From: nilknocgeo@earthlink.net   
      
   The New York Times has a front page article on hazardous material transport   
   by railroads.  It seems that when local officials tried to look into a   
   derailment in Westford, MA, they were threatened with arrest.  Federal laws   
   shield railroads from almost any supervision.  Yet, if an accident takes   
   place, railroads must rely on local hazardous waste personnel.  It seems   
   that they supply some local officals secret lists of hazardous materials.   
   How that works seems unclear, but the public does not know.  Also, routes   
   are kept secret too.  And those tin can rail cars will be in use basically   
   forever.  Arresting local mayors who look in on accidents seems to be legal.   
   They could also arrest local hazrdous material teams too.   
      
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