The Department of Homeland Security has dropped a proposal to remove  hazardous materials signage on rail rail cars due to widespread opposition from the railroad industry and emergency response personnel. The proposal would have remove the signs to prevent specific cars from being targeted by potential terrorist attacks.

The Washington Post, April 9 2005, noted that "safety experts, firefighters, emergency response workers and even industry officials opposed the idea of removing the placards, saying rail safety overrides the security risk. The placards are used by rail workers to ensure the safe handling of "hazmat" rail cars, and they help firefighters and health officials respond to rail accidents, in the event that the hazardous contents are exposed."

The NTSB addressed a letter to the Department of homeland Security stating that, "removing placards and other marking requirements, without clearly demonstrating the effectiveness of any alternative hazard identification system, can adversely affect the safety of emergency responders and the public."

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