[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 116 (Wednesday, August 17, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 17, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
   CONCURRING IN SENATE AMENDMENT TO H.R. 2178, HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 
                 TRANSPORTATION ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1993

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                               speech of

                      HON. WILLIAM F. CLINGER, JR.

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 16, 1994

  Mr. CLINGER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend my colleagues for 
all of their hard work on H.R. 2178 which reauthorizes the Hazardous 
Materials Transportation Act. This legislation is critical in that it 
will help ensure that the risks inherent in the transportation of 
hazardous materials are minimized, and that we provide precautions to 
protect our citizens.
  I would especially like to express my deep appreciation to Public 
Works Chairman Mineta, ranking member Schuster, Chairman Rahall, and 
Mr. Petri, and Energy and Commerce Chairman Dingell and ranking member 
Moorhead, Chairman Swift and Mr. Oxley, as well as the Public Works 
staff for incorporating in the final legislation a provision which I 
authored in the Committee on Public Works and Transportation. This 
provision requires the Secretary of Transportation to conduct a study 
to determine the safety considerations of transporting hazardous 
materials by motor carrier in close proximity to Federal prisons. 
Within 1 year of enactment, the Department of Transportation would 
report to Congress on the results of the study along with 
recommendations for any legislative or regulatory changes that might be 
needed to enhance safety.
  The motivation behind the study is to prevent what could be a 
potentially very dangerous situation for Federal prison staff, 
prisoners, and the surrounding communities. We are all aware of the 
numerous accidents involving trucks carrying hazardous materials. In 
1990 and 1991 there were over 7,200 incidents of releases of hazardous 
materials reported to the Department of Transportation related to 
highway transportation of these materials. If such a release were to 
occur in close proximity to a Federal prison, emergency procedures such 
as an evacuation could pose special problems.
  This provision emanated from a problem facing Union County, PA in my 
own district. Allenwood Prison complex is a large facility which houses 
3,000 prisoners, including maximum security prisoners, and has a staff 
of 700. Adjacent to the Allenwood correctional complex is Highway 15 
which is a major truck highway, and there was quite a lot of concern by 
the community that the highway would be the main route used to 
transport hazardous waste to a proposed incinerator. There was no 
information available to indicate what steps would be needed to be 
taken to ensure safety. If there was a spill or other type of release 
it would be very difficult to evacuate the 3,000 prisoners or staff in 
a timely and safe manner--and the safety of citizens in the community 
would be jeopardized as well. According to the Bureau of Prisons, after 
Hurricane Andrew it took over 3 days to evacuate a smaller prison in 
Miami.
  For other communities that may be faced with a similar situation, a 
large Federal prison that is located next to a major highway, the DOT 
study will serve to identify what steps that should be taken to enhance 
safety. These should include any special training, equipment, and 
personnel requirements that may be needed.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my sincere hope that this DOT study will provide 
steps for necessary action that will prevent a catastrophe from 
occurring before rather than after the fact. Again, I would like to 
thank the leadership of the two communities for ensuring that this 
provision was included in the final legislation.

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