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Focuses on the violations in the air transport of hazardous materials in the United States. Role of hazardous material shipments in aircraft accidents; Reasons for hazardous cargo violations.

The article looks at the hazardous materials incident response in France. In 1986, a group of specialists met in Angers to define the mission of the hazardous materials response team (HMRT). In March 2006, the "National Training Guideline for Biological and Chemical Accident Response Team" was published.

The article addresses the threat of unwanted toxic by inhalation (TIH) cargo release in the U.S. Both railroads and trucking firms say they have greatly enhanced security and invested heavily in making improvements in the transportation of hazardous materials. However, the pressure to reduce such a TIH threat is likely to remain firmly on shippers and carriers in 2007.

The article reports on the need for a design standard for safer tank cars that would be used to transport hazardous materials. According to chemical shippers, changes are also needed in the operation of freight railroads. The return to the stewardship process that has resulted to improvements in the rail transportation of hazardous materials is what is required. The Interstate Commerce Act defines railroads as the "common carriers" so they cannot refuse to haul hazardous chemicals.

The article focuses on the debate among U.S. legislators and chemical industry officials over proposals to change requirements for shipment of hazardous materials in the U.S. In the age of heightened awareness of terrorism, new concerns arise about the risk of transporting dangerous cargo. Shippers, on the other hand, are concerned of local governments' implementation of restrictions or banning of hazardous materials transportation. Some major cities that are moving forward with efforts to reroute shipments of toxic materials are: Baltimore, Maryland; Boston, Massachusetts; Cleveland, Ohio; Chicago, Illinois; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Focuses on the program evaluation of the United States Transportation Department on illegal shipment of hazardous materials on aircraft. Details on the program; How hazardous materials shipments that are not labeled, package and handled properly are a chronic treat to safe transportation; Information on the review presented by the agency.

The article talks about the handling of anhydrous ammonia, a hazardous substance listed in the guidelines of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that can be lethal when released into the atmosphere. Power plants use ammonia in selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems to neutralize nitrous oxide which promotes ground-level ozone formation. Transport of the substance may be reduced with the use of ammonia-on-demand systems that utilize urea. The article includes a table showing effect of ammonia at various levels of concentration.

The article offers several methods on how fire fighters can prepare and train for railroad emergencies. Walking on or between rails should be avoided by fire fighters. Some of the things fire fighters should consider when preplanning the emergency response include rail yards, bridges and utilities lines. Fire fighters should be able to identify the type of railcars that carry hazardous materials as part of their preplanning exercise.

The article reports that chemical shippers have urged the United States government to reconsider its plan to improve the safety of railroad tank cars that carry hazardous materials. Representatives of companies that make and ship highly toxic chemicals have told a panel of the Department of Transportation (DOT) officials that many of the proposals under the plan include unrealistic timelines and require technologies that currently do not exist.

Deals with the growth of security concerns toward the distribution and transportation of hazardous materials in the United States, following the September 2001 terrorist attacks. Steps and measures taken by federal and state agencies that are related to security; Reactions of distributors regarding the issue; Role of the attacks in the economic slowdown and the decline in chemical production.

Focuses on reducing the risks of transporting hazardous materials. Compliance with regulations in preparing the material for shipping; Importance of training for people involved; Responsibilities of the shipper. INSET: Ever-changing regulations..

Reports on penalties imposed on British Airways (BA) in December 1999 for illegally transporting a chemical oxygen container in the cargo hold of a passenger aircraft flying from London, England to Dallas, Texas. Prosecutions won by the British Civil Aviation Authority against British Midland and Britannia Airways for similar cases.

Reports on the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) proposal to ban carriage of oxidizers on passenger aircraft and its request to Congress to revise the agency's Fiscal 1997 budget to augment its hazardous materials workforce. Breakdown of uses of budget.

The article offers information on the meeting of Shandong provincial government concerning production of safety of hazardous chemicals, deciding to analyze transportation of hazardous chemicals held in China on December 19, 2018.

The article reports on the issuance of the Schedule for Comprehensive Safety Management of Hazardous Chemicals in Shanghai, China on January 19, 2018, specifying three phased tasks that are expected to be completed by November 2019.

The article announces that enterprises or drivers in Tianjin, China could get their transport permits for hazardous chemicals online through the Tianjin public security livelihood service platform and the hazardous chemicals road transport traffic management system.

The article focuses on the dispute that ensued following a U.S. Congressional mandate in 2010 for railroad carriers that transport chlorine and other extremely hazardous materials to install new collision-avoidance systems. It states that central to the dispute is the issue of shipping rates. Information on positive train control (PTC) is offered. A discussion on the issues surrounding the regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is detailed.

The article reports on the implementation of a radio identification (RFID) system combined with Global Positioning System for the railroad fleet of Dow Chemical Co. Dow hopes that RFID will provide greater visibility and traceability of chemical products as they move through the supply chain. The current cost of RFID tags is about 10 cents to 20 cents each. Dow expects to increase safety and efficiency by monitoring routes and locations of railroad cars carrying hazardous materials.

