Does the identification number 60 indicate a toxic substance or a flammable solid, in the molten state at an elevated temperature? Does the identification number 1035 indicate ethane or butane? What is the difference between natural gas transmission pipelines and natural gas distribution pipelines? If you came upon an overturned truck on the highway that was leaking, would you be able to identify if it was hazardous and know what steps to take? Questions like these and more are answered in the Emergency Response Guidebook. Learn how to identify symbols for and vehicles carrying toxic, flammable, explosive, radioactive, or otherwise harmful substances and how to respond once an incident involving those substances has been identified. Always be prepared in situations that are unfamiliar and dangerous and know how to rectify them. Keeping this guide around at all times will ensure that, if you were to come upon a transportation situation involving hazardous substances or dangerous goods, you will be able to help keep others and yourself out of danger. With color-coded pages for quick and easy reference, this is the official manual used by first responders in the United States and Canada for transportation incidents involving dangerous goods or hazardous materials.

This report covers ways in which the 112th Congress can introduce relevant legislation to safeguard pipelines that transport natural gas, oil, and other hazardous liquids across the United States. While an efficient and fundamentally safe means of transport, many pipelines carry materials with the potential to cause public injury and environmental damage; the networks are also widespread and vulnerable to accidents and terrorist attack.

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed federal gas and hazardous liquids pipeline safety programs. The Department of Transportation's (DOT) goal is to perform a comprehensive annual inspection of each pipeline operator under its jurisdiction. GAO found that, in 1983, DOT performed comprehensive inspections of only 24 percent of these operators. As of April 1984, DOT had 17 regional office inspectors, which GAO believes is insufficient to carry out the agency's inspection and enforcement responsibilities. State participation in pipeline inspection programs is voluntary; therefore, DOT cannot require the states to maintain their current level of inspection activity, assume responsibility for additional intrastate pipelines, or correct deficiencies in their programs. A number of pipeline facilities and commodities transported by pipeline not currently being regulated by DOT, including rural gas gathering lines, gas service lines, and hazardous liquids storage facilities, may need to be regulated depending on the severity of the associated safety problems. GAO believes that, despite current staffing and resource limitations, DOT can take actions to make its inspection activities more efficient.