[PASSED] Safe Transportation of Hazardous Materials

[Goobergunchia]

Safe Transportation of Hazardous Materials
Category: Regulation | Area of Effect: Transportation

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The World Assembly,


Cognizant of the many important roles hazardous materials play in the industries and operations of WA member states;

Concerned, though, that the lack of uniform regulation and oversight in the transportation of such substances could increase the risk of spills and leaks and, by extension, the terrible ramifications of such accidents on the environment and intelligent life;

Resolving, then, to provide effective international standards and oversight for the transportation of hazardous materials;

Hereby,

1. Defines, for the purposes of this resolution:
   
   1. A “hazardous material”, “hazmat”, or “hazardous substance” as any object or agent that would pose, either directly or via environmental contamination, a significant risk to local life in the bulk and/or concentration found in transportation and storage;
   2. The “LD₅₀” as the amount of a hazardous substance, given all at once, which would cause mortality in the top 50% most affected individuals;
2. Further empowers the Toxic Materials Commission (TMC) with the following mandates:
   
   1. To, in addition to those carried out by national hazmat authorities, conduct unannounced inspections, both targeted and random, of hazardous material transports for the purpose of ensuring all regulations are upheld and high standards of safety are maintained;
   2. To certify hazmat containers manufactured by other entities to ensure compliance with all relevant regulations, and sufficient manufacturing consistency;
   3. To manufacture and/or facilitate the manufacture of standardized, regulation-compliant containers as a low-cost alternative to those produced by other entities;
   4. To mitigate the negative impacts of hazardous materials lost or damaged while in transit and/or aid member states in doing so;
   5. To liaise with the International Transport Safety Committee (ITSC) to determine and enact standards to further improve safety in hazmat transportation;
   6. To establish and certify training regimens for workers in frequent contact with hazardous materials, and ensure programs’ continued relevance, and
   7. To cooperate with judicial bodies to penalize entities in violation of relevant rules and regulations;
3. Requires all personnel involved in the transportation of hazardous materials receive job-relevant, TMC-certified hazmat training in order to reduce, as much as is plausible, risk of preventable accidents due to personnel error;
   
4. Mandates the use of TMC-certified containers in the vehicular transportation of hazardous materials, subject to the following specifications as appropriate for each package:
   
   1. Containers must be "drop-resistant", defined as the ability to weather a minimum of six consecutive drops of at least 2 meters onto a rigid, non-resilient, flat and horizontal surface without sustaining any damage which could adversely affect safety during transport;
   2. Containers must be "air-tight", defined as being able to enclose contents at a of at least 4 psi, or one-point-five times the pressure of its intended contents (whichever is greater) without rupture or leakage;
   3. Containers must be "vibration-resistant", defined as the ability to withstand severe vibration with peak-to-peak displacement of at least one inch for no less than one hour without sustaining any leaks, ruptures, or being otherwise structurally compromised;
   4. Rigid containers must be tested for "stack safety", defined as the capability of a container to withstand the total weight of all full, identical containers that would be stacked upon it during transport; the maximum tested weight withstood must be clearly labeled on containers’ exteriors to reduce negligent use;
   5. Containers carrying chemically reactive contents must be "chemically stable", defined as the ability to contact chemically-reactive contents for no less than 180 days at shipping temperature without sustaining leaks or being otherwise structurally compromised; minor revisions to pre-certified container designs, excepting material changes, need not be re-tested for chemical stability;
   6. Containers carrying infectious agents must use at least one primary receptacle, enclosed in at least one secondary receptacle, itself enclosed in an outer layer of packaging, all of which are subject to all of the above regulations, and clearly labeled as containing an infectious agent;
   7. Containers carrying greater than the LD₅₀ of a hazardous substance must be clearly and expressly labeled as such;
5. Obligates WA member states and all entities operating within their borders to schedule and report departures, arrivals, routes, and accidents pertaining to hazardous cargo directly to the TMC in order to facilitate inspections and/or damage mitigation, and
   
6. Prohibits WA member states from withholding access to areas required for or otherwise deliberately interfering with TMC operations, so long as such proceedings would not present a tangible risk to national security.

Toxin Transportation Act
Category: Regulation | Area of Effect: Transportation

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The World Assembly,


Aware of the many important roles toxic and hazardous substances play in all sectors of the modern world;

Concerned that a lack of uniform regulation and well-funded oversight in the transportation of such materials could lead to disastrous and potentially preventable spills of dangerous substances.

Noting the lack of legislation regulating the transportation of toxic and hazardous substances;

Fearing the numerous detrimental effects of toxin spills caused in part by lack of regulation and oversight, including but not limited to:

• Contamination of food, air, and water, likely causing a massive loss of life;
• Widespread and irreparable damage to the natural environment;
• Strain on diplomatic relations, potentially resulting in preventable military conflict;
• Stress on the economies of less wealthy and/or developing nations as a result of costly cleanup efforts;

Resolving to provide uniform international standards and organized oversight for the transportation of toxic and hazardous substances;

Hereby,

1. Defines, for the purposes of this resolution:
   
   1. A toxin, toxic substance, hazardous substance, toxic material, or hazardous material as any chemical that poses a serious risk to the health of the citizenry, wildlife, and/or natural environment in the quantities and concentrations found in the transport of such substances.
   2. A median lethal dose as the quantity of a dangerous substance, per individual, required to cause mortality in fifty percent of an exposed population.
   3. A container as the part of packaging intended to contain a substance.
   4. A pipeline as a long, stationary pipe used in the long-distance transportation of hazardous substances.
   5. A non-governmental entity as any person or organization unaffiliated with any governmental body.
2. Mandates the use of containers in the transportation of toxic materials, excepting pipelines, and requires them adhere to the following regulations:
   
   1. Each container shall enclose no more than one thousand times the median lethal dose of its contents in any population inhabiting a region along the designated transport route.
   2. Each container must be capable of fully suppressing the danger of its contents, meaning:
      
      1. Containers enclosing toxic liquids or soluble solids must be liquid-tight.
      2. Containers enclosing toxic gases must be airtight.
      3. The walls of containers enclosing radioactive substances must be capable of containing all radiation that is capable of penetrating the epidermal layers of any species the container will feasibly come in contact with.
   3. Each container must meet additional special requirements depending on mode of transport:
      
      1. Containers transported by land must have no deliberately curved or rounded edges, to minimize the likelihood of containers rolling along topography, as this occurrence would complicate recovery of lost toxins.
      2. Containers transported by sea must be buoyant in order to prevent sinking, as this occurrence would complicate recovery of lost toxins.
      3. Containers transported by air must be equipped with parachutes triggered in the case of freefall, as a drop from high altitude would almost certainly result in breakage of the container, and near impossible recovery of lost toxins. Containers transported this way must also share the special requirements of land, sea, or both if the designated transport route crosses such terrains.
      4. Containers transported by space must be blunt in shape and equipped with reentry heat shields, as high atmosphere burn-up of containers containing highly toxic materials could have devastating consequences. Containers transported in this way must also share the special requirements of land, sea, and air due to the near impossibility of predicting where accidental spills would land.
3. Prohibits vehicles used in the transportation of toxic substances from running near, at or above their maximum weight capacity, as it could increase the likelihood of dangerous cargo needing to be dumped in order to lower weight in the case of an emergency.
   
4. Recommends that in the case of an emergency, a controlled dumping of dangerous cargo, with the intent of later recovery, be preferred to a violent and uncontrolled release in the form of a crash, explosion, or other catastrophic event.
   
5. Mandates the use of automated pressure sensors, flow sensors, and cutoffs in pipelines used to transport hazardous substances in order to quickly identify, isolate, and cut off any potential leaks until repairs can be completed.
   
6. Establishes the Toxin Regulation and Recovery Authority (ToRRA), and empowers it with the following mandate:
   
   1. To conduct inspections before and after every shipment of toxic or hazardous materials to ensure all regulations are upheld, and high standards of safety are being maintained.
   2. To retrieve toxic and hazardous substances lost in accidents and/or to aid member states in doing so.
   3. To certify regulation-compliant equipment, including toxin containers and automated pipeline equipment.
   4. To levy fines, and to limit or outright ban the transportation of hazardous substances through WA nations and non-governmental entities found to be in violation of the regulations regarding the transportation of toxins.
   5. To liaise with the International Transport Safety Committee (ITSC) in order to determine and enact standards to further improve safety in the transportation of hazardous substances.
   6. To provide subsidies in order to offset the additional costs of regulation for the transportation of toxins in sectors important to the World Assembly, such as renewable energy, scientific research, development of new technologies, peacekeeping, and exploration.
7. Requires WA member states and any non-governmental entities that operate within their borders to schedule and report any and all departures, arrivals, and accidents pertaining to toxic cargo directly to ToRRA in order to facilitate inspections and/or recovery of hazardous substances.

Toxin Transportation Act
Category: Regulation | Area of Effect: Transportation

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The World Assembly,


Aware of the many important roles toxins play in all sectors of the modern world;

Concerned that a lack of uniform regulation and well-funded oversight in the transportation of such materials could lead to disastrous and potentially preventable spills of dangerous substances.

