Biennial report on hazardous materials transportation : calendar years 1996-1997

PDFDatasethttp://www.phmsa.dot.gov/portal/site/PHMSA/menuitem.ebdc7a8a7e39f2e55cf2031050248a0c/?vgnextoid=a43975811928d110VgnVCM1000009ed07898RCRD&vgnextchannel=a89f28973677d110VgnVCM1000009ed07898RCRD&vgnextfmt=printHazardous materialsTransportation safetyShipmentsEnvironmental protectionRisk assessmentEnvironmental risk assessmentRegulationOversightSafety programsUnited States. Dept. of TransportationUnited States. Dept. of TransportationNTL-FREIGHT-FREIGHTNTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-SAFETY AND SECURITYNTL-REFERENCES AND DIRECTORIES-StatisticsNTL-ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT-Hazardous Materials TransportationNTL-ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT-ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTBTS Data DirectoryHazardous materials (HM) are essential to the economy of the United States (U.S.) and the well-beingof its people. These materials fuel cars and trucks and heat and cool homes and offices. Hazardousmaterials are used for farming and medical applications and in manufacturing, mining, and otherindustrial processes.Millions of tons of explosive, poisonous, corrosive, flammable, and radioactive materials aretransported every day. HM move by plane, train, truck, or vessel in quantities ranging from severalounces to many thousands of gallons. They frequently move through densely populated or sensitiveareas where the consequences of an incident could be severe injury, loss of life, or seriousenvironmental damage.A major goal for the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is to ensure that these shipments aretransported safely. DOT is charged by statute with protecting the public, property, and theenvironment from the risks inherent in the transportation of HM. The public focuses on highlypublicized transportation incidents involving significant numbers of deaths and injuries and thus tendsto view HM transportation in terms of worst-case scenarios. In reality, the vast majority of HMshipments arrive safely at their destinations. Most incidents that do occur involve small releases ofmaterial and no serious consequences