U.S. Opposes DC Ban on Toxic Chemical Train Shipments

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration urged a federal court on Monday to invalidate a temporary local ban on train shipments of hazardous materials within two-miles of the U.S. Capitol, siding with the freight rail industry's complaint that the prohibition is unnecessary.

Imposed last month by the D.C. City Council, the prohibition, due to take effect next month, is being closely watched by other cities concerned with the threat of attacks on their transportation networks.

Some city governments are also alarmed by a series of recent derailments or other mishaps in which leaking chemicals released dangerous fumes in or near populated areas, including one case this past weekend in Utah and another in South Carolina in January in which nine people died.

The Justice Department filed a brief with the federal district court in Washington where freight rail giant CSX Corp. is seeking to block the city's 90-day ban approved last month that takes effect April 11. The city was not satisfied with government efforts to secure the rail line.

more....
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=7831341

and the common good ... not to mention all the conflicts of interest and ties to this illegitimate White House ...

"John Snow, Secretary of the Treasury, was chairman and CEO of the CSX Corporation. During Snow's long tenure at CSX, a New Orleans jury awarded $2.5 billion in punitive damages against railroad giant CSX Transportation in a class action suit related to a 1987 fire caused by a chemical leak."

http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/corporate/pr/pr003746.php3

by eliminating lighters from airplane but allows toxic chemicals to be moved without a second look. The right wingers lap it up.