NTSB MEMBER HERSMAN DESCRIBES SAFETY BOARD CONCERNS ABOUT HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TRANSPORTATION TO CONGRESS

[NTSB Press Releases <NTSBPressReleases@xxxxxxxx>]

Title: NTSB MEMBER HERSMAN DESCRIBES SAFETY BOARD CONCERNS ABOUT HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TRANSPORTATION TO CONGRESS

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                      NTSB PRESS RELEASE
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National Transportation Safety Board
Washington, DC 20594

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 14, 2009
SB-09-22

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NTSB MEMBER HERSMAN DESCRIBES SAFETY BOARD CONCERNS ABOUT
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TRANSPORTATION TO CONGRESS 

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Washington, DC - National Transportation Safety Board Member
Deborah A.P. Hersman today testified before Congress about
the safety of hazardous materials transportation. She
focused her testimony on the transportation of lithium
batteries, the use of wet lines on tanker trucks, and the
loading and unloading of hazardous materials from tank
trucks and railroad tank cars.

Testifying before the U.S. House of Representatives
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee
on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials, Hersman
said that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration (PHMSA) has failed to act on NTSB
recommendations to address these safety issues.

The NTSB has recommended that PHMSA require reporting of all
incidents involving lithium battery fires, that failed
batteries be retained and examined, and that exemptions
allowing transportation of some lithium batteries without
proper labeling be eliminated. Lithium batteries are
commonly found in watches, cameras, cell phones and laptop
computers.  Failed batteries can ignite spontaneously,
posing a safety hazard when they are transported in
aviation.

The NTSB investigated a fire that destroyed two cargo
pallets at Los Angeles International Airport in 1999, and
another fire in 2006 that destroyed a cargo aircraft in
Philadelphia.  Although the second case could not be
directly tied to lithium batteries, the accident prompted
the Board to closely examine the issue.

"As the popularity of electronic equipment has increased,"
Hersman said, "so has the number of incidents of lithium
battery fires in transportation. An in-depth analysis of the
causes of lithium battery failures would improve the safe
transportation of these batteries."
 
On the issue of wet lines on tanker trucks, Hersman noted
that PHMSA has not taken steps to eliminate wet lines, even
though the Department of Transportation stated 20 years ago
that allowing gasoline to be transported in wet lines was
"unreasonable" and "illogical." Wet lines on tanker trucks
are found underneath the liquid tanks, and are unprotected
from collisions with other vehicles. Hersman noted that the
NTSB has demonstrated in tests that these unprotected wet
lines are susceptible to damage in collisions with most
types of vehicles on the roads today.  These collisions can
lead to spillage of up to 50 gallons of a flammable product,
like gasoline, which may catch fire. 

The NTSB investigated 8 accidents involving loading and
unloading of hazardous materials from tank trucks and
railroad tank cars in the five years ending in 2003. The
accidents caused evacuations, injuries, and in some cases,
fatalities.  The Safety Board found inadequate federal
enforcement of safety requirements and procedures.  Hersman
said that the NTSB continues to urge PHMSA to exert more
effective oversight of these operations.

A copy of Member Hersman's testimony may be found on the
Safety Board's web site at
http://www.ntsb.gov/speeches/hersman/Testimony_Hersman_09051
4.pdf.

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Media Contact: Ted Lopatkiewicz
(202)314-6100
lopatt@xxxxxxxx

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