Railroads Lift Hazmat Embargo, Continue High-Security Mode

Oct 10, 2001 12:00 PM

The nation's railroads Wednesday concluded a three-day embargo on hazardous materials classified as poison inhalation hazards (PIH) and returned to normal operations, maintaining a high-security mode, according to information from the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

The embargo began Sunday, October 7, after the United States began bombing Afghanistan. The embargo was instituted as a security measure to protect against terrorist retaliation. It was initiated by the rail industry and not at the request of the federal government.

The railroads will continue to maintain daily contact with national security agencies to determine appropriate anti-terrorist response, and make adjustments in that response as dictated by the nation's security and military requirements, according to AAR.

After the railroad embargo was announced, many companies in the chemical industry began gearing up for transportation challenges. Some industry spokesmen predicted serious economic problems not only for the chemical industry, but for the United States economy as a whole, if the interruption lasted over a 72-hour period.