Hazardous Materials Transportation Security: Highway and Rail Modes (CRS Report for Congress)
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| Release Date |
April 6, 2005 |
| Report Number |
RL32851 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Paul F. Rothberg, Resources, Science, and Industry Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
Hundreds of thousands of trucks and railroad tank cars transport tons of hazardous materials
(hazmat) daily. There is virtually an unlimited number of ways that these shipments are at risk from
attack by terrorists. By implementing a "layered" system of measures affecting shippers, carriers,
and drivers, many in the public and private sectors seek to reduce associated security risks. This
system involves incident prevention, preparedness, and response. A major challenge is to increase
cost effectively the security of these shipments, especially those that pose the most danger to the
public, while still meeting, to the extent possible, the transportation requirements of commerce. The
109th Congress is considering legislation, such as H.R. 3 , H.R. 153 ,
H.R. 909 , H.R. 1109 , and H.R. 1414 , and S. 230 ,
which includes provisions intended to promote hazmat transportation security.
The Departments of Transportation (DOT) and Homeland Security (DHS) have taken
numerous actions to enhance the security of hazmat transportation. For example, DOT requires
shippers and carriers to implement security plans regarding specified hazmat transportation. DOT
grants encourage states to conduct inspections of trucks transporting hazmat. Also, DOT has
contacted thousands of companies seeking to improve their security programs, and also has
established communication links with industry. DHS conveys threat information to law enforcement
and industry, and conducts vulnerability assessments. DHS administers a grant that provides training
and the communications infrastructure which facilitates truck drivers and others to report safety and
potential security concerns. DHS seeks to determine whether commercial drivers pose a security
threat necessitating denial of their hazmat endorsement on their commercial drivers licenses.
Despite these efforts, there remain many vulnerabilities in the current layered system of hazmat
transportation security measures. At a cost, much more could be done to expand the scope,
strengthen the rigor, and accelerate the pace of the federal role in this area.
H.R. 153 and H.R. 1109 include a provision that would require the
DHS to prepare a vulnerability assessment of freight rail transportation and to identify security risks
that are specific to the transportation of hazmats by rail. H.R. 153 would provide grants
to address threats pertaining to the security of hazmat transportation by rail. H.R. 909
would establish a research program intended to advance security measures for hazmat transportation.
H.R. 3 , which the House has passed, includes a provision intended to ensure that
Mexican- and Canadian-domiciled truck drivers transporting specified hazmat loads in the United
States are subject to a background check similar to that required of U.S. drivers. Other options
include increased security awareness training for state truck inspectors and certain employees of
truck leasing companies, and requiring enhanced security plans and communication systems for
carriers of high hazard materials shipments beyond those now required. Each of these options poses
costs that need to be evaluated within the context of other investments. This report deals only with
hazmat security in surface transportation and will not be updated.
