Assemblyman Tom Alfano and Senator Kemp Hannon last week announced legislation that would mandate that freight train companies carrying hazardous wastes and radioactive materials would have to alert local villages and first responders to the shipments. To date, local villages, fire departments, schools and public facilities are not given the information even though such information is given to county entities.

The bill, S6727, was developed, according to Alfano, in response to train shipments of radioactive materials being shipped through communities without information being provided to localities and - more importantly - first responders. Brookhaven National Labs has already shipped thousands of cubic yards of radioactive soils and is poised to begin new shipments. Queens County Borough stopped shipments of the materials years ago until they were briefed and given assurances to the safety precautions and disclosure of information.

According to Alfano, who is sponsoring the bill in the Assembly, and Hannon, who is sponsoring it in the Senate, legislation S6727 would change all that, mandating freight train companies carrying hazardous wastes and radioactive materials to alert local villages and first responders to the shipments.

To date, local villages, fire departments, schools and public facilities are not given the information even though such information is given to county entities, officials continued. The bill was developed, according to Alfano, in response to train shipments of radioactive materials being shipped through communities without information being provided to localities- more importantly, first responders.

"It's shocking. Villages and communities are being put in harms way. When our first responders or the MTA don't know that hazardous waste and radioactive materials are being shipped right through our backyards, they can't take the precautions they need to if an accident occurs. Our firefighters and first responders are being put at risk for no reason. This bill we're announcing today will arm them with the information they need to make our communities safe," Alfano said.

Fellow Assemblyman Tom McKevitt added, "Villages throughout my district are on the front lines in this battle. We need to give our communities the information they need to protect its citizens."

Hannon, who is sponsoring the bill in the Senate, said that local villages and fire departments have been kept in the dark as to the transportation of these materials, which may include anything from radioactive soil from Brookhaven, liquid or gas nitrogen, and construction and factory wastes.

"In the event of an emergency, first responders would not know how to appropriately cope with the situation," Hannon said. "This legislation requires all railroads transporting hazardous materials through Nassau and Suffolk Counties to give advance notice to the MTA, local village governments and first responders."

Mayors Angel Soto (South Floral Park), Dan Petruccio (New Hyde Park), Jack Martins (Mineola) and Deputy Mayor Christina Lynch (Stewart Manor) and School Board Trustees Trish Rudd, Dave Fowler, Laura Ferone and Pamela Byer also attended the press conference. In addition, members of Save Our Village New Hyde Park Association, Inc., a new nonprofit and incorporated civic association organized in response to the MTA/LIRR's and New York State Department of Transportation's announcement of the Mainline Corridor Improvement Project and the LITRIM Project; the New Hyde Park and Stewart Manor fire departments; and residents and parents of local schools were in attendance.

"This is all about notification and safety. The more we know, the better off the community it is in making sure we're safe," Assemblyman Rob Walker added.

The Alfano-Hannon legislation would mandate that freight train companies alert local governments and first responders to the shipments of hazardous materials like radioactive soils. "God forbid there is an accident near a school. Our firefighters would report to the scene not knowing that what is leaking or spilling could not only be hazardous but radioactive. These railroad lines cut through our communities. It's totally unacceptable that they don't know and can't take the precautions they need to be safe. This legislation will ensure our first responders will know what needs to be done and they will be prepared," Alfano said.

In a statement sent to Anton Community Newspapers, New York State Senator Craig Johnson said: "This is common sense legislation that should be passed as soon as possible. While communities and first responders need to be prepared for anything that comes along our rails, the fact that this type of dangerous material can be transported through our neighborhoods at any time of the day or night should give anyone within the range of the train lines some serious pause. With several other rail expansion projects already in the planning stages, the potential to increase the capability to transport this and other types of freight through our communities is both very real and, in certain instances, very dangerous."

He continued, "The MTA\LIRR should address this situation, even before such legislation is made law, by providing iron-clad guarantees to residents that this unfettered access will be restricted; by mandating that freight companies start to notify them and affected localities now of the transport of any hazardous material; and by limiting such transports to times of day where first responders can best deal with the fallout of any accidents involving this material."

Long Island Rail Road President Helena Williams told Anton Community Newspapers: "We support the idea of community notification and we will carefully review this proposal. In fact, in the case of the recent Brookhaven National Lab shipments, we notified the Nassau and Suffolk county executives and the Queens Borough president in writing on November 28 [2007], prior to the shipments."

Assemblymen Walker, McKevitt and Barra are co-sponsoring the Alfano-Hannon legislation.