Bill
Bill > S1952
summary
Introduced
In Committee
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
112th Congress
Bill Summary
Hazardous Materials Transportation Safety Act of 2011 [sic] - (Sec. 5) Requires states or Indian tribes receiving grants to train emergency responders to hazardous material (hazmat) transportation accidents to make certain certifications to the Secretary of Transportation (DOT). (Sec. 6) Authorizes the Secretary to conduct pilot projects (including at least one in a rural area) to evaluate the feasibility of using paperless hazard communications systems. (Sec. 7) Authorizes the Secretary to assess and review the methods used by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) for collecting, analyzing, and reporting accidents and incidents involving hazmat transportation. Requires the Secretary to develop an action plan and timeline for improving the collection, analysis, reporting, and use of data by PHMSA. (Sec. 8) Directs the Secretary to prescribe regulations establishing uniform procedures among facilities for the safe loading and unloading of hazmat on and off tank cars and cargo tank trucks. (Sec. 9) Authorizes the Secretary to develop and implement a hazmat technical assessment, research and development, and analysis program to: (1) reduce risks associated with hazmat transportation; and (2) identify and evaluate new technologies for safe, secure, and efficient hazmat transportation. (Sec. 10) Directs the Secretary to establish a multimodal hazmat enforcement training program for government hazmat inspectors and investigators. (Sec. 11) Requires a designated officer, employee, or agent of the Secretary to provide reasonable notice to an affected offeror, carrier, packaging manufacturer or tester, or other person responsible for the package containing hazmat of: (1) the decision to exercise inspection and investigation authority, (2) any findings made, and (3) any actions being taken as a result of a finding of noncompliance. Requires regulations for inspections and investigations to address: (1) the safe and expeditious resumption of transportation of perishable hazardous material, including radiopharmaceuticals and other medical products, that may require timely delivery due to life-threatening situations; (2) the means by which noncompliant packages presenting an imminent hazard are placed out-of-service until the condition is corrected; (3) the means by which noncompliant packages that do not present a hazard are moved to their final destination; (4) appropriate training and equipment for inspectors; and (5) the proper closure of packaging. (Sec. 12) Increases the civil penalties for: (1) knowing violations of a hazmat transportation regulation, order, special permit, or approval; and (2) violations that result in death, serious illness, or injury or substantial destruction of property. Authorizes the Secretary to impose a civil penalty on persons who obstruct or prevent an inspection or investigation regarding hazmat transportation. Prohibits a person who has failed to pay an assessed civil penalty for noncompliance with a hazmat transportation regulation or order from conducting hazmat transportation. (Sec. 14) Revises requirements for the issuance of special permits, approvals, and exclusions. (Sec. 15) Requires states to submit certain information to the Secretary biennially regarding their currently effective hazmat highway route designations. (Sec. 16) Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary for FY2012 and FY2013. Authorizes the Secretary to make certain expenditures from the Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Fund, in particular for hazmat training grants.
AI Summary
This bill, the Hazardous Materials Transportation Safety Improvement Act of 2011, aims to enhance the safety of transporting hazardous materials by requiring states or Indian tribes receiving grants for emergency responder training to certify that responders can protect people, property, and the environment from hazardous material incidents. It also authorizes pilot projects to test paperless hazard communication systems, which would use advanced methods like wireless devices to share hazard information, and directs the Secretary of Transportation to assess and improve how the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) collects, analyzes, and reports accident data, developing an action plan for improvements. The bill mandates regulations for uniform procedures for safely loading and unloading hazardous materials onto and off tank cars and cargo tank trucks, and establishes a program for technical assessment, research, and development to reduce risks and identify new technologies for safe, secure, and efficient hazardous material transport. Furthermore, it creates a multimodal training program for government hazardous materials inspectors and investigators to ensure uniform standards and effective enforcement, and requires inspectors to provide reasonable notice to responsible parties about inspections, findings, and actions taken, while also outlining procedures for handling perishable hazardous materials and noncompliant packages. The bill significantly increases civil penalties for knowing violations of hazardous materials transportation regulations, especially those resulting in death or serious injury, and allows penalties for obstructing inspections, while prohibiting those who fail to pay assessed penalties from conducting hazardous material transportation. It also revises requirements for issuing special permits and approvals, mandates states to report their hazardous material highway route designations biennially, and authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 2012 and 2013 to fund these safety initiatives, including grants for emergency preparedness and training.
Committee Categories
Transportation and Infrastructure
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 368. (on 04/25/2012)
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