Noting the lack of legislation regulating the transportation of toxins;

Fearing the numerous detrimental effects of toxin spills caused in part by lack of regulation and oversight, including:

• Contamination of food, air, and water, likely causing a massive loss of life;
• Widespread and irreparable damage to the natural environment;
• Strain on diplomatic relations, potentially resulting in preventable military conflict;
• Stress on the economies of less wealthy and/or developing nations as a result of costly cleanup efforts;

Resolving to provide uniform international standards and organized oversight for the transportation of toxins;

Hereby,

1. Defines, for the purposes of this resolution:
   
   1. A “toxin” as any chemical that poses a serious risk to the health of the citizenry, wildlife, and/or natural environment in the quantities and concentrations found in the transport of such substances.
   2. A “median lethal dose” as the quantity of a substance, per individual, required to cause mortality in fifty percent of an exposed population.
2. Mandates the use of containers in the transportation of toxins, excepting pipelines, and requires toxin containers adhere to the following regulations:
   
   1. Each container shall enclose no more than one thousand times the median lethal dose of its contents in any population inhabiting a region along the designated transport route.
   2. Each container must be capable of fully suppressing the danger of its contents, meaning:
      
      1. Containers enclosing toxic liquids or soluble solids must be liquid-tight.
      2. Containers enclosing toxic gases must be airtight.
      3. Containers enclosing radioactive toxins must be capable of containing all radiation that can penetrate the skin of any species residing on or near the designated transport route.
   3. Each container must meet additional special requirements depending on mode of transport in order to simplify the recovery of lost toxins:
      
      1. Containers transported by land must have no deliberately curved or rounded edges, to minimize the likelihood of containers rolling along topography.
      2. Containers transported over bodies of water must be buoyant in order to prevent sinking.
      3. Containers transported by air must be equipped with parachutes triggered in the case of freefall in order to prevent violent impact. Containers transported this way must also comply with the standards of Articles 2c(i) and 2c(ii) should their designated transport routes pass over land or bodies of water respectively.
      4. Containers transported by space must be blunt in shape and equipped with ablative heat shields, to prevent high-atmosphere burn up. Containers transported this way must also comply with the standards of Articles 2c(i), 2c(ii), and 2c(iii), disregarding any prerequisites.
3. Prohibits vehicles used in the transportation of toxins from running near, at or above their maximum weight capacity, as it could increase the likelihood of dangerous cargo needing to be dumped in order to lower weight in the case of an emergency.
   
4. Recommends that in the case of an emergency, a controlled dumping of toxins, with the intent of later recovery, be preferred to a violent and uncontrolled release in the form of a crash, explosion, or other catastrophic event.
   
5. Mandates the use of automated pressure sensors, flow sensors, and cutoffs in pipelines used to transport toxins in order to quickly identify, isolate, and cut off any potential leaks until repairs can be completed.
   
6. Establishes the Toxin Regulation and Recovery Authority (ToRRA), and empowers it with the following mandate:
   
   1. To conduct inspections before and after every shipment of toxins to ensure all regulations are upheld, and high standards of safety are being maintained.
   2. To retrieve toxins lost in accidents and/or to aid member states in doing so.
   3. To certify regulation-compliant equipment, including toxin containers and automated pipeline equipment.
   4. To levy fines, and/or to limit or outright ban the transportation of toxins through WA nations and non-governmental entities found to be in violation of any regulations.
   5. To liaise with the International Transport Safety Committee (ITSC) in order to determine and enact standards to further improve safety in the transportation of toxins.
   6. To provide subsidies in order to offset the additional costs of regulation for the transportation of toxins in sectors important to the World Assembly, such as renewable energy, scientific research, development of new technologies, peacekeeping, and exploration.
7. Requires WA member states and any non-governmental entities that operate within their borders to schedule and report any and all departures, arrivals, and accidents pertaining to toxic cargo directly to ToRRA in order to facilitate inspections and/or recovery of toxins.

Hazardous Substances Transportation Act
Category: Regulation | Area of Effect: Transportation

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The World Assembly,


Aware of the many important roles hazardous substances play in all sectors of the modern world;

Concerned that a lack of uniform regulation and well-funded oversight in the transportation of such materials could lead to disastrous and potentially preventable spills of dangerous substances.

Noting the lack of legislation regulating the transportation of hazardous substances;

Fearing the numerous detrimental effects of hazardous material spills caused in part by lack of regulation and oversight, including:

• Contamination of food, air, and water, potentially causing a massive loss of life;
• Widespread and irreparable damage to the natural environment;
• Strain on diplomatic relations, potentially resulting in preventable military conflict;
• Stress on the economies of less wealthy and/or developing nations as a result of costly cleanup efforts;

Resolving to provide uniform international standards and organized oversight for the transportation of hazardous substances;

Hereby,

1. Defines, for the purposes of this resolution:
   
   1. A “hazardous substance” as any material intrinsically dangerous to the citizenry, wildlife, and/or natural environment of WA member states.
   2. A “median lethal dose” as the quantity of a substance, per individual, required to cause mortality in fifty percent of an exposed population.
   3. A “container” as the specific part of packaging intended to contain and suppress its contents.
2. Mandates the use of containers in the transportation of hazardous substances, excepting pipelines, and requires such containers adhere to the following rules:
   
   1. Each container shall enclose no more than 1000 times the median lethal dose of its contents in the nearest sapient species to the designated transport route. If this value varies based on method of exposure, the lowest dose shall be used.
   2. Each container must be capable of fully suppressing the danger of its contents, meaning:
      
      1. Containers enclosing hazardous liquids and/or soluble solids must be liquid-tight.
      2. Containers enclosing hazardous gases must be airtight.
      3. Containers enclosing radioactive materials must reduce all radiation capable of penetrating the skin of species residing on or near the designated transport route to a negligible amount.
      4. Containers enclosing infectious substances must be refrigerated to the point of dormancy.
   3. Each container must meet additional requirements based on mode of transport to simplify the recovery of hazardous substances:
      
      1. Containers transported on or over bodies of water must be buoyant.
      2. Containers transported by air must be equipped with parachutes triggered in the case of freefall.
      3. Containers transported by space over celestial bodies with atmospheres must be blunt in shape, equipped with ablative heat shields, and comply with the standards of Articles 2c(i) and 2c(ii) if applicable.
      4. Containers transported by space over planets without atmospheres must possess their own engines and automated landing sequences, and comply with the standards of Article 2c(i) if applicable.
3. Prohibits vehicles used in the transportation of hazardous substances from operating above 90% of their maximum capacity, to lower the likelihood of dangerous cargo needing to be dumped in the case of an emergency.
   
4. Requires that crews of hazardous substance transports be thoroughly trained in a variety of scenarios and contingencies to minimize human error.
   
5. Mandates the use of automated pressure sensors, flow sensors, and cutoffs in pipelines used to transport hazardous substances in order to quickly identify, isolate, and cut off any potential leaks until repairs can be completed.
   
6. Establishes the Toxin Regulation and Recovery Authority (ToRRA), and empowers it with the following mandate:
   
   1. To conduct inspections before and after every major shipment of hazardous substances, as well as conduct random, unannounced inspections year-round to ensure all regulations are upheld, and high standards of safety are being maintained.
   2. To retrieve hazardous materials lost in accidents and/or to aid member states in doing so.
   3. To certify regulation-compliant equipment, including containers, automated pipeline equipment, and engines.
   4. To levy fines, and/or to limit or outright ban the transportation of hazardous substances through WA nations and non-governmental entities found to be in violation of any regulations.
   5. To liaise with the International Transport Safety Committee (ITSC) in order to determine and enact standards to further improve safety in the transportation of hazardous substances.
   6. To provide subsidies to offset the additional costs of regulation for the transportation of hazardous substances in sectors important to the World Assembly, such as renewable energy, scientific research, development of new technologies, peacekeeping, and exploration.
7. Requires WA member states and non-governmental entities operating within their borders to schedule and report all departures, arrivals, and accidents pertaining to hazardous cargo directly to ToRRA in order to facilitate inspections and/or recovery.

Safe Transportation of Hazardous Materials
Category: Regulation | Area of Effect: Transportation

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The World Assembly,


Aware of the importance of hazardous materials in the functioning of the many industries and programs of WA member states;

Concerned a lack of uniform regulations and oversight in the transportation of such substances could increase the risk of dangerous spills and leaks;

Fearing the plethora of consequences that can result from such accidents, such as:

• Contamination of food, air, and water, and the accompanying threat to intelligent life;
• Widespread and irreparable damage to the natural environment;
• Strain on diplomatic relations, and resultant military conflict;
• Stress on the economies of less wealthy and/or developing nations due to costly cleanup efforts;

Resolving to provide effective international standards and oversight for the transportation of hazardous materials;

Hereby,

1. Defines, for the purposes of this resolution:
   
   1. A “hazardous material”, “hazmat”, or “hazardous substance” as any chemical or agent that poses a significant threat to local life in the quantities and concentrations found in transportation and storage.
   2. The “median lethal concentration” as the exposure concentration of a hazardous substance causing mortality in fifty percent of an exposed population.
2. Establishes the Hazardous Substance Administration and Recovery Authority (HaSARA), and empowers it with the following mandate:
   
   1. To conduct unannounced inspections, both targeted and random, of hazardous material transports for the purpose of ensuring all regulations are upheld, and high standards of safety are maintained.
   2. To certify and manufacture regulation-compliant containers and pipeline equipment.
   3. To recover hazardous materials lost in accidents and/or aid member states in doing so.
   4. To liaise with the International Transport Safety Committee (ITSC) in order to determine and enact standards to further improve safety in hazmat transportation.
   5. To monetarily offset the additional costs of any such regulation in sectors important to the World Assembly, such as renewable energy, scientific research, development of new technologies, peacekeeping, and exploration.
   6. To establish official training regimens for workers in frequent contact with hazardous materials, and to make yearly updates to these programs to keep teachings relevant and effective.
   7. To work with World Assembly and national judicial bodies to penalize entities in violation of relevant rules and regulations.
3. Requires all personnel involved in the transportation of hazardous materials receive job-relevant hazmat training in order to mitigate any threat posed by human error.
   
