D.C. Passes 90-Day Hazmat Shipment Ban
he District of Columbia City Council passed legislation Tuesday enacting a 90-day ban on transportation of certain hazardous materials in the nation's capital.
Mayor Anthony Williams (D) said through a spokesman he would sign the legislation, which was passed by a 10-1 vote, the Washington Post reported.
The move would make the capital city the first in the country to pass such a ban, the Wall Street Journal reported. The city council was considering more permanent legislation, which would have to be approved by Congress, the paper said.
The legislation could create a legal battle with CSX Corp., which runs rail lines that pass within four blocks of the Capitol, the Post said.
"The D.C. City Council's action is regrettable. Rerouting does not eliminate the overall risk, but merely shifts it to other communities," Edward Hamberger, chief executive officer of the Association of American Railroads, said in a statement.
"Rerouting is a serious issue that requires serious discussion at the federal level. Railroads are required under federal law to carry hazardous materials because they are deemed important to our nation's public and economic health," Hamberger said.
The bill would restrict transportation of Class 1 explosives, Class 2 flammable gasses, Class 2 poisonous gasses, and Class 6 poisonous materials.
Carriers seeking to transport these restricted materials must obtain a permit from the D.C. DOT, which will issue them only upon demonstrating there is no practical alternative route.
