Energy Transfer presents $9,565 grant to Beaver County hazmat team for equipment

An Energy Transfer representative told the Beaver County Board of Commissioners at its April 2 work session that the company awarded $9,565 to the county hazardous‑materials team to buy magnet seals.

The award was presented as part of a company grant program for first responders. The speaker said the grant followed repeated conversations with local fire departments, hazmat teams and the county’s Local Emergency Planning Committee about rising equipment costs and fewer public grant opportunities. “Due to the strength and the merit of the grant that the Beaver County hazmat team had put in, ... Beaver County was awarded in the amount of $9,565, to purchase that critical equipment,” the representative said.

The representative described Energy Transfer as a nationwide pipeline company and noted the firm has partnered with local emergency response teams on training. The representative also identified Dale Starnes as the company safety representative who serves on the county LEPC and said Starnes helped steward the hazmat grant application.

A county commissioner thanked the company for the partnership. “They've been nothing but good partners, not only to the county but to our emergency services,” the commissioner said at the meeting.

County staff and the company planned to take a photo after the meeting to mark the award. No formal vote or ordinance was recorded in the meeting minutes about the grant; the presentation was described as recognition of the private grant to the county hazmat team.

Energy Transfer and the commissioners framed the award as part of broader public‑private cooperation on emergency preparedness; the company said the grant program aims to help first responders buy equipment that has grown more expensive and harder to obtain through public grants.