LACIE SILVA
Editor
Steve Lamb addressed the Marion County Commissioner Board to discuss the purchase of a tracking software system using the grant money they were approved as part of the Tennessee Pipeline Emergency Response Initiative (TPERI).
The Tennessee Fire Chiefs Association established a separate 501(c) group known as the Tennessee Pipeline Emergency Response Initiative (TPERI). The goal of TPERI is to enhance the capabilities of emergency responders in managing pipeline emergencies through improved training, cooperation, and communication. TPERI operates under its own independent board of directors, focusing on specialized training for hazardous materials and pipeline safety.
While awareness-level training has been provided by pipeline safety providers for years, there is now a need for more in-depth training to ensure that responders across the state are fully prepared for pipeline-related emergencies. TPERI has applied for grant funding to provide concentrated training, particularly in high-risk areas and underserved communities.
The first major purchase TPERI plans to make with the grant money is a tracking software system from Perseverance, which is already in use in Georgia and Alabama. This software allows local utilities and pipeline contractors in Tennessee to document the completion of necessary training. The original grant of $403,000 covers two years of expenses, including the software, which costs $92,000 annually, and instructor fees. A second grant has been applied for to extend the program further, with full support anticipated by 2027.
For the first year, TPERI is allowed to draw $203,000 from the grant, which will be deposited into the county’s account to cover the program’s expenses. This ensures that no county funds will be used for the project.
The board unanimously approved TPERI’s purchase of the training database system with the grant money.
