(The Associated Press circulated the following article on October 25.)
WASHINGTON — Lawmakers and environmentalists in the nation’s capital say the Bush administration is playing politics with Washington’s safety.
They say the Transportation Security Administration is holding off its decision on whether to require trains carrying hazardous materials to bypass the District of Columbia until after Election Day.
The Washington Post reports the TSA has missed several of its own deadlines on the issue.
Critics say the decision has already been made to allow the chemical industry to voluntarily reroute trains carrying toxic materials, but the Department of Homeland Security says that’s not true.
Rail cars carrying dangerous chemicals including chlorine, ammonia, and hydrochloric and sulfuric routinely roll along a CSX route through the city, coming with blocks of the US Capitol.