4. Prohibits hazardous substances from making up over two-thirds of a vehicle’s maximum cargo capacity, reducing the necessity of dumping hazmats in emergency scenarios.
   
5. Mandates the use of individual containers in the vehicular transportation of hazardous materials, additionally requiring such containers adhere to the following specifications:
   
   1. The capacity of each container mustn’t exceed the quantity of the substance enclosed capable of reaching or surpassing the median lethal concentration, for local species, within a contaminated area over a long period of time.
   2. The technologies behind each container must be demonstrated to be capable of movement from the environment of the vehicle to resting on the surface of a planet without release of dangerous contents.
   3. Each container must be fully capable of suppressing the dangers of its contents, examples including:
      
      1. Containers carrying liquids and/or soluble solids must be liquid-tight.
      2. Containers carrying hazardous gasses must be airtight.
      3. Containers carrying radioactive materials must reduce excess radiation to a negligible amount, posing little or no long term danger.
      4. Containers carrying infectious agents must keep their contents in at least a dormant state.
6. Obligates WA member states and non-governmental entities operating within their borders to schedule and report all departures, arrivals, and accidents pertaining to hazardous cargo directly to HaSARA in order to facilitate inspections and/or recovery.

Safe Transportation of Hazardous Materials
Category: Regulation | Area of Effect: Transportation

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The World Assembly,


Aware of the importance of various hazardous materials in the operations of the many industries and programs of WA member states;

Concerned a lack of uniform regulations and oversight in the transportation of such substances could increase the risk of dangerous spills and leaks;

Fearing the plethora of consequences that can result from such accidents, such as:

• Contamination of food, air, and water, and the accompanying threat to intelligent life;
• Widespread and irreparable damage to the natural environment;
• Strain on diplomatic relations, and resultant military conflict;
• Stress on the economies of less wealthy and/or developing nations due to costly cleanup efforts;

Resolving to provide effective international standards and oversight for the transportation of hazardous materials;

Hereby,

1. Defines, for the purposes of this resolution:
   
   1. A “hazardous material”, “hazmat”, or “hazardous substance” as any chemical or agent that would pose, either directly or via environmental contamination, a significant risk to local life or of environmental degradation in the quantities and concentrations typically found in transportation and storage.
   2. The “median lethal concentration” as the exposure concentration of a hazardous substance causing mortality in fifty percent of an exposed population.
2. Further empowers the Toxic Materials Commission (TMC) with the following mandates:
   
   1. To conduct unannounced inspections, both targeted and random, of hazardous material transports for the purpose of ensuring all regulations are upheld, and high standards of safety are maintained.
   2. To certify and manufacture regulation-compliant containers for the transportation of hazardous substances.
   3. To mitigate the negative impacts of hazardous materials lost or damaged while in transit and/or aid member states in doing so.
   4. To liaise with the International Transport Safety Committee (ITSC) in order to determine and enact standards to further improve safety in hazmat transportation.
   5. To monetarily offset the additional costs of any such regulation in sectors important to the World Assembly, such as renewable energy, scientific research, development of new technologies, peacekeeping, and exploration.
   6. To establish official training regimens for workers in frequent contact with hazardous materials, and to make yearly updates to these programs to keep teachings relevant and effective.
   7. To work with World Assembly and national judicial bodies to penalize entities in violation of relevant rules and regulations.
3. Requires all personnel involved in the transportation of hazardous materials receive job-relevant, official TMC hazmat training in order to reduce, as much as is plausible, the risk of preventable accidents due to personnel ignorance and/or inexperience.
   
4. Mandates the use of TMC-certified containers in the vehicular transportation of hazardous materials, subject to the following performance specifications as appropriate for each package:
   
   1. Containers must be "drop-resistant", defined as being able to weather a minimum of six consecutive drops of at least 2 meters onto a rigid, non-resilient, flat and horizontal surface without sustaining a rupture or any other damage which could feasibly and adversely affect safety during transport.
   2. Containers must be "air-tight", defined as being able to have applied an internal air pressure of at least 4 psi, or, if contents are to be pressurized, one-point-five times the intended storage pressure (whichever is greater) without a recordable leakage of air.
   3. Containers must be "vibration-resistant", defined as being able to withstand severe vibration with peak-to-peak displacement of at least one inch for a time of no less than one hour without sustaining any leaks, ruptures, or being otherwise structurally compromised.
   4. Rigid containers must be "stack safe", defined as the top surface of the container being able to withstand the total weight of all identical containers which might be stacked upon it during transport.
   5. Containers carrying chemically reactive contents must be "chemically stable", defined as being able to be in contact with its chemically-reactive contents for no less than 180 days at shipping temperature without sustaining any leaks or being otherwise structurally compromised.
   6. Containers carrying infectious agents must be stored within at least one primary receptacle, enclosed in at least one secondary receptacle, itself enclosed in an outer layer of packaging, all of which are subject to every one of the above regulations, and clearly labelled as containing an infectious agent.
   7. Containers carrying greater than the median lethal concentration of a hazardous substance must be clearly and expressly labelled as such.
5. Obligates WA member states and non-governmental entities operating within their borders to schedule and report all departures, arrivals, and accidents pertaining to hazardous cargo directly to the Toxic Materials Commission in order to facilitate inspections and/or damage mitigation.

Thank you all in advance for your advice.

[Tinhampton]

Lydia Anderson, Assistant to the Delegate-Ambassador: This is a thousand characters overlong. Do consider the following rewrite, if you want:

The World Assembly,

Recognising that while toxins are of great importance, they can also pose a great danger;

Concerned that, because of the lack of international regulation surrounding toxin transportation, there will be many potentially preventable spills of toxins;

Believing that these toxin spills could annihilate not only the natural environment (including sources of food, air, and water), but also diplomatic relations - which could result in even more destructive military conflict - and the economies of developing nations which may have to spend much money on cleaning those toxins up; and

Resolving to provide uniform international standards and organized oversight for the transportation of toxins;

Hereby:

1. defines, for the purposes of this resolution:
   
   1. a "toxin" as any chemical that poses a serious risk to the health of the citizenry, wildlife, and/or natural environment in the quantities and concentrations found in the transport of such substances; and
   2. the "median lethal dose" of a toxin as the quantity of that toxin, per individual, required to cause mortality in fifty percent of an exposed population;
2. mandates that all toxins either be transported through containers or pipelines, and requires all containers used for the transportation of toxins to:
   
   1. enclose no more than one thousand times the median lethal dose of its contents in any population inhabiting a region along the designated transport route;
   2. be liquid-tight (if they enclose toxic liquids or soluble solids), airtight (if they enclose toxic gases), or be capable of containing all radiation that can penetrate the skin of any species it may feasibly come into contact with (if they enclose radioactive substances); and
   3. meet additional special requirements depending on how they are transported in order to make the recovery of lost toxins less difficult; namely:
      
      1. containers transported by land, and transported by air over land, must have no deliberately curved or rounded edges (to minimize the likelihood of containers rolling along the outside environment);
      2. containers transported by sea, and transported by air over sea, must be buoyant (to prevent their sinking);
      3. containers transported by air must be equipped with parachutes triggered in the case of freefall (to prevent their reaching high speeds and shattering if they are dropped at a high altitude); and
      4. containers transported by space must - in addition to complying with the standards of Articles 2c(i), 2c(ii) and 2c(iii) - be blunt in shape and equipped with reentry heat shields (to avoid the potentially devastating consequences of their high atmosphere burn-up);
3. prohibits vehicles used in the transportation of toxins from exceeding their maximum weight capacity (to reduce the likelihood of toxins needing to be dumped in order to lower weight in the case of an emergency);
4. recommends that the controlled dumping of dangerous cargo, with the intent of later recovery, be employed in the case of an emergency, as opposed to a violent and uncontrolled crash or explosion;
5. mandates that pipelines used for the transportation of toxins feature automated pressure sensors, flow sensors, and cutoffs (in order to quickly identify, isolate, and cut off any potential leaks until repairs can be completed);
6. establishes the Toxin Regulation and Recovery Authority (ToRRA), and empowers it with:
   
   1. establishing safety standards for the transportation of toxins;
   2. certifying equipment, including Article 2 containers and Article 5 pipeline equipment, which adheres to the standards it makes under Article 6a; and
   3. assisting member states in recovering toxins pursuant to Article 7b on their request; and
7. requires member states to:
   
   1. conduct investigations before and after every shipment of toxins to ensure that high standards of safety, including this resolution's provisions, are being adhered to;
   2. recover toxins lost in accidents, or which have otherwise leaked outside of any containers or pipelines they may have been transported in, to the best of their ability;
   3. report all arrivals, departures, and accidents relating to cargo containing toxins directly to ToRRA as to facilitate toxin inspections and recovery; and
   4. ensure that only containers and pipeline equipment certified by ToRRA pursuant to Article 6b are used in toxin transportation.

You are more than welcome to credit Tinhampton as the co-authoring nation, if you believe that our contributions have been substantial enough. Thanks very much!

