Hazmat Rerouting for D.C. on its Way to House Floor (3/13/07)

Washington, DC-An amendment Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) has pressed since 9/11 to protect the District of Columbia and other communities nationwide from dangerous hazardous material (hazmat) shipments was included in a rail security bill passed by the full Homeland Security Committee today. The amendment requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to mandate rerouting of very toxic substances in selected highly vulnerable jurisdictions, such as the National Capital Region.  In addition, the bill has $20 million specifically authorized for upgrades and security at Union Station, which Norton got approved earlier this month by the new transportation security subcommittee of the Homeland Security Committee on which Norton also serves. 

        Norton's concern about dangerous rail shipments that travel near D.C. neighborhoods and the Capitol complex, risking the lives of tens of thousands of people, and about possible rail disasters elsewhere, prompted her, and later the D.C. City Council, to seek remedies.  As a member of the Homeland Security Committee, she was the chief sponsor of the Secure TRAINS Act in the 109th Congress, to increase protection for public transportation, including Amtrak, Metro and buses, which lags far behind air travel security in federal support.  Norton also sought additional amendments to compel rerouting in appropriate cases.  When Congress failed to act, the District passed an emergency ban last year that prohibits toxic material shipments within two miles of the U.S. Capitol complex.  The ban was put on hold pending the result of a lawsuit by CSX, still in progress.  CSX agreed to reroute some trains and D.C. agreed not to enforce the ban, pending a decision in the court case, but neither Norton nor the District has been able to secure details on the rerouting.  Norton praised the District for taking the initiative, without the necessary help from the federal government, to protect residents here and in the region, as well as federal employees.  

        The underlying bill that passed today--the Rail and Public Transportation Security Act of 2007--is a comprehensive rail security bill that mandates DHS to develop regulations and penalties to increase the security and safety for Amtrak, Metro, buses and similar systems nationwide.  Security plans mandated in the bill must include a strategy for implementing enhanced security for shipments sensitive materials.