United States · Law · S
S. 2936 (101st)
Hazardous Materials Transportation Uniform Safety Act of 1990
Introduced
30 July 1990
Last action
16 November 1990 · President
Status
Became Public Law No: 101-615.
Sponsors
Sen. Exon, J. James [D-NE], Sen. Levin, Carl [D-MI], Sen. Hollings, Ernest F. [D-SC]
Subjects
Transport
Source updated
14 January 2025
Summary
Hazardous Materials Transportation Safety Improvement Act of 1990 - Amends the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act to change from discretionary to mandatory the authority of the Secretary of Transportation (Secretary) to issue regulations for the safe transportation of hazardous materials in domestic and foreign commerce (including standards for route designations). Authorizes the Secretary to promulgate regulations for dispute resolution among the States or Indian tribes regarding hazardous materials highway route designations. Permits States or Indian tribes to petition for judicial review of the dispute resolution decision. Grants the Secretary discretion to either adopt or reject hazardous materials transportation standards adopted by international bodies according to the Secretary's perception of the public interest. Requires a person who offers a hazardous material for transportation in commerce to provide the carrier a shipping paper that discloses specified information on such material. Prohibits a person from altering any required marking or packaging of hazardous materials. Requires the Secretary of Labor to issue standards requiring an employer who receives a package or vehicle containing a hazardous material and which is required to be marked to retain such markings until the material has been removed. Prohibits a motor carrier from transporting specified hazardous materials unless it obtains a valid safety permit. Increases civil and criminal penalties for persons who commit violations in the transport of hazardous materials. Requires the Secretary to issue regulations with respect to the transportation by rail of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel (including mode and route designations). Requires the Secretary to make grants to States and Indian tribes to enhance planning for responding to emergencies involving transportation of hazardous materials and for the training of emergency response personnel. Sets forth grant requirements. Requires the Secretary to provide assistance to State, tribal, regional, and local governments to encourage effective emergency responses to accidents involving the transportation of hazardous materials. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1990 through 1992. Requires the Secretary for FY 1991 to employ an additional 30 safety inspectors (ten of which should focus on promoting the safe transportation of radioactive materials) for the Federal Railroad Administration, the Federal Highway Administration, and the Research and Special Programs Administration. Requires the Secretary to study and report to the Congress on the present system of identifying hazardous materials and of means to improve such identification while in transit. Requires the Secretary to issue regulations with respect to making safety rating of motor carriers who have received an unsatisfactory rating available to the public. Directs the Secretary to issue a final rule prohibiting a motor carrier with an unsatisfactory safety rating from operating a commercial motor vehicle until it receives a conditional or satisfactory rating. Requires the Secretary to initiate a rulemaking proceeding with respect to the need to establish annual or other registration requirements for persons who transport or handle hazardous materials. Amends the Federal Railroad Safety Act of 1970 to provide for State participation in the regulation of hazardous materials transported by rail carriers.
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Timeline
30 July 1990
Introduced
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce.
Source: IntroReferral
30 July 1990
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
Source: IntroReferral
31 July 1990
Reported
Committee on Commerce. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
Source: Committee
30 August 1990
Calendars
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 803.
Source: Calendars
30 August 1990
Reported
Committee on Commerce. Reported to Senate by Senator Hollings under the authority of the order of Aug 2, 90 with amendments. With written report No. 101-449.
Source: Committee
30 August 1990
Reported
Committee on Commerce. Reported to Senate by Senator Hollings under the authority of the order of Aug 2, 90 with amendments. With written report No. 101-449.
Source: Committee
23 October 1990
Floor
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
Source: Floor
23 October 1990
Passed
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Voice Vote.
Source: Floor
24 October 1990
Floor
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Source: Floor
24 October 1990
Floor
Received in the House.
Source: Floor
24 October 1990
Floor
Held at the desk.
Source: Floor
25 October 1990
Floor
Message on House action received in Senate and held at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.
Source: Floor
25 October 1990
Floor
The Clerk was authorized to correct section numbers, punctuation, and cross references, and to make other necessary technical and conforming corrections in the engrossment of S. 2936.
Source: Floor
25 October 1990
Passed
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Source: Floor
25 October 1990
Passed
On passage Passed without objection.
Source: Floor
25 October 1990
Passed
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection.
Source: Floor
25 October 1990
Floor
Considered by unanimous consent.
Source: Floor
25 October 1990
Floor
Mr. Thomas Luken asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table and consider.
Source: Floor
27 October 1990
Passed
Senate agreed to the House amendment by Voice Vote.
Source: ResolvingDifferences
27 October 1990
Passed
Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendment by Voice Vote.
Source: NotUsed
7 November 1990
Floor
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Source: Floor
9 November 1990
Floor
Presented to President.
Source: Floor
9 November 1990
President
Presented to President.
Source: President
9 November 1990
Floor
Measure Signed in Senate.
Source: Floor
16 November 1990
Became law
Became Public Law No: 101-615.
Source: President
16 November 1990
Became law
Signed by President.
Source: BecameLaw
16 November 1990
President
Signed by President.
Source: President
Votes
No vote records are attached yet.
Versions
- Engrossed Amendment House · undated · Official file
- Enrolled Bill · undated · Official file
- Engrossed in Senate · undated · Official file
- Introduced in Senate · undated · Official file
- Reported to Senate · undated · Official file
Documents
9 official files
Reported to Senate (text)
Reported to Senate · EN
Introduced in Senate (text)
Introduced in Senate · EN
Engrossed in Senate (text)
Engrossed in Senate · EN
Enrolled Bill (text)
Enrolled Bill · EN
Engrossed Amendment House (text)
Engrossed Amendment House · EN
Public Law (PDF)
Public Law · EN · 17 November 1990
Passed House amended
summary · EN · 25 October 1990
Reported to Senate with amendment(s)
summary · EN · 30 August 1990
Introduced in Senate
summary · EN · 30 July 1990
Sponsors
- Sen. Exon, J. James [D-NE] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Levin, Carl [D-MI] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Hollings, Ernest F. [D-SC] · D · Cosponsor
- · sscm00 · Standing
Related records
Sources
PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.
- Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/101st-congress/senate-bill/2936
- Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/101/s/2936
- us · 101-s-2936 · source updated 14 January 2025