(June 9, 2011) Washington - The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and the Columbia-Willamette Clean Cities Coalition will be co-hosting an Ethanol Safety Seminar in Portland, OR at the Portland Community College, Science and Technology Building on June 15, 2011. This seminar is free. To accommodate schedules and reach as many participants as possible, the Ethanol Safety Seminar will feature a morning session from 9:00am-2:00pm and an evening session from 5:30pm-10:00pm.

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.

Ethanol production, transportation, and use are increasing year after year. As this domestically grown fuel accounts for 10% of our country’s fuel supply, many first responders will be tasked with preparing for potential ethanol-related incidents for the first time. It is important that those responsible for safety in their communities are well-prepared and trained for responding to ethanol-related emergencies.

“Ethanol in our region is now as common as gasoline as it is blended with almost all the gasoline sold. It brings with it many benefits from decreased contaminates, greenhouse gas emissions and health concerns when compared to petroleum,” said Rick Wallace, Coordinator of the Columbia-Willamette Clean Cities Coalition. “Ethanol also has unique properties that first responders need to be aware of so they are well prepared for ethanol related emergencies. This is the perfect chance to get up to speed and it’s the right price, Free!”

The goal of this seminar 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.

“With ethanol safety still fresh in the minds of many in Portland, this seminar will provide first responders, hazmat teams and emergency personnel with the critical information they need to quickly and effectively respond to potential incidents involving ethanol,” said Robert White, RFA Director of Market Development. “Safety is everyone’s top priority.”

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 of ethanol blended fuels, storage and dispensing locations, firefighting foam principles and ethanol, ethanol blended fuel emergencies, and incidents at tank farm and bulk storage locations. Certificates of participation will be distributed following the completion of the seminars. Firefighters will be able use the training class towards their annual maintenance requirements. Portland Community College will be offering CEUs to all attendees that complete the session. The seminar will also qualify for one hour for continuing education credits under Miscellaneous EMS Educational Topics.

For more information and to register, visit www.rfa.traincaster.com.

About the RFA: 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 200 members are working to help America become cleaner, safer, more energy independent and economically secure. Visit www.EthanolRFA.org.

Clean Cities Program: Clean Cities was formed in 1993 in response to the Energy Policy Act of 1992. They are a government-industry partnership sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Vehicle Technologies Program. They have nearly 100 coalitions nationwide and more than 8,400 stakeholders, Clean Cities' mission is to reduce petroleum consumption in the transportation sector. For more information, visit www1.eere.energy.gov/cleancities/.