Media Coverage

New Rail Security Rules in the US

The firm of Blank Rome in its Chemical Industry News publication has issued the following warning:

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”), Transportation Security Administration (“TSA”) has adopted final regulations (“Rail Security Regulations”), 73 Fed. Reg. 72130, as codified at 49 CFR Part 1580, intended to improve the security of both freight and passenger rail transportation by addressing the vulnerabilities presented by America’s open infrastructure rail system. These broad regulations are potentially restrictive and are bound to have a significant impact on rail shippers and carriers....

.As explained in more detail in the link below, the Rail Security Regulations generally: (1) authorize inspections of facilities and records by the TSA; (2) require the appointment of a “Rail Security Coordinator”; (3) require the disclosure of location and shipping information for rail cars to the TSA; (4) require the reporting of significant security concerns; and (5) impose requirements for maintaining the chain of custody and control of rail cars. The Rail Security Regulations also amend the TSA’s Protection of Sensitive Security Information (“SSI”) regulations, codified at 49 CFR Part 1520, to include the above identified freight and passenger rail carriers, shippers and receivers. The SSI regulations now apply generally to maritime and rail security information.

“New Rail Security Rules in the US” appeared in the Maritime Advocate, Issue 375, on December 2, 2008.

To read Heather Demirjian and Margaret Hill's full article (referenced above),  "Rail Security Regulations"  in Blank Rome's December 2008 edition of Chemical Industry News.