SAN JOSE, Calif. — Unsecured highway-borne hazardous materials are increasingly attracting the attention of terrorists, according the Mineta Transportation Institute.

Government’s should focus more on these readily available, least protected hazmat sources, rather than larger hazmat facilities, concluded one of two reports recently completed by MTI.

"We consider gasoline tankers, and to a lesser extent, propane tankers to be the most attractive options for terrorists seeking to use highway-borne hazmat because they can create intense fires in public assemblies and residential properties," said Brian Michael Jenkins, director of MTI’s National Transportation Security Center of Excellence. "We strongly urge that DHS, State governments and the industry take a renewed look at flammable liquids and gases as a weapon of opportunity, and at a strategy to improve security measures and technology."

The Mineta Transportation Institute wad founded by former U.S. Transport Secretary Norman Y. Mineta and was established by Congress in 1991 as part of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA).

Terrorists most often go after simple
operations with little consequences

The new reports include: "Potential Terrorist Uses of Highway-Borne Hazardous Materials," which evaluates security risks created by truck-borne hazardous materials, particularly gasoline tankers; and "Implementation and Development of Vehicle Tracking and Immobilization Technologies," which details specific developments in tracking and immobilization technology that can increase security.

The peer-reviewed reports came from a review of terrorist objectives, hazardous materials, and potential targets. They conclude that terrorists most often seek soft targets that yield significant casualties and prefer attacking public buildings and assemblies.

According to the reports, terrorists most often go after simple operations with little consequences, rather than complex and uncertain operations. Terrorists have also discussed substituting fire for harder-to-acquire explosives. Gasoline tankers have greater appeal because they can easily produce intense fires, operate in target-rich environments with predictable routes, and pose few security challenges.

The report calls for a clear strategy to increase and sustain security, and for resolving significant jurisdictional issues between federal and state authorities; strengthening hazmat security measures in the field; and implementing vehicle tracking technologies, panic alarms, and immobilization capabilities for vehicles carrying specific hazardous materials, including gasoline.

— via Truckinginfo.com