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identify the ultimate recipients of such grants 
and include— 
‘‘(A) a detailed accounting and description 
of each grant expenditure by each grant recipi-
ent, including the amount of, and purpose for, 
each expenditure; 
‘‘(B) the number of persons trained under 
the grant program, by training level; 
‘‘(C) an evaluation of the efficacy of such 
planning and training programs; and 
‘‘(D) any recommendations the Secretary 
may have for improving such grant programs.’’. 
SEC. 34005. PAPERLESS HAZARD COMMUNICATIONS PILOT 
PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may conduct pilot 
projects to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of using 
paperless hazard communications systems. At least 1 of the 
pilot projects under this section shall take place in a rural 
area. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—In conducting pilot projects 
under this section, the Secretary— 
(1) may not waive the requirements under sec-
tion 5110 of title 49, United States Code; and 
(2) 
shall 
consult 
with 
organizations 
rep-
resenting—
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(A) fire services personnel; 
(B) law enforcement and other appropriate 
enforcement personnel; 
(C) other emergency response providers; 
(D) persons who offer hazardous material 
for transportation; 
(E) persons who transport hazardous mate-
rial by air, highway, rail, and water; and 
(F) employees of persons who transport or 
offer for transportation hazardous material by 
air, highway, rail, and water. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall— 
(1) prepare a report on the results of the pilot 
projects carried out under this section, including— 
(A) a detailed description of the pilot 
projects; 
(B) an evaluation of each pilot project, in-
cluding an evaluation of the performance of each 
paperless hazard communications system in such 
project; 
(C) an assessment of the safety and security 
impact of using paperless hazard communica-
tions systems, including any impact on the pub-
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lic, emergency response, law enforcement, and the 
conduct of inspections and investigations; and 
(D) a recommendation on whether paperless 
hazard communications systems should be per-
manently incorporated into the Federal haz-
ardous material transportation safety program 
under chapter 51 of title 49, United States Code; 
and 
(2) submit a final report to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastruc-
ture of the House of Representatives that contains the 
results of the pilot projects carried out under this sec-
tion, including the matters described in paragraph 
(1). 
(d) PAPERLESS HAZARD COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM 
DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘paperless hazard com-
munications system’’ means the use of advanced commu-
nications methods, such as wireless communications devices, 
to convey hazard information between all parties in the 
transportation chain, including emergency responders and 
law enforcement personnel. The format of communication 
may be equivalent to that used by the carrier.
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SEC. 34006. IMPROVING DATA COLLECTION, ANALYSIS, AND 
REPORTING. 
(a) ASSESSMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, 
in coordination with the Secretary of Homeland Se-
curity, as appropriate, shall conduct an assessment to 
improve the collection, analysis, reporting, and use of 
data related to accidents and incidents involving the 
transportation of hazardous material. 
(2) REVIEW.—The assessment conducted under 
this subsection shall review the methods used by the 
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Adminis-
tration (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Adminis-
tration’’) for collecting, analyzing, and reporting ac-
cidents and incidents involving the transportation of 
hazardous material, including the adequacy of— 
(A) information requested on the accident 
and incident reporting forms required to be sub-
mitted to the Administration; 
(B) methods used by the Administration to 
verify that the information provided on such 
forms is accurate and complete; 
(C) accident and incident reporting require-
ments, including whether such requirements
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should be expanded to include shippers and con-
signees of hazardous materials; 
(D) resources of the Administration related 
to data collection, analysis, and reporting, in-
cluding staff and information technology; and 
(E) the database used by the Administra-
tion for recording and reporting such accidents 
and incidents, including the ability of users to 
adequately search the database and find infor-
mation. 
(b) DEVELOPMENT OF ACTION PLAN.—Not later than 
9 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary shall develop an action plan and timeline for im-
proving the collection, analysis, reporting, and use of data 
by the Administration, including revising the database of 
the Administration, as appropriate. 
