By Justin O'Brien
June 27, 2005

Mayors discussed a variety of important security and public safety issues at a well attended Homeland Security Task Force meeting in Chicago June 10. Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley and Sugar Land (TX) Mayor David G. Wallace chaired and moderated the session. The mayors were assembled in Chicago for the 73rd Annual Conference of Mayors. Included in the discussions were federal funding and advance notification of rail shipments of hazardous materials, particularly chemicals in addition to border security concerns. Wallace also provided an update on the successful implementation of the Regional Logistics Centers concept.

In opening remarks, O'Malley discussed issues surrounding homeland security funding, federal'state-city and local processes in addition to formula issues of contention in the context of the fiscal appropriations process. The nation's mayors continue to call for direct homeland security funding. O'Malley then called attention to Baltimore's own experience with the nationally-reported Howard Tunnel fire that occurred in 2001, also involving hazardous materials, particularly chemicals, before introducing Augusta (GA) Mayor Bob Young to speak on his own more recent local experience with the Graniteville (SC) disaster, noting that given the lengthy interim period advance notification of hazardous shipments clearly continues to be an issue that has not been adequately addressed to date.

Young described how Augusta's first responders were amongst those that responded to the Graniteville derailment and chloride gas disaster which claimed the lives of nine citizens, hospitalized almost 530 and forced the evacuation of more than 5,400 from the surrounding area. An estimated 11,500 gallons of poisonous chlorine gas were released as a direct result of the train derailment. Young thanked CSX, the rail freight operator, for participating and meeting with the mayors, noting that 1.7 million traincar loads of hazardous materials are moved on the country's railroad network annually. John Casellini, CSX Vice President for Public Affairs, joined the mayors to discuss the issue of advance notification. Young also thanked CSX Corporation and industry for providing its list of the top 25 hazardous materials most shipped in the United States, however he stated that these lists and documentation "do not meet mayors' need for advance notification", using the example of how a 30-minute delay had fatal consequences in Graniteville, a point echoed again later by Gary (IN) Mayor Scott King.

Casellini described a long history of working closely with local governments and how rail carriers are required to move chemicals under Common Carrier Law, indicating the economic importance of the shipments while acknowledging the pubic safety impact and implications. Noting that a planning and preparedness focus is key, he went on to describe collaborative efforts with local first responders across the country in which CSX annually trains approximately 20,000 local first responders on hazardous shipment response. Zeroing in on the issue of advance notification, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley noted that the availability of advance technology in communications in the conduct of daily business directly enhances the ability to share information, adding that the availability of information preempts possible legal challenges regarding responsibility. Daley and Young were original co'sponsors of Policy Resolution: Assuring Safe Rail Transport of Hazardous Materials Through Cities. The resolution was unanimously supported by the Mayors assembled during the main business plenary session June 13. CSX pledged to continue to work closely with the mayors to meet a satisfactory conclusion and work through the issues.

Wallace spoke on the release of undocumented or illegal migrants into the community and particularly in border states and the disparate treatment of Mexicans and other nationals, other than Mexican (Otm's) due to critical differences in the laws governing immigration. After sharing a video presentation in which it was shown that undocumented travelers from Mexico are immediately deported, due to inadequate and insufficient detention facilities other undocumented travelers from throughout the hemisphere and the world are released into the community by the U.S. Border Patrol with little to no screening for public safety risk. Wallace noted the immediacy of the need to improve the process decrying that resources and facilities are lacking. "We need to defend our borders," Wallace said.

Wallace went on to provide an update on the development and successful implementation of the Regional Logistics Centers concept in the Houston-Galveston area. Modeled in part on military efforts Wallace described and explained the cost-efficiencies to be gained by regional governments and agencies with the implementation of the concept, making it an effective Homeland Security Best Practice.

Los Angeles Mayor James A. Hahn also recounted the efforts and accomplishments of the Conference since 9-11 in the area of airport and aviation security. He was accompanied by Los Angeles' John Miller who described regional and federal-local cooperation in the Los Angeles area's Joint Regional Intelligence Center providing an effective joint counter-terror efforts which could be a model for other high threat areas around the country.