Security & Safety Briefs - April 7 - April 13
The Latest Headlines:
- Senate Expected to Confirm Negroponte as Intelligence Chief
- ATA Supports DHS Ruling on Rail Hazmat Placards
- DHS Awards $141 Mln. in Transit-Security Grants
- Truck Driver in Immigrant-Smuggling Case Facing New Trial
- Universal Express Sets Passport Partnership
- ATA Supports DHS Ruling on Rail Hazmat Placards
Senate Expected to Confirm Negroponte as Intelligence Chief
John Negroponte, President Bush's nominee to oversee U.S. intelligence and security agencies, told the Senate Intelligence Committee Tuesday that overseeing various spy agencies will be a central focus of his new job, the Associated Press reported.Despite some Democratic critics, the nomination of Negroponte — a career diplomat who most recently served as U.S. ambassador to Iraq — was expected to be approved by the committee and the full Senate, AP said.
His role in the new post would include oversight of the Department of Homeland Security, which includes the Transportation Security Administration.
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ATA Supports DHS Ruling on Rail Hazmat Placards
American Trucking Associations said it supported a Department of Homeland Security decision requiring rails to use placards when transporting hazardous materials.DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff said DHS completed a comprehensive study of the placarding system and has recommended the continued use of placards for hazardous materials transported by rail.
The department reached its conclusion after assessing nine alternative technologies and finding that no existing system adequately addressed the safety needs of first responders in case of an incident.
ATA said the role of new technologies to secure hazmat transportation was likely to be a recurring issue. Transport Topics
DHS Awards $141 Mln. in Transit-Security Grants
The Department of Homeland Security Tuesday announced $141 million in grants to improve regional transit security and safety.he program will provide funding for prevention and detection of explosive devices and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear agents, DHS said in a statement.
Regional rail systems will get $108 million, intra-city bus systems $22 million and ferry systems will receive $5 million.
It is will give more than $6 million to Amtrak for security enhancements on its Northeast routes and at its Chicago hub.
DHS set the program up in coordination with the Transportation Department, the American Public Transportation Association and owners and operators of the nation’s mass transit systems. Transport Topics
Truck Driver in Immigrant-Smuggling Case Facing New Trial
A truck driver convicted in March for his role in the deaths of 19 illegal immigrants he was smuggling across Texas in a crowded trailer will face a new trial and could be given the death penalty, Reuters reported.A jury found Tyrone Williams, 34, guilty of transporting illegal immigrants but deadlocked on 20 other charges that could have sent him to the death chamber in the deadliest U.S. immigrant-smuggling case, Reuters said.
In a hearing Monday, prosecutors said they will retry Williams on a conspiracy charge that could result in the death penalty but have not decided whether to retry Williams, an immigrant from Jamaica, on 19 other counts, Reuters reported.
Williams was convicted on those counts last month but jurors did not answer questions about his level of responsibility that could have sent him to death row, Reuters said. Transport Topics
Universal Express Sets Passport Partnership
Logistics and transportation firm Universal Express Inc. said Tuesday that its UniversalPost subsidiary has formed a partnership with Instant Passport, an expeditor of passports, visas, and birth certificates.The partnership was set up in part in response to the recent announcement by the State and Homeland Security departments that passports will be required among North American countries, Universal said. (Click here for previous coverage.)
“Our postal association members should be very busy with this program," said Richard Altomare, Universal Express’s chairman and chief executive officer.
Instant Passport channels its services through relationships with mail and parcel stores across the country, Universal said in a statement. Transport Topics
