(September 16, 2013) WASHINGTON — The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) will co-host a free Ethanol Safety Seminar on Sept. 24 and 25 at Camp San Luis Obispo in San Luis Obispo, Calif. Sessions will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registration is limited to the first 45 people per session. Lunch will be provided. While primarily targeting first responders, hazmat teams, safety managers, and local emergency planning committees, it is also open to the general public.

The goal of these seminars is for attendees to gain full ethanol emergency response training experience that they can put to use immediately in the field and pass along to other first response teams. A majority of this training is based on the “Complete Training Guide to Ethanol Emergency Response,” a training package created by the Ethanol Emergency Response Coalition (EERC) that has been distributed throughout the United States and to several countries worldwide.

“Ethanol accounts for 10 percent of our nation’s fuel supply, blended into 97 percent of gasoline across the country,” said Kristy Moore, RFA vice president of technical services. “With this high volume of blended fuel traveling through communities, it is essential that first responders are as fully prepared as possible to act immediately in the unfortunate event of an ethanol emergency. Safety will always be a priority in the ethanol industry and we are thrilled to be able to offer this type of training.”

The Ethanol Safety Seminar focuses on numerous important areas of ethanol safety including an introduction to ethanol and ethanol-blended fuels, chemical and physical characteristics of ethanol and hydrocarbon fuels, transportation and transfer of ethanol-blended fuels, storage and dispensing locations, firefighting foam principles and ethanol-blended fuel, health and safety considerations for ethanol-blended fuel emergencies and tank farm and bulk storage fire incidents. Certificates will be awarded at the completion of the course.

To register for this seminar, go to www.rfa.traincaster.com.

The RFA has been co-hosting Ethanol Safety Seminars throughout 2013. There are three remaining seminars scheduled for the year. They will take place on Oct. 23-24 in Tacoma, Wash.; Oct. 29 in Albuquerque, N.M.; and Nov. 14 in Pipestone, Minn.

For more information on ethanol emergency response, visit the EERC website at www.EthanolResponse.com.

About the Renewable Fuels Association
The Renewable Fuels Association is the leading trade association for America’s ethanol industry. Its mission is to advance the development, production, and use of ethanol fuel by strengthening America’s ethanol industry and raising awareness about the benefits of renewable fuels. RFA’s members are working to help America become cleaner, safer, more energy independent and economically secure. For more information, visit www.EthanolRFA.org.

About the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
The California Governor's Office of Emergency Services exists to enhance safety and preparedness in California through strong leadership, collaboration, and meaningful partnerships. Our mission is founded in public service. Our goal is to protect lives and property by effectively preparing for, preventing, responding to, and recovering from all threats, crimes, hazards, and emergencies. Visit www.calema.ca.gov.