(c) SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 15 
days after the completion of the action plan and timeline 
under subsection (c), the Secretary shall submit the action 
plan and timeline to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives. 
(d) 
REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS.—Section 
5125(b)(1)(D) is amended by inserting ‘‘and other haz-
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ardous materials transportation incident reporting to the 
9–1–1 emergency system or involving State or local emer-
gency responders in the initial response to the incident’’ 
before the period at the end. 
SEC. 34007. LOADING AND UNLOADING OF HAZARDOUS MA-
TERIALS. 
(a) RULEMAKING.—Not later than 2 years after date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, after consulta-
tion with the Department of Labor and the Environmental 
Protection Agency, as appropriate, and after providing no-
tice and an opportunity for public comment shall prescribe 
regulations establishing uniform procedures among facili-
ties for the safe loading and unloading of hazardous mate-
rials on and off tank cars and cargo tank trucks. 
(b) INCLUSION.—The regulations prescribed under sub-
section (a) may include procedures for equipment inspec-
tion, personnel protection, and necessary safeguards. 
(c) 
CONSIDERATION.—In 
prescribing 
regulations 
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give due consider-
ation to carrier rules and procedures that produce an equiv-
alent level of safety.
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SEC. 34008. HAZARDOUS MATERIAL TECHNICAL ASSESS-
MENT, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND 
ANALYSIS PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 51 is amended by insert-
ing after section 5117 the following: 
‘‘§ 5118. Hazardous material technical assessment, re-
search and development, and analysis 
program 
‘‘(a) RISK REDUCTION.— 
‘‘(1) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary of 
Transportation may develop and implement a haz-
ardous material technical assessment, research and 
development, and analysis program for the purpose 
of— 
‘‘(A) reducing the risks associated with the 
transportation of hazardous material; and 
‘‘(B) identifying and evaluating new tech-
nologies to facilitate the safe, secure, and efficient 
transportation of hazardous material. 
‘‘(2) COORDINATION.—In developing the program 
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) utilize information gathered from 
other modal administrations with similar pro-
grams; and 
‘‘(B) coordinate with other modal adminis-
trations, as appropriate.
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‘‘(b) COOPERATION.—In carrying out subsection (a), 
the Secretary may work cooperatively with regulated and 
other entities, including shippers, carriers, emergency re-
sponders, State and local officials, and academic institu-
tions.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The chapter analysis 
for chapter 51 is amended by inserting after the item relat-
ing to section 5117 the following: 
‘‘5118. Hazardous material technical assessment, research and development, and 
analysis program.’’. 
SEC. 34009. HAZARDOUS MATERIAL ENFORCEMENT TRAIN-
ING PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish a 
multimodal hazardous material enforcement training pro-
gram for government hazardous materials inspectors and 
investigators— 
(1) to develop uniform performance standards 
for training hazardous material inspectors and inves-
tigators; and 
(2) to train hazardous material inspectors and 
investigators on— 
(A) how to collect, analyze, and publish 
findings from inspections and investigations of 
accidents or incidents involving the transpor-
tation of hazardous material; and
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(B) how to identify noncompliance with 
regulations issued under chapter 51 of title 49, 
United States Code, and take appropriate en-
forcement action. 
(b) STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES.—Under the pro-
gram established under this section, the Secretary may de-
velop— 
(1) guidelines for hazardous material inspector 
and investigator qualifications; 
(2) best practices and standards for hazardous 
material inspector and investigator training pro-
grams; and 
(3) standard protocols to coordinate investiga-
tion efforts among Federal, State, and local jurisdic-
tions on accidents or incidents involving the transpor-
tation of hazardous material. 
