http://www.hlswatch.com/2006/11/16/report-analyzes-hazmat-training-for-rail-workers/ News and analysis of critical issues in homeland security today. Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:21:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 http://www.hlswatch.com/2006/11/16/report-analyzes-hazmat-training-for-rail-workers/#comment-23802 William R. Cumming Thu, 16 Nov 2006 23:29:43 +0000 http://www.hlswatch.com/2006/11/16/report-analyzes-hazmat-training-for-rail-workers/#comment-23802 It would be of interest perhaps for readers of the blog to know that efforts to consolidate hazmat training for first responders were attempted in the Presidency of William Jefferson Clinton. This followed up a detailed report sent to Congress in December 1993 on problems in hazmat response. The report was principally authored by EPA but had been assigned to the President for completion. One of the failures of that report was the failure to document those recommendations requiring legislation and those that could be accomplished administratively. Like many Clinton efforts those problems that could have been resolved administratively were passed on to Congress. Those issues that should have been resolved by Congress are still unresolved. This is an issue and review that desperately should be given a priorty by the new Congress by assigning GAO to review that report a decade and more later and determine what needs to be done by Congress and what by the Executive Branch. The issues in the report directly impact the response to any incident/event involving terrorism and hazmats. By the way HAZMAT training issues in DOT are primarily the responsibility of the Research and Special Projects Administration. A largely overworked and understaffed federal component. It would be of interest perhaps for readers of the blog to know that efforts to consolidate hazmat training for first responders were attempted in the Presidency of William Jefferson Clinton. This followed up a detailed report sent to Congress in December 1993 on problems in hazmat response. The report was principally authored by EPA but had been assigned to the President for completion. One of the failures of that report was the failure to document those recommendations requiring legislation and those that could be accomplished administratively. Like many Clinton efforts those problems that could have been resolved administratively were passed on to Congress. Those issues that should have been resolved by Congress are still unresolved. This is an issue and review that desperately should be given a priorty by the new Congress by assigning GAO to review that report a decade and more later and determine what needs to be done by Congress and what by the Executive Branch. The issues in the report directly impact the response to any incident/event involving terrorism and hazmats. By the way HAZMAT training issues in DOT are primarily the responsibility of the Research and Special Projects Administration. A largely overworked and understaffed federal component.

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