[Gemeinschaftsland]

Lydia Anderson, Assistant to the Delegate-Ambassador: This is a thousand characters overlong. Do consider the following rewrite, if you want:

I didn't use many of your suggestions, but thank you for notifying me of my draft's length, I'd forgotten to check. This new draft is under the 5000 character cap.

[Xanthorrhoea]

Hey, welcome to the WA! I can see you've put a lot of thought into this, and it's an interesting topic! I have a few comments which I've set out below. It sounds like a lot, but it probably boils down to a few major things and some more minor nitpicks. It's all my point of view, and if you disagree, ignore it!

The World Assembly,

Aware of the many important roles toxins play in all sectors of the modern world;

Concerned that a lack of uniform regulation and well-funded oversight in the transportation of such materials could lead to disastrous and potentially preventable spills of dangerous substances.

Noting the lack of legislation regulating the transportation of toxins;

Fearing the numerous detrimental effects of toxin spills caused in part by lack of regulation and oversight, including:

• Contamination of food, air, and water, likely causing a massive loss of life;
• Widespread and irreparable damage to the natural environment;
• Strain on diplomatic relations, potentially resulting in preventable military conflict;
• Stress on the economies of less wealthy and/or developing nations as a result of costly cleanup efforts;

Resolving to provide uniform international standards and organized oversight for the transportation of toxins;

I'm not too strong on preambulatory clauses, so I'll mostly leave these to others who are better placed to give feedback. My only gripe would be that the vast majority of spills are not likely to cause a massive loss of life. Most spills are small scale and local in effect. I'd maybe change the "likely" to a weaker adverb such as "potentially."

1. Defines, for the purposes of this resolution:
   
   1. A “toxin” as any chemical that poses a serious risk to the health of the citizenry, wildlife, and/or natural environment in the quantities and concentrations found in the transport of such substances.
   2. A “median lethal dose” as the quantity of a substance, per individual, required to cause mortality in fifty percent of an exposed population.

I think both of these definitions need some refinement.

The "toxin" definition is very broad as written, and includes basically everything. The main issue is it is not defined how the substance is dangerous. If a tanker is transporting a large volume of water, then that can kill (drowning/flooding/mudslides etc), which I would class as a serious health risk. You could probably extend similar logic to a pile of rubble with the potential to bury and crush other vehicles in the case of a crash. The word "chemical" also does nothing, as literally everything is made up of chemicals. I'd suggest replacing it with a more generic "substance," and rewording the definition to apply only to especially corrosive/poisonous/disruptive substances.

The LD50/"median lethal dose" definition is also problematic, as such doses differ amongst populations and methods of exposure. The LD50 for mice will differ to that for humans, and a human LD50 will change depending on if a substance is ingested, absorbed through the skin or given intravenously (e.g. swimming in 1000L of water is fine (usually), drinking 1000L of water is not). This wouldn't be a problem, except the only time this definition is used, it's used as an absolute value in clause 2a without reference to a specific population. Should I size my containers by the median lethal dose for possums or for elephants? If a route happens to pass by a river with bacteria in it, do I have to size my antibiotic containers to each have less than enough to kill a single bacterium? The exposure method is simpler to solve, as injection is unlikely, and you only need to consider skin contact for more corrosive substancecs or particularly sensitive ecosystems. I'm not sure how to overcome the "how big is an LD50" problem, so I'd honestly just drop this definition altogether and remove clause 2a. Feel free to keep them if you can find a creative way around the problem though.

2. Mandates the use of containers in the transportation of toxins, excepting pipelines, and requires toxin containers adhere to the following regulations:

1. Each container shall enclose no more than one thousand times the median lethal dose of its contents in any population inhabiting a region along the designated transport route.
2. Each container must be capable of fully suppressing the danger of its contents, meaning:
   
   1. Containers enclosing toxic liquids or soluble solids must be liquid-tight.
   2. Containers enclosing toxic gases must be airtight.
   3. Containers enclosing radioactive toxins must be capable of containing all radiation that can penetrate the skin of any species residing on or near the designated transport route.
3. Each container must meet additional special requirements depending on mode of transport in order to simplify the recovery of lost toxins:
   
   1. Containers transported by land must have no deliberately curved or rounded edges, to minimize the likelihood of containers rolling along topography.
   2. Containers transported over bodies of water must be buoyant in order to prevent sinking.
   3. Containers transported by air must be equipped with parachutes triggered in the case of freefall in order to prevent violent impact. Containers transported this way must also comply with the standards of Articles 2c(i) and 2c(ii) should their designated transport routes pass over land or bodies of water respectively.
   4. Containers transported by space must be blunt in shape and equipped with ablative heat shields, to prevent high-atmosphere burn up. Containers transported this way must also comply with the standards of Articles 2c(i), 2c(ii), and 2c(iii), disregarding any prerequisites.

As I said above, I'd simply remove 2a as I'm not sure how to make it work, but I'll leave that up to you.

2b seems reasonable, except for a minor nitpick about part iii. Technically, you can't really ever stop all the radiation coming from a radioactive source. This is especially true for the most penertrating forms of radiation, which this clause targets. Maybe require containers to reduce the radiation to below a certain threshold instead, or to "a negligable amount."

Clause 2c is a bit stringent for my taste, which boils down a mostly to the vagueness about what exactly is a ccontainer (see below). They are good in theory, but I'm not sure how realistic some of them are. I'm particularly concerned with 2ci, which prohibits rounded edges or curves. Curves and rounded edges are more structurally stable than sharp corners and straight edges, and often far simpler to manufacture. Glass vials are rounded becuase they are stronger that way. If they were prisms, they'd shatter more often. I fell like this provision will lead to more fragile containers. I'd rather a rounded container that rolled 500m and survives than a cubic one that smashes right where it lands.

Overall, I think it's also a bit vague as to exactly what constitutes a "container". If I have a box containing 50 vials of plutonium, are the vials or the box the container, or are they both? If it's both, can they split the requirements between them (e.g. the vials are airtight, and the box is lead lined), or do they both have to fill every requirement? e.g. square, lead-lined vials, inside a square lead-lined box. Could do with a little clarification.

3. Prohibits vehicles used in the transportation of toxins from running near, at or above their maximum weight capacity, as it could increase the likelihood of dangerous cargo needing to be dumped in order to lower weight in the case of an emergency.

How near is near? Needs more specificity, otherwise nations may just deifne "near" and 99.99% capacity. Also, theoretically, isn't the whole point of a maximum capacity that it's the most you can safely add without risking disaster? A well designed maximum capacity should already account for the margin of error and posibility of disaster. I feel like this clause isn't really necessary. Feel free to correct as I feel like I might be missing somethign here.

4. Recommends that in the case of an emergency, a controlled dumping of toxins, with the intent of later recovery, be preferred to a violent and uncontrolled release in the form of a crash, explosion, or other catastrophic event.

5. Mandates the use of automated pressure sensors, flow sensors, and cutoffs in pipelines used to transport toxins in order to quickly identify, isolate, and cut off any potential leaks until repairs can be completed.

Seem reasonable to me.

6. Establishes the Toxin Regulation and Recovery Authority (ToRRA), and empowers it with the following mandate:

1. To conduct inspections before and after every shipment of toxins to ensure all regulations are upheld, and high standards of safety are being maintained.
2. To retrieve toxins lost in accidents and/or to aid member states in doing so.
3. To certify regulation-compliant equipment, including toxin containers and automated pipeline equipment.
4. To levy fines, and/or to limit or outright ban the transportation of toxins through WA nations and non-governmental entities found to be in violation of any regulations.
5. To liaise with the International Transport Safety Committee (ITSC) in order to determine and enact standards to further improve safety in the transportation of toxins.
6. To provide subsidies in order to offset the additional costs of regulation for the transportation of toxins in sectors important to the World Assembly, such as renewable energy, scientific research, development of new technologies, peacekeeping, and exploration.

Having ToRRA individually inspect every departure and arrival of toxins transported is an unrealistic administrative burden. "Toxic" substances are transported in varied quantaties everywhere all the time. There simply wouldn't be enough people to inspect everything. I'd prefer if this were a more vague requirement such as "conduct inspections of any transportation of toxins..." as that leaves the intricacies of actually doing it to the gnomes. I'd imagine they'd use some sort or random/annual inspection type deal. The rest of clause 6 seems ok to me.

7. Requires WA member states and any non-governmental entities that operate within their borders to schedule and report any and all departures, arrivals, and accidents pertaining to toxic cargo directly to ToRRA in order to facilitate inspections and/or recovery of toxins.[/list]

Seems reasonable.
__________

I look forward to seeing where this goes. Potentially you could maybe expand it to cover all forms of hazardous waste, instead of just toxins, but that might be a bit much to fit for what you're trying to do.

P.S. It's advisable to make a separate comment on the thread and then use that for reccording previous drafts. It saves you and everyone else work when editing/quoting the current draft. I was guilty of exactly this when writing my drafts, and it annoyed me no end (and probably drove everyone else up the wall too)

[Apatosaurus]

Toxin Transportation Act
Category: Regulation | Area of Effect: Transportation

---

The World Assembly,


Aware of the many important roles toxins play in all sectors of the modern world;

Concerned that a lack of uniform regulation and well-funded oversight in the transportation of such materials could lead to disastrous and potentially preventable spills of dangerous substances.

