DOT’s MINETA PROPOSES TOUGHER HAZMAT LEGISLATION

DOTÆs MINETA PROPOSES TOUGHER HAZMAT LEGISLATION    U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta has sent Congress proposed legislation that would beef up security and safety in the transport of hazardous materials within the United States.
   Mineta said the DOT proposal addresses “undeclared or hidden shipments of hazardous materials,” and additional DOT authority “to stop and inspect shipments.”
   The proposed legislation would:
   * Strengthen DOT inspectors' ability to inspect packages in transport.
   * Provide inspectors with authority to stop seriously unsafe transportation.
   * Increase maximum penalties for hazardous materials violations to $100,000, from $27,500.
   * Expand requirements for training persons involved in the transport of hazardous materials.
   * Strengthen the DOT's state enforcement partners.
   * Provide the U.S. Postal Service with civil penalty authority to effectively enforce regulations on mail shipments of hazardous materials.
   * Address overlapping hazardous materials regulations between the DOT and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, with some exceptions.
   * Allow states to participate in a coordinated program of hazardous materials registration an permits.
   More than 800,000 shipments of hazardous materials are transported daily, the DOT said.