Judge asks Bush administration for freight rail security plan
U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan asked the Bush administration to disclose its plans for protecting the nation’s freight rail network against terrorist attack, according to a report in today’s Washington Post.
Sullivan made the request during a March 23 hearing on a motion to block a District of Columbia ban on certain railed hazardous materials transported by CSX Transportation through the city. The ban becomes effective April 11.
The Post reported the judge was “astounded” that the Bush administration could not explain its security plan for railed freight, offering no comfort to D.C. citizens.
Justice Department attorney Carolyn McKee reportedly told the judge that the plan, under the auspices of the Transportation Security Administration, was withheld from the public for security reasons.
During the hearing, CSX attorney Irving Nathan reportedly questioned the constitutional authority for the district to establish the ban. The D.C. law would require CSX to reroute 11,400 railcars at a cost of $2 million to $3 million, Nathan reportedly said.
The judge said he would make his decision on motion by April 8, the Post said.