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Markey Reintroduces Bill on Hazardous Rail Shipments
U.S. Representative Edward Markey (D-Mass.) yesterday reintroduced legislation requiring some rerouting of trains carrying hazardous materials away from sensitive areas and other measures designed to improve the safety of such shipments (see GSN, Feb. 24). “Across the country, enough chlorine to kill 100,000 people in half an hour is routinely contained in a single rail tanker car that rolls right through crowded urban centers without adequate security protections,” Markey said in a press release. “The industry, with the encouragement of the Bush administration, claims it can’t afford to beef up security and reroute the most dangerous materials. The reality is that we can’t afford not to.” Markey’s bill calls on the Homeland Security Department to take the following actions: — reroute particularly dangerous materials such as chlorine and highly flammable or explosive substances away from urban centers or other sensitive areas unless no safer routes are available; — increase security on hazardous materials shipments by adding guards and surveillance technology; — require rail companies to use technology to make railcars more resistant to puncture; — prepare response plans and increase notification of local emergency personnel when toxic shipments are coming through their jurisdictions; — mandate training for personnel working with toxic materials shipments; — ensure whistleblowers are protected; and — establish civil and administrative punishments for those who violate the regulations. Senator Jon Corzine (D-N.J.) plans to submit a similar bill, the press release states. “This legislation isn’t about adding an extra layer of regulation on industry, but about adding an extra layer of protection for everyday Americans,” Corzine said in the release (U.S. Representative Edward Markey press release, March 17).
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