DHS, DOT seeking to bolster rail safety

DHS, DOT seeking to bolster rail safety The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Department of Transportation are proposing regulations they say would reduce the risk of hazards from chemicals moving by rail.
   On Friday, DHS proposed a rule that it said is part of a package of new security measures that will require freight rail carriers to ensure 100 percent positive handoff of toxic inhalation hazard materials such as chlorine and anhydrous ammonia.
   Railroads will also establish security protocols for custody transfers of rail cars handing toxic materials that can be inhaled in high threat urban areas, and appoint a rail security coordinator to share information with the federal government.
   It will also formalize the Transportation Security Administration's freight and passenger rail inspection authority.
   'A toxic emission from an attack against a chemical facility or hazardous chemicals in transit is among the most serious risks facing America's highest threat areas,' said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. 'We're going to take a significant percentage of that risk off the table.'
   Also on Friday, the DOT proposed railroads perform safety and security risk analysis to determine the most appropriate route for shipping hazardous materials.
   DOT Secretary Mary Peters said the goal is to make shipments of certain high-risk hazardous materials, including explosives, radioactive substances and toxic-inhalation risk materials, more safe and secure by adding to and strengthening existing federal regulations.
   'These materials are fueling our economy and vital to the prosperity of our nation, which is exactly why we want to establish a clear and stronger baseline for determining the safest, most secure way to move them by rail,' Peters said.
   She said the type and quantity of hazardous materials covered by the proposed rule present the greatest potential safety and security risks.
   Under the proposed DOT rule, rail carriers would be required to compile annual data clearly identifying route segments and the total number and type of hazardous materials shipments transported over each route, and use the information to analyze the safety and security risks present on each route. Railroads would then be required to use this data to select the route that provides the highest possible degree of safety and security.
   Peters added that the proposed rule would require shippers to develop consistent plans for safely and securely storing hazardous materials while en route, and to ensure that within a specified time period a rail carrier informs the final recipient of a hazardous materials rail car that it has delivered.
   Edward R. Hamberger, chief executive officer of the Association of American Railroads, said, 'we look forward to working with DHS.' But he added 'keeping hazardous materials secure will continue to require active involvement and close cooperation among all the players in the logistics chain. Railroads, for example, do not own the tank cars used to ship highly hazardous chemicals. Tank car owners, chemical shippers, chemical users and railroads each play a critical role in the transportation of hazardous materials.'
   DHS said the freight rail industry has already begun to implement several key security measures, such as tracking and substantially reducing the standstill time for unattended freight cars transporting toxic inhalible materials in high threat urban areas, developing site-specific security plans with access controls, and providing security training for employees.
   Using industry data, it said the Transportation Security Administration intends to create a tracking system that will allow the federal government to determine the location of rail cars carrying such materials within minutes.