St. Louis Post-Dispatch Placarding Article

["Bruce Bugg" <obbugg@dmvs.ga.gov>]

Whole article at:

 

http://www.stltoday.com/ Article is under the link "Sizing up danger" 

Beware of "URL Wrap" with the full link:

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/News/AE7E2CC342E5C66386256D9600164161?OpenDocument&Headline=Sizing+up+danger

 

Article was also posted at:

http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/news/6676203.htm

 

or go to http://news.google.com and search "placards"

 

Sizing up danger 

By Ken Leiser and Andrew Schneider 

09/02/2003 



The U.S. Department of Transportation wants to keep hazardous materials warning placards on trucks and trains even though the diamond-shaped signs could help 

terrorists pick targets. 

Removing the placards would endanger firefighters and others who respond to wrecks, derailments, leaks and releases, says a report just made public by the 

department's Research and Special Programs Administration. Placards help emergency responders quickly determine what risks they face by identifying the 

chemicals and other hazardous materials inside containers. 

But the Department of Homeland Security, whose job is protecting the United States from terrorist acts, is continuing its push to remove the placards. And 

the Transportation Department acknowledges the matter is not closed. 

The issue illustrates one dilemma facing homeland security planners following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. 

On one hand, the decades-old practice of posting a color- and number-coded sign on hazardous shipments provides vital information to people who come in daily 

contact with the shipments, particularly emergency responders. 

On the other is the concern that terrorists will target these shipments for spectacular attacks on U.S. soil. 

The report cited questions about whether the placards are "detrimental to security interests," and whether a more secure substitute is warranted. 

"Based on intelligence received, the threat to hazardous materials cargoes by terrorists is a very real concern," the report found. "Some in the industry and 

security communities believe that terrorists may use placards to help identify targets of opportunity for destruction or shipments they can hijack or steal 

and use in planned attacks." 

The push to remove the placards "is Homeland Security's baby," said Alan Roberts, president of the Dangerous Goods Advisory Council.

"Most people in the industry, especially those involved with the transportation of hazardous material, are greatly concerned with protecting dangerous cargo 

from terrorist attack," said Roberts, whose Washington-based organization represents domestic and international industries involved with hazardous material. 

"But the Department of Homeland Security needs to more carefully understand the risk to the public and emergency responders that will surely accompany 

eliminating these hazard placards." 

The 41-page study by the Research and Special Programs Administration concluded that the small signs should remain - for now - because they provide vital 

information to firefighters, transport workers and others. But several sources say the idea is still under review. 

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Capt. Bruce Bugg

Special Projects Coordinator

Georgia Department of Motor Vehicle Safety

P.O. Box 80447

Conyers, GA  30013-8047

Phone: 678.413.8825

Fax: 678.413.8832

e-mail: obbugg@dmvs.ga.gov

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