Cooperative Research for Hazardous Materials Transportation Defining the Need, Converging on Solutions -- Special Report 283 (2005) / Chapter Skim
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7 Envisioned Program and Next Steps
7 Envisioned Program and Next Steps
Pages 132-141
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From page 132... ...
It has become essential to managing the complex risks associated with hazardous ma terials transportation on a systemwide basis. Prompting this conclusion are the following findings: · Safety, security, and environmental concerns associated with the trans portation of hazardous materials are growing in number and complexity.
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From page 133... ...
Even within the federal government, more than a dozen agencies have regulatory, enforcement, operational, and other responsibilities pertaining to hazardous materials transportation. All of these entities have much at stake in providing a safe and secure system for transporting hazardous materials.
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From page 134... ...
By cooperating in the setting of the research agenda and in guiding individual research projects, the diverse parties responsible for haz ardous materials safety and security will have a dependable way to work together in finding solutions to their problems. GUIDEPOSTS IN STRUCTURING A COOPERATIVE PROGRAM The experience of cooperative research programs in other fields suggests that for such a program to be successful for hazardous materials trans portation, it should involve a broad array of likely users of the research to guide and govern the program, set the research agenda, oversee indi vidual research projects, and disseminate the end products of research.
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From page 135... ...
Existing cooperative research programs indicate that a sense of owner ship cannot be conveyed by simply offering stakeholders an advisory capacity or other indirect role in program development and guidance. It must be instilled in a more comprehensive manner, from the way the program is financed and governed to how it is managed.
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From page 136... ...
Most coopera tive research programs have established governing boards that serve in this capacity. A governing board made up largely of program sponsors can be expected to pay close attention to program performance.
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From page 137... ...
A federal appropriation of funds to help pay for a hazardous materials transportation cooperative research program can be rational ized on the same public interest grounds. Federally appropriated funds would provide core financing of the overall program of research, perhaps coupled with supplemental funds contributed on a discretionary basis by stakeholders for indi vidual projects.
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From page 138... ...
Raising the fee by about 8 percent, or $25 for small business and $150 for others, would generate about $1 million in annual revenues for cooperative research. Increasing stakeholder financing of the program over time, even if it is discretionary, is key to fostering a sense of ownership of the program by stakeholders and ultimately ensuring that the research products remain useful.
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From page 139... ...
As a corollary to this point, the host organization should be known for research products that meet scientific and professional standards of qual ity and should have the capability to disseminate these products widely. The experience of existing cooperative research programs suggests that 15 to 20 percent of the program budget will need to be set aside for these critical management and oversight functions.
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From page 140... ...
The stakeholder committee, acting in a man ner similar to a program governing body, should represent a cross sec tion of the hazardous materials shipping and carrier communities as well as experts in emergency response, risk management, and hazardous materials transportation safety and security. This committee should identify and define a series of individual research projects and recom mend funding for those with the greatest potential for yielding practical solutions to important problems in the field.
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From page 141... ...
If the research results from the pilot program are useful, the cooperative research concept can be expected to generate stakeholder interest in pursuing a larger-scale program. A formal critique of the pilot pro gram should be undertaken by the sponsoring agencies along with the stakeholder committee.
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