Noting the lack of legislation regulating the transportation of toxins;

Fearing the numerous detrimental effects of toxin spills caused in part by lack of regulation and oversight, including:

• Contamination of food, air, and water, likely causing a massive loss of life;
• Widespread and irreparable damage to the natural environment;
• Strain on diplomatic relations, potentially resulting in preventable military conflict;
• Stress on the economies of less wealthy and/or developing nations as a result of costly cleanup efforts;

Resolving to provide uniform international standards and organized oversight for the transportation of toxins;

Hereby, enacts the following.

1. Defines, for For the purposes of this resolution:
   
   1. A “toxin” as is any chemical that poses a serious risk to the health of the citizenry, wildlife, and/or natural environment in the quantities and concentrations found in the transport of such substances.
   2. A “median lethal dose” as is the quantity of a substance, per individual, required to cause mortality in fifty percent of an exposed population.
2. This august body mandates Mandates the use of containers in the transportation of toxins, excepting pipelines, and requires toxin containers adhere to the following regulations:
   
   1. Each container shall enclose no more than one thousand times the median lethal dose of its contents on the predominant sapient spcies in any population inhabiting a region along the designated transport route.
   2. Each container must be capable of fully suppressing the danger of its contents, meaning:
      
      1. Containers enclosing toxic liquids or soluble solids must be liquid-tight.
      2. Containers enclosing toxic gases must be airtight.
      3. Containers enclosing radioactive toxins must be capable of containing all radiation that can penetrate the skin of any species residing on or near the designated transport route.
   3. Each container must meet additional special requirements depending on mode of transport in order to simplify the recovery of lost toxins:
      
      1. Containers transported by land must have no deliberately curved or rounded edges, to minimize the likelihood of containers rolling along topography.
      2. Containers transported over bodies of water must be buoyant in order to prevent sinking.
      3. Containers transported by air must be equipped with parachutes triggered in the case of freefall in order to prevent violent impact. Containers transported this way must also comply with the standards of Articles 2c(i) and 2c(ii) should their designated transport routes pass over land or bodies of water respectively.
      4. Containers transported by space must be blunt in shape and equipped with ablative heat shields, to prevent high-atmosphere burn up. Containers transported this way must also comply with the standards of Articles 2c(i), 2c(ii), and 2c(iii), disregarding any prerequisites. This latter situation seems like micromanagement, to be entirely honest. You would be best removing it.
3. Prohibits vehicles Vehicles used in the transportation of toxins are prohibited from running near, at or above their maximum weight capacity, as it could increase the likelihood of dangerous cargo needing to be dumped in order to lower weight in the case of an emergency.
   
4. Recommends that in the case of an emergency, a controlled dumping of toxins, with the intent of later recovery, be preferred to a violent and uncontrolled release in the form of a crash, explosion, or other catastrophic event. "Recommends" is entirely non-binding and will be ignored. Either use more solid requirements and make it binding, or axe it.
   
5. Mandates the The use of automated pressure sensors, flow sensors, and cutoffs in pipelines used to transport toxins in order to quickly identify, isolate, and cut off any potential leaks until repairs can be completed shall be required.
   
6. Establishes the The Toxin Regulation and Recovery Authority (ToRRA) is hereby established, whose duties are, and empowers it with the following mandate:
   
   1. To conduct inspections before and after every shipment of toxins to ensure all regulations are upheld, and high standards of safety are being maintained.,
   2. To retrieve toxins lost in accidents and/or to aid member states in doing so.,
   3. To certify regulation-compliant equipment, including toxin containers and automated pipeline equipment.,
   4. To levy fines, and/or to limit or outright ban the transportation of toxins through WA nations and non-governmental entities found to be in violation of any regulations.,
   5. To liaise with the International Transport Safety Committee (ITSC) in order to determine and enact standards to further improve safety in the transportation of toxins., and
   6. To provide subsidies in order to offset the additional costs of regulation for the transportation of toxins in sectors important to the World Assembly, such as renewable energy, scientific research, development of new technologies, peacekeeping, and exploration.
7. Requires WA member states and any non-governmental entities that operate within their borders to jurisdiction must schedule and report any and all departures, arrivals, and accidents pertaining to toxic cargo directly to ToRRA in order to facilitate inspections and/or recovery of toxins.

Toxin Transportation Act
Category: Regulation | Area of Effect: Transportation

---

The World Assembly,


Aware of the many important roles toxic and hazardous substances play in all sectors of the modern world;

Concerned that a lack of uniform regulation and well-funded oversight in the transportation of such materials could lead to disastrous and potentially preventable spills of dangerous substances.

Noting the lack of legislation regulating the transportation of toxic and hazardous substances;

Fearing the numerous detrimental effects of toxin spills caused in part by lack of regulation and oversight, including but not limited to:

• Contamination of food, air, and water, likely causing a massive loss of life;
• Widespread and irreparable damage to the natural environment;
• Strain on diplomatic relations, potentially resulting in preventable military conflict;
• Stress on the economies of less wealthy and/or developing nations as a result of costly cleanup efforts;

Resolving to provide uniform international standards and organized oversight for the transportation of toxic and hazardous substances;

Hereby,

1. Defines, for the purposes of this resolution:
   
   1. A toxin, toxic substance, hazardous substance, toxic material, or hazardous material as any chemical that poses a serious risk to the health of the citizenry, wildlife, and/or natural environment in the quantities and concentrations found in the transport of such substances.
   2. A median lethal dose as the quantity of a dangerous substance, per individual, required to cause mortality in fifty percent of an exposed population.
   3. A container as the part of packaging intended to contain a substance.
   4. A pipeline as a long, stationary pipe used in the long-distance transportation of hazardous substances.
   5. A non-governmental entity as any person or organization unaffiliated with any governmental body.
2. Mandates the use of containers in the transportation of toxic materials, excepting pipelines, and requires them adhere to the following regulations:
   
   1. Each container shall enclose no more than one thousand times the median lethal dose of its contents in any population inhabiting a region along the designated transport route.
   2. Each container must be capable of fully suppressing the danger of its contents, meaning:
      
      1. Containers enclosing toxic liquids or soluble solids must be liquid-tight.
      2. Containers enclosing toxic gases must be airtight.
      3. The walls of containers enclosing radioactive substances must be capable of containing all radiation that is capable of penetrating the epidermal layers of any species the container will feasibly come in contact with.
   3. Each container must meet additional special requirements depending on mode of transport:
      
      1. Containers transported by land must have no deliberately curved or rounded edges, to minimize the likelihood of containers rolling along topography, as this occurrence would complicate recovery of lost toxins.
      2. Containers transported by sea must be buoyant in order to prevent sinking, as this occurrence would complicate recovery of lost toxins.
      3. Containers transported by air must be equipped with parachutes triggered in the case of freefall, as a drop from high altitude would almost certainly result in breakage of the container, and near impossible recovery of lost toxins. Containers transported this way must also share the special requirements of land, sea, or both if the designated transport route crosses such terrains.
      4. Containers transported by space must be blunt in shape and equipped with reentry heat shields, as high atmosphere burn-up of containers containing highly toxic materials could have devastating consequences. Containers transported in this way must also share the special requirements of land, sea, and air due to the near impossibility of predicting where accidental spills would land.
3. Prohibits vehicles used in the transportation of toxic substances from running near, at or above their maximum weight capacity, as it could increase the likelihood of dangerous cargo needing to be dumped in order to lower weight in the case of an emergency.
   
4. Recommends that in the case of an emergency, a controlled dumping of dangerous cargo, with the intent of later recovery, be preferred to a violent and uncontrolled release in the form of a crash, explosion, or other catastrophic event.
   
5. Mandates the use of automated pressure sensors, flow sensors, and cutoffs in pipelines used to transport hazardous substances in order to quickly identify, isolate, and cut off any potential leaks until repairs can be completed.
   
6. Establishes the Toxin Regulation and Recovery Authority (ToRRA), and empowers it with the following mandate:
   
   1. To conduct inspections before and after every shipment of toxic or hazardous materials to ensure all regulations are upheld, and high standards of safety are being maintained.
   2. To retrieve toxic and hazardous substances lost in accidents and/or to aid member states in doing so.
   3. To certify regulation-compliant equipment, including toxin containers and automated pipeline equipment.
   4. To levy fines, and to limit or outright ban the transportation of hazardous substances through WA nations and non-governmental entities found to be in violation of the regulations regarding the transportation of toxins.
   5. To liaise with the International Transport Safety Committee (ITSC) in order to determine and enact standards to further improve safety in the transportation of hazardous substances.
   6. To provide subsidies in order to offset the additional costs of regulation for the transportation of toxins in sectors important to the World Assembly, such as renewable energy, scientific research, development of new technologies, peacekeeping, and exploration.
7. Requires WA member states and any non-governmental entities that operate within their borders to schedule and report any and all departures, arrivals, and accidents pertaining to toxic cargo directly to ToRRA in order to facilitate inspections and/or recovery of hazardous substances.

Thank you all in advance for your advice.

[Minskiev]

This isn't to be hostile, but I wouldn't listen to most of Apato's advice. It replaces normal, conventional GA resolution style with silly nonsense that favors the passive voice over the active voice. They also go nuts about "micromanagement" which is ridiculous considering that this resolution is about keeping people safe. It is entirely reasonable to micromanage how to ensure the safe transport of toxins.

However, I agree that Clause 4 should be binding, and I have no opinion on jurisdiction vs. borders.

