(June 5, 2013) WASHINGTON — The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and Nebraska Central Railroad Company (NCRC) will co-host two Ethanol Safety Seminars in Nebraska. The first seminar will be held on Wednesday, June 12 at the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center in Grand Island. The second seminar will be held in Columbus on Thursday, June 13 at the Columbus Fire Department.

Both seminars are free and feature a morning session from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and an evening session from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Lunch and dinner will be provided. The seminars are designed for individuals who respond to ethanol-related emergencies as well as those who work at fixed-facilities and transport fuel.

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 as well as 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.

“An ethanol emergency event that occurs on or around the railroad will present unique safety challenges for all responding emergency personnel,” said Mitch Harris, Director of Safety for Rio Grande Pacific Corporation, NCRC’s parent company. “First responders will be prepared for any of those potential safety challenges by attending the Ethanol Safety Seminar for Emergency Responders being sponsored by the Nebraska Central Railroad Company and the Renewable Fuels Association. Join us on June 12 in Grand Island and June 13 in Columbus.”

Attendees will receive in-depth information on proper training techniques that first responders and hazmat personnel need to effectively respond to an ethanol-related emergency.  While primarily targeting first responders, hazmat teams, safety managers, and local emergency planning committees, it is also open to the general public.

“Safety within the ethanol industry is of the utmost importance,” said Kristy Moore, RFA Vice President of Technical Services. “Preparation in education must be the first step for first responders, and we strongly encourage all those with responsibilities inside their communities pertaining to the industry to attend this seminar.”

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 will be co-hosting Ethanol Safety Seminars throughout 2013. The next seminar will take place in Salem, Ore., on June 18 and 19. Those on the West Coast can also look forward to an upcoming state-wide tour of California that will make stops in Sacramento on July 8 and 9, Oakland on July 10 and 11, Modesto on July 12 and 13, Bakersfield on July 15 and 16, Los Angeles from July 17 to July 20, and San Diego on July 22 and 23.

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. Visit www.EthanolRFA.org.

About Nebraska Central Railroad Company
The Nebraska Central Railroad Company (NCRC) is a 340-mile network composed of five former UPRR branch lines and one former BNSF branch line. Trackage rights include 70 miles of UPRR main line between North Platte and Omaha. NCRC, through its connection with Union Pacific (at Columbus, Central City and Grand Island) and BNSF (at David City), is an integral part of grain shipments in the region. NCRC plays a key role in the Nebraska economy by providing a variety rail transportation services, serving a diverse group of customers engaged in industries such as steel production, agricultural products, grain marketing and ethanol production. Rio Grande Pacific Corporation maintains a 100 percent equity interest in this property. Visit www.rgpc.com/ncrc.