Requires permits for the transportation of certain hazardous materials through high threat areas

Title of bill

An act to amend the transportation law, in relation to requiring permits for the transportation of certain hazardous materials through high threat areas

Purpose

This bill seeks to authorize the commissioner of the department of Homeland Security to regulate materials being transported through high threat areas prone to terrorism and to work in conjunction with the New York State Department of Homeland Security to coordinate these activities.

Summary of specific provisions

This bill would amend the transportation law to regulate the transportation of hazardous materials in high threat areas.

This bill would define the terms emergency, high threat area, hazardous materials and practical alternative route.

This bill would further provide that it shall be illegal in high threat areas to transport certain restricted hazardous materials unless in a case of emergency.

It would further direct the officer of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Commissioner of Transportation, to develop rules and regulations governing the transportation of hazardous materials through high threat areas.

Justification

With potential terrorist targets being transported through New York State it is imperative that there are safeguards enacted to protect high threat cities from any potential attack.

This bill would address this problem to regulate such transport in the safest manner possible.

Prior legislative history

2008 - S.5132 - Referred to Standing Committee on Transportation.

Fiscal implications

None noted.

Effective date

This act would take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall become have become law; provided, however, subdivision 5 of section 14-f-1 of the transportation law, as added by section two of this act, shall take effect immediately.