House Democrats criticize rail security efforts in nation’s capital
Lawmakers question whether DHS is doing enough to keep Washington, D.C., safe from hazardous rail shipments.
Democrats on the House Homeland Security Committee this week criticized the Homeland Security Department for not requiring railroads to reroute hazardous shipments around Washington, D.C.
In a letter sent Monday to Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, the lawmakers questioned whether DHS is doing everything possible to keep the Washington area safe, and asked for details about the department's plan for regional rail security. The letter was written by committee ranking member Rep. Jim Turner, D-Texas, Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C.
The lawmakers said they specifically were concerned that DHS has not required CSX Corp. to reroute hazardous shipments that now come through Washington, instead leaving it up to the company to voluntarily make such a move.
"We are writing to convey our concerns regarding recent information indicating that the department has abandoned all consideration of requiring CSX to reroute shipments of extremely hazardous materials around Washington, D.C., as a means of protecting from a possible terrorist attack," the letter states.
A CSX rail line runs through Washington, crossing the Potomac River near the 14th Street Bridge, traveling close to the National Mall and within blocks of the U.S. Capitol and other federal buildings.
According to the letter, enough chlorine to kill or injure 100,000 people in a half hour is "often contained" in rail cars going through crowded urban centers, including Washington.
DHS spokeswoman Michelle Petrovich said the department is "working collaboratively" with private sector and public partners to review rail security options for the Washington area. She acknowledged that the department has not required CSX to reroute shipments, but said such a move is one option being considered.
"DHS takes into consideration all the various countermeasures and, where intelligence would warrant such an action, our private sector partners have done what is necessary," she said. "The department is looking at a variety of countermeasures. We're not ruling anything out at the moment."
She also said that rail vulnerability assessments for the Washington area have been completed. Officials are reviewing the information and should be making recommendations for action in "a matter of months." She added that hazardous rail shipments are a low percentage of overall shipping through the Washington area.
"We … feel that we are taking aggressive measures to comprehensively address rail security," she said.
Members of the D.C. Council introduced legislation last year that calls for CSX to reroute trains carrying hazardous cargo that is not designated for local use. The bill still is pending, however. D.C. Council member Kathy Patterson, D-Ward 3, said she plans to introduce emergency legislation on Nov. 9 to ban shipments of chemicals through Washington, according to the Washington Post.
In their letter to Ridge, the lawmakers asked the secretary for details regarding the decision not to reroute hazardous shipments around Washington; the rail security plan for the D.C. area; and the schedule and costs for railroad vulnerability assessments in other cities.
CSX did not return telephone calls seeking comment Thursday.