Evaluates the hazardous-materials transportation accident training courses conducted by the Association of American Railroads at the US Department of Transportation's Transportation Technology Center in Pueblo, Colorado. Use of dozens of actual railroad tank cars and highway cargo tanks; Concentration of more than 50 percent of the training on actual hands-on practice; Intermix of students.

The article offers news briefs related to the petroleum industry. The U.S. Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has sought public comment to enhance the safe transportation of hazardous materials by rail tank cars. Iraq is looking for a builder to develop the nation's first oil export pipeline. Energy companies Kinder Morgan Inc. and Valero Energy Corp.'s Parkway pipeline is transporting refined petroleum products from Louisiana to Mississippi.

The article describes a railroad safety and security program for the transportation of hazardous chemicals from the chemical company Dow Chemical Co. and the railroad operator Union Pacific Railroad as of June 2013.

The article reports on the application of hazard analysis or HAZAN techniques in the transportation of hazardous materials from Surat, India.

The article reports that the U.S. Surface Transportation Board will form the Toxic by Inhalation Hazard Common Carrier Transportation Advisory Committee to study and suggest ways to safely and cost-effectively move toxic cargo such as anhydrous ammonia and chlorine.

The article focuses on the revision of the security plan requirements on handling hazardous wastes by the Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). It states that the revision was done to accord PHMSA's security plan requirements with the high-consequence dangerous goods. It mentions the changes in the rule, such as the elimination of the security plan requirements for Class 9 materials and narrowing down the scope of Class 8.

The article reports on the decision made by Surface Transportation Board (STB) on the request made by the Union Pacific Railroad Co. to set limits to the transportation of chlorine in railroads in the U.S. Because of the risk involved in transporting chlorine, the firm asked STB to put limits on the shipment of chlorine. In response, the STB ruled that the company is obliged to transport chlorine despite the risk involved if accident occurs in a populated urban area.

The article focuses on a final rule devised to improve the crashworthiness of railroad tank cars used to transport poison inhalation hazards (PIHs) issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) in January 2009. The rule requires tank cars to have enhanced puncture resistance. A 50-mile-per-hour maximum speed restriction for loaded PIH tank cars is also imposed under the rule. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters stated that the final rule seeks to increase safety over existing rail hazardous material (hazmat) tank car designs.

The article reports that the U.S. Environmental and Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized a rule that will exclude certain wastes from federal regulatory requirements governing the storage, transportation, and burning of hazardous waste. The changes to the exclusion rule will allow emission comparable fuels (ECF) to be burned for energy recovery in industrial boilers. ECFs are fuels that meet certain EPA specifications but are not subject to haz-waste disposal laws because their emissions are no more dangerous than emissions from traditional fuels.

The article reports on the final "Appendix A" list of chemicals regulated under federal plant security rules released by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The final list contains several changes, including removal of acetone and urea from the rules, and the addition of concentrated hydrogen peroxide and concentrated nitric acid. DHS has also changed the threshold amounts for chlorine and propane, including regulation of smaller containers of chlorine that could be transported or hidden by terrorists.

The article discusses drylock dry disconnect couplers made by OPW Engineered Systems. The couplers claim to help significantly reduce volatile organic compound emissions, improve worker safety, and improve efficiency during loading and unloading of railcars when transferring hazardous, corrosive, and volatile liquids. Railroad workers can connect the loading arm to the railcar by the turn of a handle without the need for any other tools.

The article reports on the request of railroads from the U.S. Congress to limit their liability risk in transporting hazardous materials. According to Edward Hamberger, president and CEO of the Association of American Railroads, the environment for shipping highly hazardous materials by rail is untenable. The association's request received criticisms from American Chemistry Council, which told the panel that the legal system appropriately places liability on the party or parties that are responsible for an accident involving hazardous materials, and that railroads, shippers, and other entities should continue to bear liability. Other issues raised at the hearing include tank car design and standards, a subject that was also debated at a Department of Transportation meeting on hazardous material rail safety.

The article reports that the U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration held a meeting with rail shippers and carriers in May 2006. The meeting provided an opportunity for industry representatives to share their views on improving the safety of tank cars which carry hazardous materials.

The article reports on the plan to revise the provision under the U.S. Patriot Act that governs the truckers transporting hazardous materials. The questionable aspects of the provision deal with the costly and time-consuming clearance process required of the truckers, the kind of crimes that cause them to lose their HAZMAT endorsements and the definition of hazardous materials.

The article reports on the decision of the city council of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to study rail transportation of hazardous materials (hazmats) in response to concerns over accidents and terrorism. According to an ordinance, the council lacks the basic information necessary to develop an effective response to a hazmat emergency. The Washington D.C. City Council is attempting to reroute certain hazmats away from the capitol, a measure that is being challenged in court by CSX Railroad.

