Transportation of Hazardous Materials
More tha
n 1 million shipments of hazardous materials (haz mat) are moved throughout the country every day by all modes including pipelines, ships, trucks, trains, and airlines. The shipments vary widely by type and volume, from small packages of radioactive materials to bulk shipments of flammable or toxic materials. The myriad and loosely coordinated federal and state agencies and private entities moving the freight cooperate toward the goal of moving these goods without incident. Regulators in various federal agencies concerned about haz mat transportation—FMCSA, FRA, U.S. Coast Guard, and Research and Special Programs Administration—requested that TRB convene a committee to examine the feasibility of a cooperative research program in haz mat transportation.
Although incidents with severe consequences are rare, organizations involved in haz mat transportation face constant challenges from new materials, new shipment methods, and growing concerns about security, public health, and environmental protection. The committee recommended a trial national program that would marshal the expertise of all who have a stake in managing risk and responding to incidents (Special Report 283: Cooperative Research for Hazardous Materials Transportation; Defining the Need, Converging on Solutions; TRB 2005). Recommendations also cover program structure, financing, governance, and management should a full-scale program be implemented following a successful trial period. Congress adopted the recommendation for additional research in this area in the 2005 reauthorization of surface transportation legislation, funding the topics suggested by the committee and directing USDOT to report back to Congress on the feasibility of establishing a permanent cooperative program.