§1171 International Railroad Security Program

Summary

The Secretary must create a system to find hidden people and illegal goods on trains entering the United States, with the main goal of detecting nuclear or radiological materials. The Secretary can work with the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, Customs and Border Protection, and TSA. The system may put radiation and nonintrusive imaging equipment at railroad border crossings, combine radiation sensors with other inspection tech, set up training and response rules for federal, state, and local staff, use other checks where imaging is not practical, and, as much as possible, make sure the tools can spot terrorists or weapons, including weapons of mass destruction. The Secretary must also collect and use more data to spot high-risk rail cargo before it enters the U.S., use data from the Secretary of Transportation, and analyze it to choose cargo for inspection. A progress report is due to Congress by September 30, 2008. Definitions: international supply chain — the full route goods take from origin to destination; radiation detection equipment — tech that finds or identifies nuclear or radiological material or devices; inspection — CBP’s full process to review incoming goods for duties, banned items, and legal compliance.