Oct 22, 2016 3 min read

WAYNESBURG – When trying to prevent a fuel or chemical spill from damaging the environment, getting the right equipment to an accident immediately can make all the difference.

A used hazardous materials trailer that Chevron donated to the Greene County Department of Emergency Services will soon be deployed in those situations, giving first responders plenty of room to store oil booms and containers, along with a quiet place to take phone calls and discuss plans.

“It’s going to help with what we already have,” said Rich Policz, operations and training officer for Greene County Emergency Services. “We’re there for hours. This gives us a little area away from the equipment, a place to make phone calls,”

The trailer has been used by the natural gas drilling company at its well sites over the past four years. The emergency services department in Fayette County also received a similar trailer from Chevron. The discussion of transferring the trailer over to Greene County began a year ago before the exchange Wednesday morning during a press event in Smithfield.

The county currently has a hazmat trailer that hauls around various equipment for hydrocarbon spills of gasoline or other fuels, Policz said, but the new trailer includes a larger storage area, along with a miniature command center where emergency responders can meet to hold private discussions away from rumbling fire trucks and other vehicles.

Policz and Emergency Services Director Greg Leathers brought the trailer back Wednesday and were still figuring out all the ways they can use it to help in the event of tractor-trailer crashes with leaking diesel fuel or overturned water trucks carrying brine water. The new trailer, which holds a generator, will allow the department to use its other trailer to haul more equipment, giving first responders more flexibility upon arriving at an accident scene.

“We’re appreciative, sure,” Leathers said.

When there are major emergencies, such as the February 2014 explosion at a Chevron well pad in Dunkard Township that killed a contract worker, the department was able to solicit the help of Washington County’s mobile command center. This trailer, while not as sophisticated as their own command center truck, will allow them to deploy booms and other equipment that will prevent fuel leaks from reaching waterways.

It will take some time to decide what supplies should be in which trailer. But that’s a good problem to have, Policz said.

“We do have a need,” Policz. “It’s going to be put to good use. It takes a lot of supplies.”

Chevron also announced last week it had made monetary donations to eight fire departments in Greene County, ranging from $2,500 and $3,500.