DOT Proposes New Hazmat Rules

(Department of Transportation)
Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta

WASHINGTON —Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta last week proposed legislation to give the Department of Transportation more authority to stop and inspect trucks carrying hazardous materials.

Mineta’s recommendations include: strengthening the authority of inspectors to examine packages, increasing to $100,000 the maximum civil penalty for hazmat violations and expanding training requirements for people who deal with hazmat, including truck drivers.

But Mineta did not ask Congress to authorize criminal background checks for truck drivers, a proposal that at least one senator wants to see.



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