I will say that Clause 2c(iv) should factor in planets with, say, no atmosphere. Then they don't need ablative heat shields. I think 2c should mandate that member states have containers meet special requirements for the environment they will encounter to minimize environmental interference, accounting for the current 2c(i to iv).

[Apatosaurus]

It replaces normal, conventional GA resolution style with silly nonsense that uses the passive voice in favor of the active voice.

By "silly nonsense", you mean a very common format used very frequently (for example here, here, here, here and here, and that's just in the 10 most recent resolutions)?

They also go nuts about "micromanagement" which is ridiculous considering that this resolution is about keeping people safe. It is entirely reasonable to micromanage how to ensure the safe transport of toxins.

Missing the point, the point is that said clause (2.c.iv) makes a variety of assumptions, such as that nations even have an atmosphere (for example, Tinfect roleplays as an empire in space iirc).

EDIT: I also think it's kind of rude to just barge in only to say "Please ignore [x person]?"

[The North Polish Union]

1. Defines, for the purposes of this resolution:
   
   1. A “toxin” as any chemical that poses a serious risk to the health of the citizenry, wildlife, and/or natural environment in the quantities and concentrations found in the transport of such substances.

Worth noting that this definition of toxin would include water and exclude waste contaminated with harmful bacteria (e.g. from medical/pharmaceutical labs) as bacteria are not chemicals.

[Minskiev]

It replaces normal, conventional GA resolution style with silly nonsense that uses the passive voice in favor of the active voice.

By "silly nonsense", you mean a very common format used very frequently (for example here, here, here, here and here, and that's just in the 10 most recent resolutions)?

They also go nuts about "micromanagement" which is ridiculous considering that this resolution is about keeping people safe. It is entirely reasonable to micromanage how to ensure the safe transport of toxins.

Missing the point, the point is that said clause (2.c.iv) makes a variety of assumptions, such as that nations even have an atmosphere (for example, Tinfect roleplays as an empire in space iirc).

Bleh, why must you make forum posts on top of Discord arguments?

What I'm saying is your stylistic quibbles should be recommendations, not as a part of your rewrite.

And that's not micromanagement, that's over-assumption.

Oh, one more thing. What is a "serious" risk? Serious to who?

[Gemeinschaftsland]

Thank you Xanthorrhoea and Minskiev for bringing these things to my attention. I believe draft 3 should address all of your combined concerns.

[Barfleur]

OOC: I generally support this proposal, but two clauses in section 6 are giving me pause. The first is 6(a)--is it really necessary for an international committee to conduct an inspection before and after every major shipment covered by the proposal? In my opinion, it would be better to replace that with a mandate for the ToRRA to assist member nations which are inspecting hazardous substance shipments. And second, 6(d) as written gives ToRRA the authority to ban all shipments of hazardous substances through a nation, even if that shipment would be entirely compliant with this proposal, just because another company violated some part of the proposal and happened to do it in the same country.

[Apatosaurus]

Bleh, why must you make forum posts on top of Discord arguments?

I mean, I think that it's rude to just barge into a thread to say "Please ignore [x person]".

[Princess Rainbow Sparkles]

Defines, for the purposes of this resolution: ... A “hazardous substance” as any material intrinsically dangerous to the citizenry, wildlife, and/or natural environment of WA member states.

Actual regulations defining hazardous substances tend to be voluminous. It's going to be hard to reduce such an inherently broad category of things down to a one sentence definition.

I imagine the purpose here was to regulate the transport of crude oil, industrial solvents, and such things. Unfortunately, this definition currently encompasses many ordinary household materials, including lighter fluid, laundry detergent, and soap. Not to mention silk threads, kitchen utensils, and plastic bottles. A chainsaw blade or a gun could meet this definition.

Mandates the use of containers in the transportation of hazardous substances, excepting pipelines, and requires such containers adhere to the following rules:... Each container shall enclose no more than 1000 times the median lethal dose of its contents in the nearest sapient species to the designated transport route. If this value varies based on method of exposure, the lowest dose shall be used.

For me, "limiting" transport capacity to 1000 times the median lethal dose doesn't instill much sense of security. Also, this standard is tied exclusively to the tolerance of the nearest sapient species. You seem to have completely forgotten your earlier concerns about the environment and wildlife.

iii. Containers transported by space over celestial bodies with atmospheres must be blunt in shape, equipped with ablative heat shields, and comply with the standards of Articles 2c(i) and 2c(ii) if applicable.
iv. Containers transported by space over planets without atmospheres must possess their own engines and automated landing sequences, and comply with the standards of Article 2c(i) if applicable.

As long as we're going to this fun science-fictiony place, why not mandate deflector shields and automated emergency matter-to-energy transporters? If available.

Prohibits vehicles used in the transportation of hazardous substances from operating above 90% of their maximum capacity, to lower the likelihood of dangerous cargo needing to be dumped in the case of an emergency.

No no no. Everybody knows that if you're going to impose an arbitrary capacity limit it should never be set above 85%. 90% is too damn high and unsafe.

Establishes the Toxin Regulation and Recovery Authority (ToRRA), and empowers it with the following mandate:
... To retrieve hazardous materials lost in accidents and/or to aid member states in doing so... To levy fines, and/or to limit or outright ban the transportation of hazardous substances through WA nations and non-governmental entities found to be in violation of any regulations.

I'm very much in favor of sending WA gnomes into hazardous situations. I'm less thrilled with the idea of giving them the power to unilaterally ban hazardous substance transportation within a member nation.

Just saying, if I were a gnome legally required to retrieve hazardous materials following an accident, I'd look for ways to shut down as much hazardous waste transport as possible.

Anyway, I'm not opposed to regulating hazardous waste transportation. I'd like to see how this develops and how the issues raised above are addressed.

[Imperium Anglorum]

Surely the fuel-air proportion changes with volume – eg https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/en ... fuel-ratio – at times it really ought to be a full tank to avoid the possibility of a thermobaric explosion.

[Gemeinschaftsland]

Surely the fuel-air proportion changes with volume – eg https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/en ... fuel-ratio – at times it really ought to be a full tank to avoid the possibility of a thermobaric explosion.

I am thoroughly confused as to what this relates to. At no point in the draft is fuel mentioned. If it's clause 3 that causes the confusion, I will specify "cargo".

[Gemeinschaftsland]

Defines, for the purposes of this resolution: ... A “hazardous substance” as any material intrinsically dangerous to the citizenry, wildlife, and/or natural environment of WA member states.

Actual regulations defining hazardous substances tend to be voluminous. It's going to be hard to reduce such an inherently broad category of things down to a one sentence definition.

I imagine the purpose here was to regulate the transport of crude oil, industrial solvents, and such things. Unfortunately, this definition currently encompasses many ordinary household materials, including lighter fluid, laundry detergent, and soap. Not to mention silk threads, kitchen utensils, and plastic bottles. A chainsaw blade or a gun could meet this definition.

Mandates the use of containers in the transportation of hazardous substances, excepting pipelines, and requires such containers adhere to the following rules:... Each container shall enclose no more than 1000 times the median lethal dose of its contents in the nearest sapient species to the designated transport route. If this value varies based on method of exposure, the lowest dose shall be used.

For me, "limiting" transport capacity to 1000 times the median lethal dose doesn't instill much sense of security. Also, this standard is tied exclusively to the tolerance of the nearest sapient species. You seem to have completely forgotten your earlier concerns about the environment and wildlife.

iii. Containers transported by space over celestial bodies with atmospheres must be blunt in shape, equipped with ablative heat shields, and comply with the standards of Articles 2c(i) and 2c(ii) if applicable.
iv. Containers transported by space over planets without atmospheres must possess their own engines and automated landing sequences, and comply with the standards of Article 2c(i) if applicable.

As long as we're going to this fun science-fictiony place, why not mandate deflector shields and automated emergency matter-to-energy transporters? If available.

Prohibits vehicles used in the transportation of hazardous substances from operating above 90% of their maximum capacity, to lower the likelihood of dangerous cargo needing to be dumped in the case of an emergency.

No no no. Everybody knows that if you're going to impose an arbitrary capacity limit it should never be set above 85%. 90% is too damn high and unsafe.

Establishes the Toxin Regulation and Recovery Authority (ToRRA), and empowers it with the following mandate:
... To retrieve hazardous materials lost in accidents and/or to aid member states in doing so... To levy fines, and/or to limit or outright ban the transportation of hazardous substances through WA nations and non-governmental entities found to be in violation of any regulations.

I'm very much in favor of sending WA gnomes into hazardous situations. I'm less thrilled with the idea of giving them the power to unilaterally ban hazardous substance transportation within a member nation.

Just saying, if I were a gnome legally required to retrieve hazardous materials following an accident, I'd look for ways to shut down as much hazardous waste transport as possible.

Anyway, I'm not opposed to regulating hazardous waste transportation. I'd like to see how this develops and how the issues raised above are addressed.

Thank you for your critiques.

As for the definition issue, I've had great difficulty finding a definition neither to narrow or broad, and I believe the term "intrinsically", would exclude items such as silk or plastic, which are not overtly toxic outside of large quantities. Nonetheless, I will try to modify the definition further in an upcoming draft.

For the capacity issue, it's difficult to strike a balance between economy and safety. One thousand times the median lethal dose of Uranium-235 in humans is around 40 lbs, a great deal smaller than the ~880 lbs drums Uranium is typically shipped in. The event this clause seeks to mitigate is that of a rupture of a single container. Compared to a nearly half ton drum could spilling a huge amount of hazardous material into the environment, 40 lbs of Uranium spread out over a large area is relatively palatable.

