Book Reviews We
had the assistance of students in the degree program in developing
this edition’s recommended readings
section. Each of the reviews was developed as a course requirement
for the Biosecurity Risk Assessment course. New Strategies to Protect America: Putting Rail Security onThe Right Track. Millar, F. (2005,
April 21) New
Strategies to Protect America: Putting Rail Security onThe
Right Track. Center
for American Progress Critical Infrastructure Series. Retrieved
May 27, 2006 from http://www.americanprogress.org/atf/cf/{E9245FE4-9A2B-43C7-A521-5D6FF2E06E03}/Rail%20Security%20Printer%20Final.pdf Reviewed by: Transportation and chemicals are two of the elements identified as part of the critical infrastructure of the US. This paper calls for a national strategy and strong federal leadership to strengthen the Nation’s preparedness against a terrorist attack involving the US rail system. It postulates that we are not prepared for this eventuality because rail systems are low priority in the transportation realm, the federal government has failed to develop a sound plan, and because of resistance among the chemical and rail industries. An attack on the Nation’s open rail system in an urban area could result in a large scale mass casualty event. Rail security is shared by both the US Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration and the Department of Homeland Security. Until the Federal government develops regulations governing rail safety, the Federal Rail Safety Act allows for states and localities to regulate on a specific rail safety issue. In addition to bolstering physical security, risk mitigation by re-routing hazardous materials (hazmat) cargo out of urban areas could be a potential solution. This was proposed in the District of Columbia and has been upheld by the US District Court. Re-routing of hazmat rail shipments can be feasible and has previously been done for events such as the Olympic Games held in Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Salt Lake City. The author suggests that this is an opportune time for the Federal government to mandate a national re-routing study for hazmat rail shipments to see where catastrophe-avoiding options may exist, and to require railroads to share routing for hazmat cargo wherever possible to lessen the chance of a catastrophic event. |