Hazardous Materials Commodity Flow Study: Marion County, Oregon

Hazardous materials are prevalent in all communities in the United States. They are stored and they are transported. Regardless of the method of transport, (for this study defined as: pipeline, rail, roadway, air, or water) hazardous materials are generally transported without incident. However, consequences of a hazmat transportation incident can be extreme with serious repercussions to public safety, life and wellbeing, the environment, and infrastructure. To plan for and mitigate these consequences, communities may choose to examine the transportation of hazardous materials through high risk areas – areas with sensitive ecosystems or high population – to better develop strategies.

Therefore, in February 2015, the Marion County Emergency Management Office commissioned a Hazardous Materials Commodity Flow Study (HMCFS), to be carried out by the Center for Public Service (CPS) research team. This study was to be conducted in accordance with recommendations from the US Department of Transportation (USDOT).