The article features Vanton Pump & Equipment Corp.'s tank/pump systems with single- or double-wall tank construction for chemical processing, plating, metal finishing, waste treatment, pollution control or other services that require the collection, transfer, neutralization or treatment of corrosive, abrasive, hazardous or ultrapure fluids. The user-friendly systems were on display at the WEFTEC conference held November 2005.

Focuses on the issue concerning the need for the U.S. government to address the terrorist threat posed by toxic chemicals carried by rail cars through densely populated areas in the country. Legislation on chemical rail security proposed by U.S. Senator Joe Biden; Potential for attacks on trains carrying hazardous cargoes; Opposition of several trade groups to the legislation that would require rerouting of hazardous cargoes.

This article reports that a nationwide rectification to the highway transportation of hazardous chemicals will be conducted from May 10, 2005 to the end of September 2005 to solve the prominent safety problems in the highway transportation of hazardous chemicals in China. This is an effort to minimize the death and injury of persons and the loss of properties caused by the leakage and explosion of hazardous chemicals in accidents in China.

Reports that emergency planners and other local officials can obtain a ranked list of the top 25 hazardous materials transported by rail through their communities, upon written request to railroad companies in the United States. Access to key transportation information when a hazardous materials rail accident occurs in their town through a pilot program to be launched in July 2005 by the Department of Transportation's Federal Railroad Administration; Ranking of the ability of tank cars to withstand different accidents.

Reports on the concern of Chinese authorities over hazardous materials management following the death of several people when a truck carrying chlorine collided with another vehicle near Nanjing. Decision of the Shanghai government to require all trucks carrying chemicals to be equipped with global positioning systems.

Reports on the request of U.S. District Court Judge Emmet Sullivan to the government regarding the disclosure of plans for securing the transportation of hazardous materials as of March 2005. Authorities responsible for imposing the security measures in the transportation of hazardous materials; Effects of the ban on the transportation of hazardous materials according to CSX.

Reports on a complaint filed by CSX Transportation against the temporary ban on hazardous materials shipments issued by the City Council for the District of Columbia. Reason behind the issuance of a temporary ban; Number of persons killed due to the derailment and subsequent chlorine leak by Norfolk Southern at Graniteville in South Carolina; Commercial law violated by the ban according to CSX.

Reports on the filing of a lawsuit by railroad company CSX Transportation against the District of Colombia. Aim of the legal procedure to block the district's ban on the transportation of hazardous materials near the U.S. Capitol; Claim by CSX of the law's violation of federal interstate transportation and commercial regulations and statutes.

Reports on the approval of the Terrorism Prevention in Hazardous Materials Transportation Emergency Declaration Resolution which bans rail and truck transport of large, hazardous shipments of chemicals through and within Washington D.C. by the City Council. Main objective of the resolution; Other purposes of the resolution; Reaction of the Association of American Railroads to the council's action.

Reports on the plan of U.S. Senator Jon Corzine to introduce a rail security bill to create standards and procedures for transporting hazardous materials and reintroduce the Chemical Plant Security Act. Reason behind Corzine's decision to advocate the bills; Provisions of the proposed legislative bills; Support extended by Associated Chemical Cos. to federal legislation that will establish national standards for chemical site security.

As security concerns rise over the 800,000 daily shipments of hazardous materials over the U.S. highways, the once-hard line between electronics and heavy iron is fading fast. At the moment, 100 freight trucks roaming across the U.S. are armed with the latest in computerized gadgets and software as part of a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration HAZMAT security and equipment test. The security options also could become construction fleet management tools. Leading the research team is Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, Ohio, backed by public and private partners.

Reports the revision of the rules governing the transportation of hazardous materials in the U.S.

Reports on the plan of the Department of Transportation and the White House Office of Homeland security to change a placard system that identifies transported hazardous materials in the U.S. Opposition of the International Association of Fire Chiefs on the proposal; Performance of option review; Adoption of computer tracking system.

Reports that the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush has proposed a controversial security rule for transporters of hazardous materials, which would impose paperwork requirements that industry groups say are unnecessary. Requirement included in the plan; Reaction of an industry lobbyist to the rule.

Reports on the proposal of U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta to strengthen the nation's security and safety in relation to the transporting of hazardous materials. Maximum civil penalty for hazardous materials violations; Increase in training requirements for individuals involved in transporting hazardous materials.

Reports on the legislation proposed by Department of Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta about the safety and security of hazardous materials transportation in the United States. Aim of the proposed legislation; Provisions of the proposed legislation.

Discusses the grievances of rail shippers about the moratorium imposed on rail shipments of poison-by-inhalation chemicals in the United States on October 7, 2001. Reason for the moratorium; Claims of the shippers that they were not represented in meetings to decide on the moratorium; Allegations of shippers on the failure of railroads to notify them about the moratorium; Effect of the moratorium on the movement of chemicals.