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Yesterday, the Surface Transportation Board (STB) announced it will form an advisory committee to study ways to safely and cost-effectively move toxic cargo.

The Toxic by Inhalation Hazard Common Carrier Transportation Advisory Committee will provide the board with independent advice and policy suggestions related to the common-carrier obligation of railroads to transport Toxic by Inhalation Hazard (TIH) materials.

Specifically, the committee will focus on the amount of liability that railroads can reasonably ask shippers to assume before the railroad will transport the cargo, STB officials said in a prepared statement.

By creating the committee, the board hopes to “facilitate dialogue among TIH shippers, railroads, insurers or underwriters and tank-car owners, lessors or manufacturers with a goal of resolving economic concerns surrounding the transportation of TIH cargo,” STB officials said.