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S. 1952 (112th): Hazardous Materials Transportation Safety Improvement Act of 2011
- Introduced:
- Dec 07, 2011 (112th Congress, 2011–2013)
- Sponsor:
- Sen. Frank Lautenberg [D-NJ]
- Status:
- Died (Reported by Committee)
The bill’s title was written by the bill’s sponsor. S. stands for Senate bill.
- Full Title
A bill to improve hazardous materials transportation safety and for other purposes.
- Summary
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No summaries available.
- Text
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Last updated Dec 07, 2011.
32 pages
- Primary Source
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View on THOMAS (The Library of Congress)
GovTrack gets most information from THOMAS, which is updated generally one day after events occur. Activity since the last update may not be reflected here.
- Citation
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Click a format for a citation suggestion:
Library of Congress Summary
The summary below was written by the Congressional Research Service, which is a nonpartisan division of the Library of Congress.
4/25/2012--Reported to Senate without amendment. (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) Hazardous Materials Transportation Safety Act of 2011 [sic] -
Section
5
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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).
Section
6
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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.
Section
7
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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.
Section
8
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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.
Section
9
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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.
Section
10
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Directs the Secretary to establish a multimodal hazmat enforcement training program for government hazmat inspectors and investigators.
Section
11
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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.
Section
12
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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.
Section
14
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Revises requirements for the issuance of special permits, approvals, and exclusions.
Section
15
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Requires states to submit certain information to the Secretary biennially regarding their currently effective hazmat highway route designations.
Section
16
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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.
House Republican Conference Summary
The summary below was written by the House Republican Conference, which is the caucus of Republicans in the House of Representatives.
No summary available.
House Democratic Caucus Summary
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The bill contains the following citations to other parts of U.S. law:
United States Code
The United States Code is the compilation of permanent laws enacted by Congress. Temporary and other non-permanent laws do not appear in the United States Code. (About half of the United States Code is the law itself, called positive law. The other half is merely a compilation of the laws but has no legal significance.)
- Title 33: NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS
- Chapter 25: PORTS AND WATERWAYS SAFETY PROGRAM
- Section 1221: Statement of policy
- Title 49: TRANSPORTATION
- Subtitle III: GENERAL AND INTERMODAL PROGRAMS
- Chapter 51: TRANSPORTATION OF HAZARDOUS MATERIAL
- Section 5110: Shipping papers and disclosure
Other Citations
- 49 U.S.C. Chapter 51