Study to focus on hazardous materials passing through Luzerne County
Apr. 13—Luzerne County is updating a study that tracks hazardous chemicals passing through the county by highway, rail, air and pipelines.
Known as a "hazardous materials commodity flow study," the assessment must be completed periodically to identify unique hazmat transportation hazards that may be present in a community and prepare emergency responders, said county Emergency Management Agency Act 165 Coordinator Ronald Smith.
Hellerton, Pennsylvania-based Emergency Management Consulting LLC completed the county's last 436-page study in 2019.
The county is seeking proposals from qualified companies to prepare the next study, with submissions due April 25, according to the solicitation on the purchasing page at luzernecounty.org.
After the report is completed, the county will hold special training sessions to brief municipal emergency responders on the findings, said county Deputy Director of Emergency Services David Elmore.
Local fire departments and emergency responders must use the report to prepare training, equipment and plans for each potential hazardous material, Smith said.
The county also stocks containment materials, dry absorbents and other resources that are available upon request from municipalities in an emergency, Smith said. If the county runs out, it would seek supplies from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and then the Federal Emergency Management Agency, he said.
Separate from hazardous materials on the move, Smith also enforces a requirement for all facilities with hazardous materials on site to file an emergency operations plan. He has hundreds of facilities on his list with information on company contacts, the materials, where they are stored inside and the mitigation measures necessary to address them if a problem arises.
"It's information to basically keep emergency responders alive. The first thing a firefighter is going to want to know is what's in the building and whether there are materials that are explosive and toxic," Smith said. "Going in blind could be fatal."
The new countywide flow study will be available for public inspection at the EMA building on Water Street in Wilkes-Barre, Smith said.
In the last report from 2019, Emergency Management Consulting highlighted the "constant potential" for hazardous materials incidents due to "extremely heavy truck traffic" on state roadways and highways cutting through the county, including Interstates 80 and 81 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
The top municipalities with hazardous materials, according to the 2019 report: Hazle Township, Wright Township, West Hazleton, Pittston Township and Plains Township.
Sulfuric acid was identified as the top hazardous material present within the county, followed by diesel, gasoline, fuel oil, propane, kerosene and chlorine.
"With the construction of new highways, changes in the composition of local industry and the enactment of new federal, state and local laws, there may be a change in the flow of hazardous shipments through the County of Luzerne," the 2019 report said.
Elmore said his agency has been reaching out to all municipal emergency officials to ensure they are aware of the latest data. Proactivity is necessary due to the network of transportation infrastructure and types of facilities housed in the county, he said.
"We have quite a lot to worry about and stay focused on," Elmore said.
Another report required every five years is underway: a hazard mitigation plan that reassesses natural and man-made threats to residents and possible ways to reduce the risks.
Philadelphia-based Michael Baker International Inc. was retained to update this plan, which should come before county council for adoption later this year.
The general hazards in this report will include earthquakes, flooding, ice jams, hurricanes, tropical storms, Nor'easters, landslides, infectious disease, mine subsidence and sinkholes, tornadoes, wildfires, cyber-terrorism, levee and dam failure and hazardous materials releases.
Reach Jennifer Learn-Andes at 570-991-6388 or on Twitter @TLJenLearnAndes.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Pittsburgh Steelers $132 Million Acquisition Named Among Best Offseason Moves
Pittsburgh Steelers $132 Million Acquisition Named Among Best Offseason Moves originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan had an awfully busy offseason. In March alone, Khan made six new free agent signings, wasting no time trying to fine-tune a roster that has won 10 games in each of the last two NFL seasons. Advertisement The biggest splash of Khan's offseason was trading a second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft to the Seattle Seahawks, acquiring DK Metcalf, who singed a four-year, $132 million dollar extension with the Steelers. Metcalf is one of the most physical and dynamic receivers in football and will immediately be slotted in as Pittsburgh's No. 1 receiver after trading George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys. Despite the prospect of a Metcalf-Pickens duo tearing up NFL defenses, the Steelers couldn't afford both. Pittsburgh still needs to find another capable receiver to pair with Metcalf. But in the meantime, the Steelers are being lauded for this move. Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport ranked the top moves of the offseason, and this deal made the cut. Regardless of who Pittsburgh's quarterback was going to be in 2025, it needed to upgrade at wide receiver, especially given all the smoke (which was correct as it turns out) that George Pickens' days were numbered in the Steel City." Davenport wrote. "Metcalf's 2024 campaign wasn't a great one, but he has three 1,000-yard seasons in six years and is the true No. 1 wideout the team was lacking before the deal. Advertisement Metcalf had a down year in terms of production in 2024, but still managed a great season. He hauled in 66 catches for 992 yards and five touchdowns. His touchdown mark was the lowest of his career. Metcalf has never had a season with less than 900 yards in his six-year NFL career. Acquiring Metcalf and signing him to a longterm extension took a lot to get done, but it should be worth the cost. The 27-year old will be the best receiver to suit up for Pittsburgh since Antonio Brown. Paired with veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Metcalf should be primed for a productive 2025. Rodgers loves targeting his No. 1's, especially showcased by his play for the New York Jets last season after they acquired Davante Adams. Related: One Steelers Opponent 'Can't Wait' to Face Aaron Rodgers Next Season Related: LOOK: Rodgers, Metcalf Together at Steelers Star's Charity Event This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Whole Foods' working to restock shelves as distributor faces cyberattack: Reports
