AskRail vs NPMS Public Viewer

The AskRail app is a hazardous materials safety tool for first responders who are first on scene or directly support the first on scene in the event of a rail incident. Access to certain features, including the ability to query railcar contents based on an equipment number, is restricted to authorized personnel. To obtain authorization to use the restricted features, you must assert that you are a first responder, provide information about your emergency response agency, and identify a supervisor who can attest to your first responder duties. You also must obtain sponsorship from a Class I railroad. This process may take up to several weeks. AskRail is a collaborative effort among all North American Class I railroads, the Association of American Railroads, Railinc Corp., and the Transportation Technology Center, Inc. For more information about AskRail please visit: www.askrail.us.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA) National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS) has developed the NPMS Public Viewer iPhone app to allow the public to view hazardous liquid and gas transmission pipeline maps. The user can see who operates a pipeline, what it transports, and who to contact for further information. To get started, a user may choose one county or offshore area (including state waters or federal waters) or choose to see pipelines closest to the user’s current location. For more information about the NPMS, or to access the full desktop browser version of the NPMS Public Map Viewer, go to the NPMS website at https://www.npms.phmsa.dot.gov/.