STB: Federal Law Pre-empts D.C. Ban

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img src="/sites/default/files/images/articles/printeditiontag_new.gif" width=120 align=right>The Surface Transportation Board, responding to a petition filed by CSX Transportation, declared the District of Columbia's partial ban on hazardous materials shipments through the city was pre-empted by federal law.

STB's declaration on March 15 is part of broad federal support for a lawsuit railroad company CSX filed challenging the city’s hazmat shipment ban, said Gary Sease, CSX spokesman.

"We think it adds further weight to our argument that the District’s ban is inconsistent with federal interstate commerce laws," Sease said. "We were certainly gratified by the decision."

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