The Brief Whole Foods supplier UNFI has paused deliveries nationwide due to a cyberattack. The company said it discovered "unauthorized activity" and took systems offline last week. Grocery stores and bakeries are reporting missed deliveries and product shortages. LOS ANGELES - A major supplier to Whole Foods has paused deliveries across the country following a cyberattack that disabled its ordering systems, raising concerns about potential product shortages and empty shelves. United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI), a $31 billion distributor of organic and natural goods, said in a regulatory filing Monday that it "identified unauthorized activity in our systems" and is now working with law enforcement and third-party cybersecurity experts to investigate. The company, which is based in Rhode Island, told retail partners over the weekend that there would be no deliveries Monday and that it did not know when regular operations would resume, according to reporting by the New York Post. The backstory The impact is already being felt by grocers nationwide. "It's bringing the company to a standstill with no orders generated and no orders coming in," Steve Schwartz, director of sales at the New York-based Morton Williams grocery chain, told the New York Post. UNFI supplies a wide range of products — including frozen foods, dairy, and beverages — to Whole Foods and other retail chains. Morton Williams stores reported shortages in products like Stonyfield yogurt and La Croix sparkling water, prompting them to contact alternative suppliers in case the disruption continues. Bakeries and smaller retailers voiced more immediate concerns online. "We're out of components to make the cakes and tarts so we'll have an empty case," one bakery posted, noting they'd already sold out of most items the night before. Another person identifying as a scratch bakery employee said they didn't receive even the basics — flour or cake blanks — during one of the busiest weeks of the year. What they're saying Employees within UNFI have posted anonymously about the outage on Reddit, reporting that internal systems went down nationwide last Friday around 3:30 p.m. "They've been calling us in every day since to come pick y'all's groceries in hopes that our systems come back on," one user wrote. "So far that has not been the case. That's all we know, corporate isn't telling us s—." Another employee said they were told by a branch VP that even once systems return, recovery would happen in phases and would take time to stabilize. "It's a mystery as of yet what is going to happen and how long it's going to be until things are back to normal," they wrote. Why you should care UNFI is a core part of the supply chain for Whole Foods and other grocery stores across the U.S. A prolonged disruption could mean not only empty shelves but further strain on an already fragile food distribution network still recovering from pandemic-era supply shocks. Cybersecurity experts say this is part of a growing pattern. "What we are seeing with UNFI and, just last week, with Victoria's Secret, reflects a growing trend: threat actors are targeting critical infrastructure and high-traffic consumer platforms for maximum disruption and financial leverage," said Adrianus Warmenhoven, a cybersecurity expert at NordVPN, in a statement to the New York Post. What's next UNFI is continuing to investigate the attack and has not provided a timeline for when deliveries will resume. Whole Foods has not yet commented publicly. UNFI is scheduled to report third-quarter results on June 10. Its shares fell more than 8% on Monday. The Source This article is based on original reporting by the New York Post, including statements from affected retailers and employee posts verified by the outlet. Additional context was drawn from UNFI's regulatory filing and comments provided to the Post by cybersecurity expert Adrianus Warmenhoven.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Austin-based business says it will offer Tesla robotaxi rentals in 2026
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Just days from now, Tesla reportedly plans to deploy its first commercial robotaxi service on Austin's public streets. Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled plans to launch them in June as part of its new autonomous vehicle ride hailing service. On Tuesday, social media posts circulated online of one of those vehicles driving on South Congress Avenue. Tesla robotaxi service reportedly launching next week in Austin Austin-based RV rental agency, The Outdoorsy Group, said it plans to incorporate this new technology in the future. 'We see outdoorsy as a platform for all forms of mobility,' said Co-Founder and CEO Jeff Cavins. 'Motorcycles, trucks, cars, camper vans, airstreams. Of course, the autonomous vehicle is important to us because it enables a whole level of autonomy.' Cavins said he jumped at the idea when it was first announced. 'We called the fleet team, whom we knew really well at Tesla, and we placed an order for 100 Teslas.' Jeff Cavins, Outdoorsy Group Co-Founder & CEO Cavins said along with Outdoorsy, they built their own insurance company called Roamly Insurance Group. 'I think the insurance component is very important,' Cavins said. 'You want to make sure, if you're a city or a municipality or city council or a mayor's office, that the insurance company that's backing these fleets of robotaxis is an insurance company you can rely on.' Still, some questions remain unanswered. In a letter sent to Tesla in May, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration asked the company to explain how it plans to operate safely. Questions focused on things like: Crash reporting Complying with traffic safey laws Automated responses to emergencies NHTSA asked how the robotaxis will safely operate in low-visibility, like sun glare, fog, rain or snow. Those conditions are tied to previous accidents involving the company's driver-assistance software. KXAN reached out to see if NHTSA heard back. The agency told us on Friday that its investigation remains open and that Tesla's response must be submitted by June 19. NHTSA said any updates will be posted in the investigation file online. Attorney Donald Slavik represents people across the country who were injured or killed by Tesla autopilot and full self-driving. He shared multiple stories with KXAN about some of the cases he's taken. 'A family in Texas where a gentleman, father and husband was putting trash cans out on the street in the neighborhood,' Slavik said. 'Vehicle coming by with the driver using autopilot so that he could talk on his phone or work on his phone. Hit the man and very, very seriously injured [him]. He survived for a year and a half and died.' Slavik said unlike states with established autonomous vehicle oversight, cities in Texas cannot regulate AV's. The Texas Legislature passed a bill back in 2017 that prohibited that. 'There's nothing that prevents someone from putting these vehicles out in Texas. There's no regulation that says you have to have a human person behind the wheel with responsibility for operating the vehicle.' Attorney Donald Slavik, Slavik Law Firm Slavik worries about how a robotaxi would respond in severe weather conditions as well. 'Is it going to pull over safely and stop, or is it going to try to drive through it?' Slavik wondered. KXAN has repeatedly reached out to Tesla about its robotaxi plans. We'll update this story if we get a response. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