As for the other issues, I'd legitimately not thought of them, and they too I will try to fix in the aforementioned upcoming draft.

[Tinhampton]

I note that this - formerly the Toxin Transportation Act - has been repurposed as a replacement for Reducing Spills and Leaks. How exactly does this proposal address the three problems you notice with RSL?

[Gemeinschaftsland]

I note that this - formerly the Toxin Transportation Act - has been repurposed as a replacement for Reducing Spills and Leaks. How exactly does this proposal address the three problems you notice with RSL?

An excellent question. As you've noticed, this is not merely an improved retread of GAR#298; rather, it's a standalone proposal that I've elected to use to replace a greatly flawed resolution due to their similarity. Nonetheless, this is how it avoids the flaws of the similar resolution:

1. HaSARA is not responsible for reimbursement. The committee's purpose is to prevent as many spills as possible from occurring, and minimizing the damage caused by those that are unavoidable. The WA has sufficient healthcare and judicial legislation to make this specific segment redundant already.
2. This proposal simply does not bother itself with the intentions of noncompliant entities. HaSARA is instructed to work with the judicial bodies of the WA and individual nations, it's best to leave the interpretation of intent up to judges and juries, and thus it dodges the issue in its entirety.
3. HaSARA has no power over states that are not part of the World Assembly, and even if it did, it does not have the power to unilaterally ban transport of HazMats. Once again, it's best to leave the judging to judges and juries, rather than making bureaucrats the judges, juries, and executioners, and as such, HaSARA is to work with existing judicial bodies.

[Araraukar]

OOC: The definition still applies to uranium, oxygen and gasoline all. Is that intentional?

[Gemeinschaftsland]

OOC: The definition still applies to uranium, oxygen and gasoline all. Is that intentional?

Yes, the explosion risk of oxygen, toxicity and flammability of gasoline, and the radioactivity of uranium would classify them as hazardous substances, and worthy of regulations to improve safety in their transportation.

[Simone Republic]

Will take a detailed look later now that the repeal of GAR#298 is up. On quick glance, the examples in 5(c)(iii) do not seem necessary, on the assumption that someone who is responsible for shipping hazmat knows what they are doing.

[Fisuca]

Lydia Anderson, Assistant to the Delegate-Ambassador: I'm new to this game so I won't speak words with much sense but understand: I just want to say that Us need to create Some kind of "national transport guard" to prevent transport with illegal things inside.

The World Assembly,

Recognising that while toxins are of great importance, they can also pose a great danger;

Concerned that, because of the lack of international regulation surrounding toxin transportation, there will be many potentially preventable spills of toxins;

Believing that these toxin spills could annihilate not only the natural environment (including sources of food, air, and water), but also diplomatic relations - which could result in even more destructive military conflict - and the economies of developing nations which may have to spend much money on cleaning those toxins up; and

Resolving to provide uniform international standards and organized oversight for the transportation of toxins;

Hereby:

1. defines, for the purposes of this resolution:
   
   1. a "toxin" as any chemical that poses a serious risk to the health of the citizenry, wildlife, and/or natural environment in the quantities and concentrations found in the transport of such substances; and
   2. the "median lethal dose" of a toxin as the quantity of that toxin, per individual, required to cause mortality in fifty percent of an exposed population;
2. mandates that all toxins either be transported through containers or pipelines, and requires all containers used for the transportation of toxins to:
   
   1. enclose no more than one thousand times the median lethal dose of its contents in any population inhabiting a region along the designated transport route;
   2. be liquid-tight (if they enclose toxic liquids or soluble solids), airtight (if they enclose toxic gases), or be capable of containing all radiation that can penetrate the skin of any species it may feasibly come into contact with (if they enclose radioactive substances); and
   3. meet additional special requirements depending on how they are transported in order to make the recovery of lost toxins less difficult; namely:
      
      1. containers transported by land, and transported by air over land, must have no deliberately curved or rounded edges (to minimize the likelihood of containers rolling along the outside environment);
      2. containers transported by sea, and transported by air over sea, must be buoyant (to prevent their sinking);
      3. containers transported by air must be equipped with parachutes triggered in the case of freefall (to prevent their reaching high speeds and shattering if they are dropped at a high altitude); and
      4. containers transported by space must - in addition to complying with the standards of Articles 2c(i), 2c(ii) and 2c(iii) - be blunt in shape and equipped with reentry heat shields (to avoid the potentially devastating consequences of their high atmosphere burn-up);
3. prohibits vehicles used in the transportation of toxins from exceeding their maximum weight capacity (to reduce the likelihood of toxins needing to be dumped in order to lower weight in the case of an emergency);
4. recommends that the controlled dumping of dangerous cargo, with the intent of later recovery, be employed in the case of an emergency, as opposed to a violent and uncontrolled crash or explosion;
5. mandates that pipelines used for the transportation of toxins feature automated pressure sensors, flow sensors, and cutoffs (in order to quickly identify, isolate, and cut off any potential leaks until repairs can be completed);
6. establishes the Toxin Regulation and Recovery Authority (ToRRA), and empowers it with:
   
   1. establishing safety standards for the transportation of toxins;
   2. certifying equipment, including Article 2 containers and Article 5 pipeline equipment, which adheres to the standards it makes under Article 6a; and
   3. assisting member states in recovering toxins pursuant to Article 7b on their request; and
7. requires member states to:
   
   1. conduct investigations before and after every shipment of toxins to ensure that high standards of safety, including this resolution's provisions, are being adhered to;
   2. recover toxins lost in accidents, or which have otherwise leaked outside of any containers or pipelines they may have been transported in, to the best of their ability;
   3. report all arrivals, departures, and accidents relating to cargo containing toxins directly to ToRRA as to facilitate toxin inspections and recovery; and
   4. ensure that only containers and pipeline equipment certified by ToRRA pursuant to Article 6b are used in toxin transportation.

You are more than welcome to credit Tinhampton as the co-authoring nation, if you believe that our contributions have been substantial enough. Thanks very much!

[Gemeinschaftsland]

~bump~

Just brought this back from the dead with a new, more focused draft. Looking for further input.

[Second Sovereignty]

"Interesting draft, I do have to say. I see what you're getting at, the intent, all that wonderful international integration and standardizing, but the Sovereignty does have concerns. Most of them minor, so don't worry too much, this isn't a teardown, we're all friends here." Raxes clicks, "Let's begin, shall we?

1. Defines, for the purposes of this resolution:
a. A “hazardous material”, “hazmat”, or “hazardous substance” as any chemical or agent that would pose, either directly or via environmental contamination, a significant risk to local life or of environmental degradation in the quantities and concentrations typically found in transportation and storage.

"I'm not entirely sure what you mean by 'agent', here? Unless there's some highly scientific use I'm unfamiliar with, I rather feel it would be better to simply use the word 'material'. I would also include 'object' or somesuch, when the hazard is not produced by simple bulk, chemicals or materials.

Our concern with the next section is, multifaceted, so it shall be broken up as relevant, do bear with me;"

2. Further empowers the Toxic Materials Commission (TMC) with the following mandates:
a. To conduct unannounced inspections, both targeted and random, of hazardous material transports for the purpose of ensuring all regulations are upheld, and high standards of safety are maintained.
c. To mitigate the negative impacts of hazardous materials lost or damaged while in transit and/or aid member states in doing so.

"We simply don't see why this need be done by an international body; Member-States can be mandated to establish such bodies and inspections on their own terms, and to do so would likely be more effective, and spare more World Assembly funding for more crucial tasks. I'm sure many Member-States would object, in any case, to having packs of World Assembly Inspectors roaming the countryside, haranguing material and chemical transports, besides, and it may simply be easier to intercept the complaint.

That all said, with regards to 2.c, we have no objection to the World Assembly assisting in accident clean-up; that simply cannot be reliably left to Member-States' singular authority."

2. Further empowers the Toxic Materials Commission (TMC) with the following mandates:
b. To certify and manufacture regulation-compliant containers for the transportation of hazardous substances.
e. To monetarily offset the additional costs of any such regulation in sectors important to the World Assembly, such as renewable energy, scientific research, development of new technologies, peacekeeping, and exploration.

"This, is simply beyond any realm the World Assembly should be engaged in, with regards to manufacturing and subsidy, in any case, certification we have no objection to. The World Assembly most certainly should not be handing vast sums of money to 'sectors', to subsidize the costs of meeting basic safety regulation. Frankly, no one should be doing the latter, but that's besides the point. Its an unconscionable misuse of World Assembly funding to, let us be real here, hand out vast sums of money to private corporations which have thus-far deliberately refused to produce safe containers for the sake of bleeding more money from a stone; this behavior should not be rewarded or encouraged in other industries. Particularly with regards to safety, wherein regulations are not preemptive, they are the result of the abject refusal of such organizations to operate correctly without intervention. If the 'costs' of meeting safety regulations exceed the ability of a given firm to pay, then they simply are better allowed to fail or be acquired a more capable organization. There must not be a place for vultures in matters concerning lives and wellbeing." Raxes pauses. "Metaphorically, you know what I mean.

As for 2.b, the World Assembly is not an industrial firm, and should not become one. It's simply not within its basic remit or right; it is a body of international politic and cooperation, not a company. If we must think purely in economic terms, any acceptable means by which the World Assembly would distribute such things, IE, freely or at-cost, would be a dramatic undercutting of Member-States' economies in such, and would be quite disruptive. Also, you provide no means for the World Assembly to distribute manufactured containers in the first place, rendering the point moot."

