Report on FMCSA's Security
Sensitivity Visits to the House and Senate Committees on
Appropriations
Report
on FMCSA's Security Sensitivity Visits to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations
Background
In
response to the terrorist atrocities committed against the World Trade Center
and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, and subsequent threats to the transportation
system, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiated a program
to conduct onsite visits to motor carriers to discuss enhancing security. Our
mission: To increase the level of awareness of hazardous materials carriers to
terrorist threats, identify potential weaknesses in carrier security programs,
and report potentially serious security issues to the appropriate authorities.
What
is a Security Sensitivity Visit?
A Security Sensitivity Visit (SSV)
is a face-to-face meeting between FMCSA or State investigators and top carrier
officials to assess security vulnerabilities and countermeasures that can improve
security. Federal and State staff provide hazardous materials carriers security
recommendations and suggestions except where there are specific regulatory requirements
affecting the actual movement of hazardous materials. The visits cover the topics
outlined in FMCSA's Security Talking Points (Attachment 1). These recommendations
may not apply to all carriers, based on their size and scope of operation. From
this broad list, company officials and safety investigators are able to identify
the recommendations suited to the size and scope of their operation.
The
SSV also includes a review by the investigator and carrier officials of carrier
records in order to identify any suspicious activities by carrier employees that
could affect carrier security. All reports of suspicious activities are forwarded
to the FBI for follow-up.
Operations
Determined to Be At Risk FMCSA targeted carriers transporting hazardous
materials in types and quantities that terrorists could use as a weapon. Table
1 indicates the classes of hazardous materials identified. In addition, safety
investigators also visited companies that train truck drivers, companies that
lease trucks and drivers (U-Haul, Ryder, etc.), high-risk facilities (chemical
plants, refineries, etc.), hazardous materials shippers, and other operations
determined to be at risk.
Originally,
FMCSA identified a little over 32,000 carriers in our database transporting hazardous
materials in the types and quantities described in Table 1. This was later modified
to 35,344 motor carriers to receive SSVs based on roadside inspection information
indicating the transport of hazardous materials. The addition of driver training
schools, leasing companies, high-risk facilities, hazardous materials shippers,
and other at-risk operations has expanded the total number of SSVs FMCSA anticipates
completing to approximately 38,800.
Table
1 - Hazardous materials determined to be a possible weapon
Bulk indicates
the material is transported in packages with a capacity greater than 119 gallons
(450 liters).
Material |
Quantity |
Corrosive
Liquids (e.g. Hydrochloric Acid) |
Bulk |
Explosives
|
Any
Quantity |
Flammable
Liquids (e.g. Gasoline) |
Bulk |
Flammable
Gases (e.g. Propane) |
Bulk
|
Flammable
Solids |
Bulk
|
Hazardous
Wastes and Substances |
Bulk
|
Infectious
Substances (e.g. Anthrax) |
Any
Quantity |
Non-Flammable
Gases (e.g. Anhydrous Ammonia) |
Bulk
|
Organic
Peroxides |
Bulk
|
Oxidizers
(e.g. Oxygen Generators) |
Any
Quantity |
Pesticides
|
Bulk
|
Poisonous
Gases (e.g. Chlorine) |
Any
Quantity |
Poisonous
Liquids |
Any
Quantity |
Radioactive
Materials |
Any
Quantity |
Results
of SSVs
As of January 31, 2002, 36,246 contacts have been completed,
with the rest to be completed shortly. FMCSA has received overwhelmingly positive
feedback and cooperation from industry relating to the SSV program. The industry
feels that the program is both important and necessary and is pleased by the primarily
educational focus of this program. SSVs have resulted in 280 findings of suspicious
activities with 126 referrals reported to the FBI. Examples of the types of suspicious
activities that provided the basis for referral to the FBI include :
Security
During Compliance Reviews - All future compliance reviews conducted by the
FMCSA on carriers transporting hazardous materials will be expanded to include
a discussion of the Security Talking Points as an integral part of the review.
The FMCSA conducts approximately 3,000 compliance reviews on hazardous materials
carriers annually.
Enhanced
Security Sensitivity Visits - FMCSA is
developing a program to conduct periodic visits to carriers transporting certain
explosives, radioactive materials and highly toxic substances. These visits will
be more in-depth than the original SSV and include an on-site inspection of facilities
and a written report with Security Recommendations.
FMCSA
is including a security message in all contacts with industry aimed at educating
HM carriers and others about the need to increase security to thwart possible
terrorist actions. Specific outreach is also being developed for drivers and law
enforcement.
Law
Enforcement Outreach - FMCSA has developed
outreach material and a training course to raise the awareness of law enforcement
officers to the threats that commercial vehicles may pose as terrorist weapons.
In conjunction with the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), the International
Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the Maryland State Police and the Virginia
State Police, FMCSA developed a SAFE (Security Awareness for Enforcement) Checklist
(Attachment 2). The IACP will be distributing 500,000 of these checklists to law
enforcement across the country in the next two months. FMCSA has also developed
an 8-hour training course titled "Trucks & Terrorism" (Attachment
3) that is being offered, free of charge, to law enforcement agencies.
Truck
Driver Outreach - FMCSA is working with the Teamsters, CVSA, IACP, and the
Maryland State Police to develop an outreach program targeted at educating truck
drivers on measures they can take to protect themselves from being the victim
of a hijacking by possible terrorists.