STUDY OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TRANSPORTATION BY MOTOR CARRIERS NEAR FEDERAL PRISONS.

SEC. 121. STUDY OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TRANSPORTATION BY MOTOR CARRIERS NEAR FEDERAL PRISONS. (a) Study.— The Secretary of Transportation shall conduct a study to determine the safety considerations of transporting hazardous materials by motor carriers in close proximity to Federal prisons, particularly those housing maximum security prisoners. Such study shall include an evaluation of the ability of such facilities and the designated local planning agencies to safely evacuate such prisoners in the event of an emergency and any special training, equipment, or personnel that would be required by such facility and the designated local emergency planning agencies to carry out such evacuation. Such study shall not apply to or address issues concerning rail transportation of hazardous materials. (b) Report.— Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall transmit to Congress a report on the results of the study conducted under this section, along with the Secretary’s recommendations for any legislative or regulatory changes to enhance the safety regarding the transportation of hazardous materials by motor carriers near Federal prisons.