(c) AVAILABILITY.—The standards, protocols, and 
findings of the program established under this section— 
(1) shall be mandatory for— 
(A) the Department of Transportation’s 
multimodal personnel conducting hazardous ma-
terial enforcement inspections or investigations; 
and
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(B) State employees who conduct federally 
funded compliance reviews, inspections, or inves-
tigations; and 
(2) shall be made available to Federal, State, 
and local hazardous materials safety enforcement per-
sonnel. 
SEC. 34010. INSPECTIONS. 
(a) NOTICE OF ENFORCEMENT MEASURES.—Section 
5121(c)(1) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (E), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(2) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period 
at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(G) shall provide to the affected offeror, 
carrier, packaging manufacturer or tester, or 
other person responsible for the package reason-
able notice of— 
‘‘(i) his or her decision to exercise his 
or her authority under paragraph (1); 
‘‘(ii) any findings made; and 
‘‘(iii) any actions being taken as a re-
sult of a finding of noncompliance.’’. 
(b) REGULATIONS.—Section 5121(e) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
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‘‘(3) MATTERS TO BE ADDRESSED.—The regula-
tions issued under this subsection shall address— 
‘‘(A) the safe and expeditious resumption of 
transportation of perishable hazardous material, 
including radiopharmaceuticals and other med-
ical products, that may require timely delivery 
due to life-threatening situations; 
‘‘(B) the means by which— 
‘‘(i) 
noncompliant 
packages 
that 
present an imminent hazard are placed out- 
of-service until the condition is corrected; 
and 
‘‘(ii) noncompliant packages that do 
not present a hazard are moved to their 
final destination; 
‘‘(C) appropriate training and equipment 
for inspectors; and 
‘‘(D) the proper closure of packaging in ac-
cordance with the hazardous material regula-
tions.’’. 
(c) GRANTS AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—Sec-
tion 5121(g)(1) is amended by inserting ‘‘safety and’’ before 
‘‘security’’. 
SEC. 34011. CIVIL PENALTIES. 
Section 5123 is amended—
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(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘$50,000’’ 
and inserting ‘‘$75,000’’; and 
(B) 
in 
paragraph 
(2), 
by 
striking 
‘‘$100,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$175,000’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(h) PENALTY FOR OBSTRUCTION OF INSPECTIONS 
AND INVESTIGATIONS.—The Secretary may impose a pen-
alty on a person who obstructs or prevents the Secretary 
from carrying out inspections or investigations under sub-
section (c) or (i) of section 5121. 
‘‘(i) PROHIBITION ON HAZARDOUS MATERIAL OPER-
ATIONS AFTER NONPAYMENT OF PENALTIES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided under 
paragraph (2), a person subject to the jurisdiction of 
the Secretary under this chapter who fails to pay a 
civil penalty assessed under this chapter, or fails to 
arrange and abide by an acceptable payment plan for 
such civil penalty, may not conduct any activity reg-
ulated under this chapter beginning on the 91st day 
after the date specified by order of the Secretary for 
payment of such penalty unless the person has filed 
a formal administrative or judicial appeal of the pen-
alty.
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‘‘(2) EXCEPTION.—Paragraph (1) shall not 
apply to any person who is unable to pay a civil pen-
alty because such person is a debtor in a case under 
chapter 11 of title 11. 
‘‘(3) RULEMAKING.—Not later than 2 years after 
the date of the enactment of this subsection, the Sec-
retary, after providing notice and an opportunity for 
public comment, shall issue regulations that— 
‘‘(A) set forth procedures to require a person 
who is delinquent in paying civil penalties to 
cease any activity regulated under this chapter 
until payment has been made or an acceptable 
payment plan has been arranged; and 
‘‘(B) ensures that the person described in 
subparagraph (A)— 
‘‘(i) is notified in writing; and 
‘‘(ii) is given an opportunity to re-
spond before the person is required to cease 
the activity.’’. 
SEC. 34012. REPORTING OF FEES. 
Section 5125(f)(2) is amended by striking ‘‘, upon the 
Secretary’s request,’’ and inserting ‘‘biennially’’.