Module 07 Homework
Here are links to four stories about transportation accidents. Read them and then come back here.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/05/18/train.derailment/index.html
http://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/toxic_barge_spill
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/03/21/pennsylvania.spill/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/US/Newsbriefs/9510/10-29/index.html
None of the accidents were about transportation of hazardous wastes, they were transporting useful, but dangerous, chemicals. But now there will be a cleanup. The material recovered will almost always be a waste. Rarely there is some method of recycling the waste, but most often it has to be treated as a hazardous waste. By the way, who is the generator of the waste? The chemical company shipped the useful chemicals, quite properly and legally. Is the transporter (carrier) the generator, whose accident transformed the chemical into a waste? How about the firm that gets the contract to dig up the contaminated soil? I believe the chemical shipper is ultimately responsible, but probably the insurance company of the transporter will pay. The consultant who mines the gunk will be responsible via a contract with the chemical company, shipper, or insurer, to make sure the waste is disposed properly.
There is a useful document, The North American Emergency Response Guidebook. Here is the site with downloadable versions of the book. You'll need to scroll to the lower middle. It has a yellow icon. ERG The earlier version I am familiar with was jointly authored by U.S. and Canadian authorities This version may include Mexico, I'm not sure, but is has a Spanish language option. The "Searchable Text Version" is easiest.
For homework:
Make a table with the names of the chemicals mentioned in the four stories, the ID number, the Guide Number, if it is "TIH," and the Hazard Class. You will note the placard. From the Guide Number or the TIH information, you will note emergency precautions. Reread the stories. Then below the table, for each story, relate the story or the picture, to the guide number and TIH information. Does it seem the emergency responders were doing less than they should, more than they should, about right? Or is there not enough information? There are several cases where I know there is not enough information. You should be able to do this homework with just the guidebook and stories, and your knowledge to date. But if you want to research further, you're welcome to.