§ 1161. Railroad transportation security risk assessment and National Strategy
(a)
Risk assessment
The Secretary shall establish a Federal task force, including the Transportation Security Administration and other agencies within the Department, the Department of Transportation, and other appropriate Federal agencies, to complete, within 6 months of August 3, 2007, a nationwide risk assessment of a terrorist attack on railroad carriers. The assessment shall include—
(1)
a methodology for conducting the risk assessment, including timelines, that addresses how the Department will work with the entities described in subsection (c) and make use of existing Federal expertise within the Department, the Department of Transportation, and other appropriate agencies;
(2)
identification and evaluation of critical assets and infrastructure, including tunnels used by railroad carriers in high-threat urban areas;
(4)
identification of risks that are specific to the transportation of hazardous materials via railroad;
(5)
identification of risks to passenger and cargo security, transportation infrastructure protection systems, operations, communications systems, and any other area identified by the assessment;
(7)
an assessment of public and private operational recovery plans, taking into account the plans for the maritime sector required under section
70103 of title
46, to expedite, to the maximum extent practicable, the return of an adversely affected railroad transportation system or facility to its normal performance level after a major terrorist attack or other security event on that system or facility; and
(b)
National Strategy
(1)
Requirement
Not later than 9 months after August 3, 2007, and based upon the assessment conducted under subsection (a), the Secretary, consistent with and as required by section
114
(t) [1] of title
49, shall develop and implement the modal plan for railroad transportation, entitled the “National Strategy for Railroad Transportation Security”.
(2)
Contents
The modal plan shall include prioritized goals, actions, objectives, policies, mechanisms, and schedules for, at a minimum—
(A)
improving the security of railroad tunnels, railroad bridges, railroad switching and car storage areas, other railroad infrastructure and facilities, information systems, and other areas identified by the Secretary as posing significant railroad-related risks to public safety and the movement of interstate commerce, taking into account the impact that any proposed security measure might have on the provision of railroad service or on operations served or otherwise affected by railroad service;
(B)
deploying equipment and personnel to detect security threats, including those posed by explosives and hazardous chemical, biological, and radioactive substances, and any appropriate countermeasures;
(C)
consistent with section
1167 of this title, training railroad employees in terrorism prevention, preparedness, passenger evacuation, and response activities;
(D)
conducting public outreach campaigns for railroads regarding security, including educational initiatives designed to inform the public on how to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from a terrorist attack on railroad transportation;
(E)
providing additional railroad security support for railroads at high or severe threat levels of alert;
(F)
ensuring, in coordination with freight and intercity and commuter passenger railroads, the continued movement of freight and passengers in the event of an attack affecting the railroad system, including the possibility of rerouting traffic due to the loss of critical infrastructure, such as a bridge, tunnel, yard, or station;
(G)
coordinating existing and planned railroad security initiatives undertaken by the public and private sectors;
(3)
Responsibilities
The Secretary shall include in the modal plan a description of the roles, responsibilities, and authorities of Federal, State, and local agencies, government-sponsored entities, tribal governments, and appropriate stakeholders described in subsection (c). The plan shall also include—
(A)
the identification of, and a plan to address, gaps and unnecessary overlaps in the roles, responsibilities, and authorities described in this paragraph;
(B)
a methodology for how the Department will work with the entities described in subsection (c), and make use of existing Federal expertise within the Department, the Department of Transportation, and other appropriate agencies;
(C)
a process for facilitating security clearances for the purpose of intelligence and information sharing with the entities described in subsection (c), as appropriate;
(D)
a strategy and timeline, coordinated with the research and development program established under section
1168 of this title, for the Department, the Department of Transportation, other appropriate Federal agencies and private entities to research and develop new technologies for securing railroad systems; and
(E)
a process for coordinating existing or future security strategies and plans for railroad transportation, including the National Infrastructure Protection Plan required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive–7; Executive Order No. 13416: “Strengthening Surface Transportation Security” dated December 5, 2006; the Memorandum of Understanding between the Department and the Department of Transportation on Roles and Responsibilities dated September 28, 2004, and any and all subsequent annexes to this Memorandum of Understanding, and any other relevant agreements between the two Departments.
(c)
Consultation with stakeholders
In developing the National Strategy required under this section, the Secretary shall consult with railroad management, nonprofit employee organizations representing railroad employees, owners or lessors of railroad cars used to transport hazardous materials, emergency responders, offerors of security-sensitive materials, public safety officials, and other relevant parties.
(d)
Adequacy of existing plans and strategies
In developing the risk assessment and National Strategy required under this section, the Secretary shall utilize relevant existing plans, strategies, and risk assessments developed by the Department or other Federal agencies, including those developed or implemented pursuant to section
114
(t) [1] of title
49 or Homeland Security Presidential Directive–7, and, as appropriate, assessments developed by other public and private stakeholders.
(e)
Report
(f)
Annual updates
Consistent with the requirements of section
114
(t) [1] of title
49, the Secretary shall update the assessment and National Strategy each year and transmit a report, which may be submitted in both classified and redacted formats, to the appropriate congressional committees containing the updated assessment and recommendations.
[1] See References in Text note below.