also be featured in both the on-campus and distant learning environments; and

WHEREAS, the center would offer comprehensive training for the emergency response community in the following specialized areas: Rail Passenger Fire Suppression, Rescue and Law Enforcement; Rail and Motor Carrier Hazardous Materials Safety and Incident Response Training; Operation Respond Rail and Motor Carrier Hazardous Materials and Rail Passenger Rescue Software Training and Development; Rail Highway Grade Crossing Safety Programs, Motor Carrier Driver, Rail Crew Training and School Bus Operator Training; and Comprehensive Intermodel Transportation Incident Preplanning On-Scene Management and Interagency Coordination:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby support the creation of the Southeastern Transportation Safety Center to be located in Meridian, Mississippi.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Fire Chief H.C. Bunky Partridge and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.