Norton Gets Hazardous Substance Provision - 3/1/2007
March 1, 2007
Norton Gets Hazardous Substance Provision in First
Trains Security Bill and $20 Million for Union Station
March 1, 2007
Washington, D.C. -- Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today got the rail security bill that she has pressed for ever since 9-11, when she was the lead sponsor of the Secure TRAINS Act, for the safety of the District of Columbia and other communities nationwide, grappling with dangerous hazardous material shipments. Today’s bill, the Rail and Public Transportation Security Act of 2007, was passed by a new Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection of the Committee on Homeland Security, a subcommittee Norton signed on, in part, to make sure that hazardous substance trains that pass through the city and region are regulated. In addition, she was able to get $20 million specifically authorized for upgrades and security at Union Station. This bill is a comprehensive rail security bill, that in addition, mandates Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulations to increase the security and safety for Amtrak, Metro, buses and similar systems nationwide, and provide strict penalties if companies are not in compliance.
The bill requires DHS to regulate freight trains carrying hazardous materials, an issue that the administration and DHS have previously refused to address. DHS must undertake an assessment of risk and create security plans within 12 months of the enactment of the legislation. The bill also requires DHS to assure that all companies comply within 12 months after DHS completes its work. Norton said that the combination of an assessment of the risk and implementation of a security plan assures that hazardous materials will be dealt with in a strict manner. In addition, Norton said that she will offer an amendment at the final mark-up of the legislation that puts further mandates on DHS to require rerouting of very toxic substances in selected highly vulnerable jurisdictions, such as the National Capital Region.
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.
In the last Congress, the Congresswoman repeatedly criticized congressional failure to act on rail security issues which, “left local jurisdictions, such as the District of Columbia on their own to deal with hazardous substance trains through court action.” She praised the District for moving ahead of the federal government by imposing an emergency ban to protect residents here and in the region, as well as federal employees.
As a member of the Homeland Security Committee, Norton 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 federal support for air travel security.
Trains Security Bill and $20 Million for Union Station
March 1, 2007
Washington, D.C. -- Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today got the rail security bill that she has pressed for ever since 9-11, when she was the lead sponsor of the Secure TRAINS Act, for the safety of the District of Columbia and other communities nationwide, grappling with dangerous hazardous material shipments. Today’s bill, the Rail and Public Transportation Security Act of 2007, was passed by a new Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection of the Committee on Homeland Security, a subcommittee Norton signed on, in part, to make sure that hazardous substance trains that pass through the city and region are regulated. In addition, she was able to get $20 million specifically authorized for upgrades and security at Union Station. This bill is a comprehensive rail security bill, that in addition, mandates Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulations to increase the security and safety for Amtrak, Metro, buses and similar systems nationwide, and provide strict penalties if companies are not in compliance.
The bill requires DHS to regulate freight trains carrying hazardous materials, an issue that the administration and DHS have previously refused to address. DHS must undertake an assessment of risk and create security plans within 12 months of the enactment of the legislation. The bill also requires DHS to assure that all companies comply within 12 months after DHS completes its work. Norton said that the combination of an assessment of the risk and implementation of a security plan assures that hazardous materials will be dealt with in a strict manner. In addition, Norton said that she will offer an amendment at the final mark-up of the legislation that puts further mandates on DHS to require rerouting of very toxic substances in selected highly vulnerable jurisdictions, such as the National Capital Region.
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.
In the last Congress, the Congresswoman repeatedly criticized congressional failure to act on rail security issues which, “left local jurisdictions, such as the District of Columbia on their own to deal with hazardous substance trains through court action.” She praised the District for moving ahead of the federal government by imposing an emergency ban to protect residents here and in the region, as well as federal employees.
As a member of the Homeland Security Committee, Norton 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 federal support for air travel security.