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Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) announced Friday the introduction of a bill designed to protect America's communities and economy by improving the security of hazardous cargo shipments, including liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied petroleum gas.
The Maritime Hazardous Cargo Security Act of 2009 would require the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to improve security for the vessels and facilities that ship and receive particularly dangerous chemicals and petrochemicals.
"Ships bringing liquefied natural gas from foreign ports – and the plants along our shores that receive them – must be better secured against terrorism," Sen. Lautenberg said. "This bill would help us protect these ships, facilities that receive them and nearby communities from the potential hazards of high-risk cargoes."
The transportation of especially hazardous cargoes (EHC) by ship can pose potential risks to public safety and commerce, particularly the transportation of chemicals and petrochemicals such as anhydrous ammonia, ammonium nitrate, chlorine, liquefied natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas. Currently, no international standards exist for the safe and secure handling of these chemicals/petrochemicals by ship and there are limited U.S. Coast Guard resources for EHC.Lautenberg's bill contains several key provisions, including:
- A requirement for the Obama Administration to work with international partners to develop standards and procedures for the safe and secure handling of EHC for all vessels and port facilities.
- An employee security training requirement for vessel security officers to complete training on the Coast Guard's Incident Command System.
- A requirement for the Coast Guard to modify Area Maritime Transportation Security Plans to incorporate regional response and recovery plans so trade is not disrupted.
The bill is also cosponsored by bipartisan leaders on the Senate Commerce Committee and the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Safety, Security, and Infrastructure, which Lautenberg chairs.
