Title: To provide for a study by the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies on the impact of diverting certain freight rail traffic to avoid urban areas, and for other purposes.
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
This bill directs the Department of Transportation to make appropriate arrangements with the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies to study the cost and impact of rerouting freight rail traffic of hazardous material to avoid its transportation through urban areas.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 988 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 988

  To provide for a study by the Transportation Research Board of the 
  National Academies on the impact of diverting certain freight rail 
         traffic to avoid urban areas, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 9, 2017

 Mr. Ellison introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
             Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To provide for a study by the Transportation Research Board of the 
  National Academies on the impact of diverting certain freight rail 
         traffic to avoid urban areas, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. STUDY ON IMPACT OF DIVERTING CERTAIN FREIGHT RAIL TO AVOID 
              URBAN AREAS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 3 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall make 
appropriate arrangements with the Transportation Research Board of the 
National Academies under which the Board shall conduct a study on the 
cost and impact of rerouting freight rail traffic containing hazardous 
material to avoid transportation of such hazardous material through 
urban areas.
    (b) Contents of Study.--The study described under subsection (a) 
shall include--
            (1) the benefits of rerouting freight rail traffic 
        containing hazardous material to alternate railroad routes that 
        avoid urban areas, including benefits to the health and safety 
        of the individuals living in such urban areas;
            (2) the benefits of construction of alternative railroad 
        routes that avoid urban areas for transportation of freight 
        rail containing hazardous material;
            (3) the logistical feasibility of the actions described in 
        paragraphs (1) and (2); and
            (4) the costs of taking the actions described in paragraphs 
        (1) and (2).
    (c) Report.--In entering into an arrangement under subsection (a), 
the Secretary shall request that the Board transmit to Congress a 
report on the results of the study not later than 21 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act.
    (d) Definitions.--
            (1) Hazardous material.--The term ``hazardous material'' 
        has the meaning given such term in section 5102 of title 49, 
        United States Code.
            (2) Urban area.--The term ``urban area'' means an urban 
        area, as designated by the Bureau of the Census, with a 
        population of greater than 30,000.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $850,000 to carry out this Act.
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