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Chertoff Defends Rail Security Plan
The proposal also would require receivers of hazardous materials to keep the rail car in a secure area until it is unloaded. Freight railroads would have to report the location of a rail car when requested by the government.
James Carafano, homeland security fellow at the Heritage Foundation, said Democrats are unrealistic about how much their proposals will cost.
  Rail tanker cars sit on tracks that are only a few yards from traffic passing on the New Jersey Turnpike near Exit 13 in Elizabeth, N.J., May 22, 2006. The Bush administration's plan to prevent terrorist attacks on trains ran into immediate criticism from Democratic lawmakers who say it's too little, too late. (AP Photo/Mike Derer) (Mike Derer - AP) 
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"We can bankrupt ourselves trying to childproof everything," said Carafano. He advocates the approach taken by Homeland Security, with minimal regulation and cooperation by the private sector.
The plan does not match what at least nine cities have proposed _ rerouting around densely populated areas trains that are carrying hazardous material.
The District of Columbia passed a law in 2005 banning hazardous material shipments within 2.2 miles of the Capitol. CSX Transportation sued; the case is pending.
The rail industry fears that other cities would follow Washington's lead if the city prevails. Eight other cities have introduced legislation to ban hazardous shipments.
Railroads say forcing trains to take longer, circuitous routes would create a safety hazard by increasing the likelihood of an accident.
The Federal Railroad Administration has met with freight railroads in an effort to come up with voluntary efforts to secure hazardous materials.
TSA chief Kip Hawley previously was a senior executive with Union Pacific.
The eight cities that introduced legislation to require trains carrying hazardous material be rerouted around them are Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, Albany and Buffalo, N.Y., Cleveland, Baltimore and St. Louis.
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Associated Press writer Beverley Lumpkin contributed to this report.
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