{
  "id": "RL32851",
  "type": "CRS Report",
  "typeId": "REPORTS",
  "number": "RL32851",
  "active": false,
  "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
  "versions": [
    {
      "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
      "id": 333467,
      "date": "2005-04-06",
      "retrieved": "2016-04-07T19:47:59.457029",
      "title": "Hazardous Materials Transportation Security: Highway and Rail Modes",
      "summary": "Hundreds of thousands of trucks and railroad tank cars transport tons of hazardous materials\n(hazmat) daily. There is virtually an unlimited number of ways that these shipments are at risk from\nattack by terrorists. By implementing a \"layered\" system of measures affecting shippers, carriers,\nand drivers, many in the public and private sectors seek to reduce associated security risks. This\nsystem involves incident prevention, preparedness, and response. A major challenge is to increase\ncost effectively the security of these shipments, especially those that pose the most danger to the\npublic, while still meeting, to the extent possible, the transportation requirements of commerce. The\n109th Congress is considering legislation, such as  H.R. 3 ,  H.R. 153 ,\n H.R. 909 ,  H.R. 1109 , and  H.R. 1414 , and  S. 230 ,\nwhich includes provisions intended to promote hazmat transportation security.\n The Departments of Transportation (DOT) and Homeland Security (DHS) have taken\nnumerous actions to enhance the security of hazmat transportation. For example, DOT requires\nshippers and carriers to implement security plans regarding specified hazmat transportation. DOT\ngrants encourage states to conduct inspections of trucks transporting hazmat. Also, DOT has\ncontacted thousands of companies seeking to improve their security programs, and also has\nestablished communication links with industry. DHS conveys threat information to law enforcement\nand industry, and conducts vulnerability assessments. DHS administers a grant that provides training\nand the communications infrastructure which facilitates truck drivers and others to report safety and\npotential security concerns. DHS seeks to determine whether commercial drivers pose a security\nthreat necessitating denial of their hazmat endorsement on their commercial drivers licenses. \nDespite these efforts, there remain many vulnerabilities in the current layered system of hazmat\ntransportation security measures. At a cost, much more could be done to expand the scope,\nstrengthen the rigor, and accelerate the pace of the federal role in this area. \n  H.R. 153  and  H.R. 1109  include a provision that would require the\nDHS to prepare a vulnerability assessment of freight rail transportation and to identify security risks\nthat are specific to the transportation of hazmats by rail.  H.R. 153  would provide grants\nto address threats pertaining to the security of hazmat transportation by rail.  H.R. 909 \nwould establish a research program intended to advance security measures for hazmat transportation. \n H.R. 3 , which the House has passed, includes a provision intended to ensure that\nMexican- and Canadian-domiciled truck drivers transporting specified hazmat loads in the United\nStates are subject to a background check similar to that required of U.S. drivers. Other options\ninclude increased security awareness training for state truck inspectors and certain employees of\ntruck leasing companies, and requiring enhanced security plans and communication systems for\ncarriers of high hazard materials shipments beyond those now required. Each of these options poses\ncosts that need to be evaluated within the context of other investments. This report deals only with\nhazmat security in surface transportation and will not be updated.",
      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORTS",
      "active": false,
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      "topics": []
    }
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Intelligence and National Security"
  ]
}