MARVIN MANDEL, Governor

2677

recommendations be submitted to the General Assembly
by the 1977 Session; and directing that copies of
this Resolution be sent to officials.

WHEREAS, There presently exists no uniform laws or
guidelines concerning the packaging, marking and shipping
of hazardous materials which are transported through
Maryland; and

WHEREAS, The lack of central control and supervision
of the shipping of hazardous materials across Maryland
constitutes a serious threat to the health and safety of
every citizen of Maryland; and

WHEREAS, This threat may take the form of such
lethal materials as dynamite, propane gas and nuclear
materials; and

WHEREAS, No in—depth training in inspection and
handling of hazardous materials exists for State and
local personnel; and

WHEREAS, Regulations adopted by the Motor Vehicle
Administration relating to hazardous materials cannot
properly be enforced without better training than is now
available; and

WHEREAS, Hazardous materials are in     a potentially

hostile transportation environment for     only a brief

period, but may exist for weeks or     months at the

manufacturing, wholesaling or consumption   site; and

WHEREAS, Fire personnel and other inspection
agencies have access to such sites in normal duties that
transportation and police personnel do not, and by
expanding their current operations could preclude
mispackaged or misidentified hazardous materials from
entry into the transportation system and thus exposure to
the unsuspecting public; and

WHEREAS, Such possible incidents are of concern not
only to fire and police personnel, the coordinated
program should include but not be limited to the
Department of Transportation, the Department of Natural
Resources, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene,
the Department of Licensing and Regulation, the Public
Service Commission, the Fire Marshal and the Maryland
National Guard; and

WHEREAS, It is the responsibility of the State
government to protect its citizens from the type of harm
which might result from inadequately controlled
transporting of hazardous materials; now, therefore, be

it

RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That
the Department of Transportation, the Department of
Health and Mental Hygiene and the Department of Natural