RSPA 4-03
Thursday, March 27, 2003
Contacts: James Mitchell
Joe Delcambre
Tel.: (202)
366-4831
RSPA Moves to Enhance the Security of Hazardous Materials Shipments
The
U.S. Department of Transportation’s Research and Special Programs
Administration (RSPA) issued a final rule imposing heightened security
requirements for hazardous materials shippers and carriers.
RSPA’s Office of Hazardous
Materials Safety is the federal authority responsible for assuring the safe and
secure commercial movement of hazardous materials by all transportation modes.
“The
security of hazardous materials is an important public issue,” said Samuel G.
Bonasso, RSPA acting administrator. “Under this rule, shippers
and carriers of certain highly hazardous materials must develop and implement
security plans, including mandatory security training for employees.”
Security plans must identify potential security risks and measures to
protect shipments of hazardous materials covered by the rule.
Companies are permitted to tailor security plans to specific
circumstances and operations, and measures may vary
with the level of threat. However,
all security plans must include personnel, access, and en route security
measures. Under
the rule, employees responsible for the transport of hazardous materials must be
trained on how to be aware of security risks and
enhance security.
RSPA
has public responsibilities for the safe, reliable and secure movement of
hazardous materials to industry and consumers by all transportation modes,
including the nation=s pipelines; rapid response to emergencies by
government agencies; training of transportation safety professionals; and
applying science and technology to meet national transportation needs.
The
final rule was published in the Federal Register on March 25, 2003, under
docket HM-232
.
For
additional information: go to RSPA website www.rspa.dot.gov,
or contact publicaffairs@rspa.dot.gov.
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