Lautenberg Introduces Maritime Hazardous Cargo Security Act
Inouye Cosponsors Bill to Protect Nation’s Ports, Waterways
June 12, 2007
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) joined Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security Subcommittee Chairman Frank R. Lautenberg (D-N.J.) to introduce today the Maritime Hazardous Cargo Security Act of 2007, which would improve the safety and security for shipping facilities and vessels handling hazardous materials.
“Hazardous cargo arrives in our nation’s critical ports, including Honolulu Harbor, nearly every day,” Senator Inouye said. “Protecting these ports from the potential security dangers of hazardous cargo is essential to the safety of our nation and the vitality of our economy.”
“Ships bringing liquefied natural gas from foreign ports—and the plants along our shores that receive them—must be better secured against terrorism,” Senator Lautenberg said. “This bill would require the Bush Administration to adequately protect those ships, facilities, and nearby communities from the potential hazards of high-risk cargoes.”
Committee Vice Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Subcommittee Ranking Republican Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) also cosponsored the measure.
- Require the Bush Administration to work with international partners through the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to develop standards and procedures for the safe and secure receiving, handling, crewing, loading, and unloading of especially hazardous cargo (EHC’s) at facilities and on tank vessels.
- Require the U.S. Coast Guard to calculate its security costs for additional security measures associated with the operation of U.S. shore-side EHC facilities.
- Authorize assistance to foreign ports that handle and transport EHC’s to be used to meet or exceed current International Ship and Port Facility Code (ISPFC) standards.
- Authorize voluntary third party validation of international port facilities to certify they meet or exceed international safety standards.
- Require the U.S. Coast Guard to develop regional response and recovery plans to prepare for and respond to a transportation security incident.
- Require the U.S. Coast Guard to develop a resource allocation plan to show how its proposed budget will be used for EHC security operations and to report to Congress.
- Require successful completion of U.S. Coast Guard Incident Command System (ICS) training for all personnel responsible for the safety and security of a vessel in port.
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