Requires railroads transporting hazardous materials through the counties of Nassau and Suffolk to give advance notice

4 Co-sponsors

• Robert Barra
• Fred Thiele
• Thomas McKevitt
• Dean Murray

BILL NUMBER:A10883

Title of bill

An act to amend the transportation law, in relation to requiring all railroads transporting hazardous materials through the counties of Nassau and Suffolk to give advance notice to the Metropol- itan Transportation Authority, local governments and municipalities, and law enforcement and first responder personnel located within a quarter mile of the railroad tracks

Purpose or general idea of bill

Requires railroads transporting hazard- ous materials through the counties of Nassau and Suffolk to give advance notice.

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 14-f of the transportation law is amended by adding a new paragraph c) requiring private or public railroads to give twenty-four hour advance notice to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, local governments and municipalities, and law enforcement and first responder personnel within a quarter mile of the railroad tracks prior to transporting hazardous materials across the counties of Nassau and Suffolk. Section 2 is the effective date.

Justification

Currently, local authorities in Nassau and Suffolk are not aware of hazardous materials being shipped via railroad across their communities. In the event of an accident involving these materials, first-responders would be at a disadvantage in coping with the situ- ation. By requiring all railroads to give twenty-four hour notice prior to the transportation of hazardous materials across the counties of Nassau and Suffolk, this bill gives authorities the ability to respond more efficiently to potential accidents or disasters involving such materials.

Prior legislative history

2007- A9635, Not Considered.

Fiscal implications for state and local governments

None.

Effective date

On the sixtieth day after having become a law.