TSA reviews utility of hazmat placards

TSA reviews utility of hazmat placards    The U.S. Transportation Security Administration plans to soon complete a field test on alternative methods for identifying hazardous material shipments to emergency response personnel after overcoming some delays, said Peter Loverso, the agency’s deputy chief operating officer.
   The effort rises out of concern that external hazmat placards that assist railroad workers, truckers and emergency personnel know what kinds of chemicals they are dealing with are also potential advertisements for terrorists seeking to turn a tank car or truck trailer into a bomb.
   The Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M University completed a study on the matter last summer and TSA is now getting ready to put some of the findings to the test, Loverso told a Railway Age conference luncheon this week.
   TSA officials say any alternative must provide the same level of safety as placards.