2. Further empowers the Toxic Materials Commission (TMC) with the following mandates:
f. To establish official training regimens for workers in frequent contact with hazardous materials, and to make yearly updates to these programs to keep teachings relevant and effective.
[...]
3. Requires all personnel involved in the transportation of hazardous materials receive job-relevant, official TMC hazmat training in order to reduce, as much as is plausible, the risk of preventable accidents due to personnel ignorance and/or inexperience.

"This is another minor point; we agree that the training ought to be at some point, certified, by the TMC, but we don't see any reason for it to be official, and thus carried out by the organization itself. Member-States, given a set of parameters which must be fully met, are fully and better able to tailor training to the specific conditions relevant to a Member-State and its infrastructure, thus reducing accident probability even further. Masraan tells me this will also preserve World Assembly funds, but, frankly that's rather the lesser concern by far."

4. Mandates the use of TMC-certified containers in the vehicular transportation of hazardous materials, subject to the following performance specifications as appropriate for each package:
d. Rigid containers must be "stack safe", defined as the top surface of the container being able to withstand the total weight of all identical containers which might be stacked upon it during transport.
e. Containers carrying chemically reactive contents must be "chemically stable", defined as being able to be in contact with its chemically-reactive contents for no less than 180 days at shipping temperature without sustaining any leaks or being otherwise structurally compromised.

"With regards to 4.d, our concern is simply one of specifics; we would prefer that this particular mandate specify a number of fully-loaded containers for reference, else there be a dire disparity among certified containers. Say, ten, as a minimum. Regardless, this can also be resolved by requiring that the... erm, 'stackability' of containers be clearly labelled, such that weaker containers are known to be such prior to accidents occurring.

As for 4.e, we would extend the requirement to at least three-hundred days. Such an extended allowance may be the difference between lost containers leaking into the environment, and being discovered intact prior to damage occurring.

There is another point of note, but we will discuss it later. Beyond that, we recommend the inclusion of a mandate that certified containers be fitted with some sort of tracking device, or other similarly-purposed mechanism which permits their easier recovery if lost."

1. Defines, for the purposes of this resolution:
b. The “median lethal concentration” as the exposure concentration of a hazardous substance causing mortality in fifty percent of an exposed population.
4. Mandates the use of TMC-certified containers in the vehicular transportation of hazardous materials, subject to the following performance specifications as appropriate for each package:
[...]
g. Containers carrying greater than the median lethal concentration of a hazardous substance must be clearly and expressly labelled as such.

"We would request that the percentage be lowered to, say, 20%. This is somewhat small, but matters where populations are best measured in percentage-dead, are of great import, particularly wherein various species have different resilience to certain chemicals."

Obligates WA member states and non-governmental entities operating within their borders to schedule and report all departures, arrivals, and accidents pertaining to hazardous cargo directly to the Toxic Materials Commission in order to facilitate inspections and/or damage mitigation.

"This is acceptable, in combination with a mandate that all such matters also be reported to relevant National authorities. We should not have to go through a third party to determine shipping information within our own borders, nor to liaise with another Member-State on the matter where necessary."

Raxes clicks again. "There we are, all done. Broadly a good draft, Ambassador, and while I cannot yet state the formal position of the Sovereign, I for one, look forward to seeing future developments. Good luck."

[Gemeinschaftsland]

The woman sitting behind the large, sturdy-looking rosewood desk pauses for a moment to ponder what Envoy Sotriat just said, before sweetly smiling and opening her mouth to speak:

"Mister Envoy, how glad am I that you've found time to visit the Gemein delegation. I wish that, before going into such depth, you had taken a moment for introductions.", she comments, "My name is Petunia Puschat, the Gemein Ambassador to the World Assembly, and I'm pleased to make your acquaintance."

She pauses a moment longer, before opening a drawer, and extracting a both a pair of spectacles and a heavy-looking stack of papers. Rifling through the pages, she appears to find what she's looking for, and glances up at Envoy Sotriat over the rims of her glasses

"As for your suggestions, I'm quite grateful for the input, but I do have a few additional comments"

"I'm not entirely sure what you mean by 'agent', here? Unless there's some highly scientific use I'm unfamiliar with, I rather feel it would be better to simply use the word 'material'. I would also include 'object' or somesuch, when the hazard is not produced by simple bulk, chemicals or materials.

"The relevant definition of an 'agent' would be a 'a chemically, physically, or biologically active principle'. Our definition of a hazardous substance is so formatted as to exclude substances which pose no active risk to sapient life, but can be dangerous in large quantities. Crude oil would be one such example."

"We simply don't see why this need be done by an international body; Member-States can be mandated to establish such bodies and inspections on their own terms, and to do so would likely be more effective, and spare more World Assembly funding for more crucial tasks. I'm sure many Member-States would object, in any case, to having packs of World Assembly Inspectors roaming the countryside, haranguing material and chemical transports, besides, and it may simply be easier to intercept the complaint.

"When it comes to the transportation of hazardous substances, inspection at the national level is often insufficient. This can be due to varying national attitudes towards regulation, but can also commonly become an issue in less wealthy countries, where the allocation of limited resources to the inspection of hazardous materials is of understandably low priority. Empowering the Toxic Materials Commission to conduct its own inspections serves more as a fail-safe for national regulatory bodies of varying efficacy than it does a replacement. As for the insinuation that we shall have 'packs of World Assembly Inspectors roaming the countryside, haranguing material and chemical transports', this is almost certainly untrue. Empowering the Toxic Materials Commission with this mandate does not mean that all transports will be subject to inspection, rather that the TMC will be able to carry out 'both targeted and random' inspections as it deems necessary. This is facilitated by the obligation of member states to 'schedule and report all departures, arrivals, and accidents pertaining to hazardous cargo directly to the Toxic Materials Commission', thus avoiding any need to 'roam the countryside', when inspectors would have full awareness of when and where hazmat transports would be departing and arriving."

"This, is simply beyond any realm the World Assembly should be engaged in, with regards to manufacturing and subsidy, in any case, certification we have no objection to. The World Assembly most certainly should not be handing vast sums of money to 'sectors', to subsidize the costs of meeting basic safety regulation. Frankly, no one should be doing the latter, but that's besides the point. Its an unconscionable misuse of World Assembly funding to, let us be real here, hand out vast sums of money to private corporations which have thus-far deliberately refused to produce safe containers for the sake of bleeding more money from a stone; this behavior should not be rewarded or encouraged in other industries. Particularly with regards to safety, wherein regulations are not preemptive, they are the result of the abject refusal of such organizations to operate correctly without intervention. If the 'costs' of meeting safety regulations exceed the ability of a given firm to pay, then they simply are better allowed to fail or be acquired a more capable organization. There must not be a place for vultures in matters concerning lives and wellbeing." Raxes pauses. "Metaphorically, you know what I mean.

"In World Assembly member states which utilize capitalist or capitalist-derived economic systems, those with excessive wealth will usually invest it in a manner that causes them the least expense, and provides the highest safety and return on their investment. In order to prevent such capitalists from withholding their funds from sectors which are important to the World Assembly, such as research or peacekeeping, it's important we offset the costs of additional regulation in those sectors. This need not manifest itself in the form of a big fat check to corporations, and it need not cover the entire cost of meeting such regulations, but its being is nonetheless important.

As for World Assembly member states which do not utilize capitalist or capitalist-derived economic systems, such as Gemeinschaftsland and Second Sovereignty, the benefits of international investment in important sectors should be evident."

As for 2.b, the World Assembly is not an industrial firm, and should not become one. It's simply not within its basic remit or right; it is a body of international politic and cooperation, not a company. If we must think purely in economic terms, any acceptable means by which the World Assembly would distribute such things, IE, freely or at-cost, would be a dramatic undercutting of Member-States' economies in such, and would be quite disruptive."

"Simply put, not every World Assembly member state has the industrial capacity to produce regulation-compliant containers for the transportation of hazardous substances. For a state in such a situation, it's important to have a supplier of such containers which will not charge outrageous profit margins; the Toxic Materials Commission is able to fill this role, when sufficiently empowered."

"With regards to 4.d, our concern is simply one of specifics; we would prefer that this particular mandate specify a number of fully-loaded containers for reference, else there be a dire disparity among certified containers. Say, ten, as a minimum. Regardless, this can also be resolved by requiring that the... erm, 'stackability' of containers be clearly labelled, such that weaker containers are known to be such prior to accidents occurring.

"This is a salient, well thought-out recommendation. We will be happy to consider it in any upcoming revisions"

As for 4.e, we would extend the requirement to at least three-hundred days. Such an extended allowance may be the difference between lost containers leaking into the environment, and being discovered intact prior to damage occurring.

"As the testing requirements become more and more time-consuming, the issue must be raised of the ability for new container designs to be certified in anywhere near an expeditious manner. The ability of manufacturers to fulfill the needs of their clients is severely diminished when every design revision takes nearly a full year to give the go-ahead."

There is another point of note, but we will discuss it later. Beyond that, we recommend the inclusion of a mandate that certified containers be fitted with some sort of tracking device, or other similarly-purposed mechanism which permits their easier recovery if lost."

"Outfitting every single individual hazmat container with a functioning tracking device would be an immense, and largely unnecessary expense to WA member states. Ultimately, when the Toxic Materials Commission is to be informed of the time and place of all departures, arrivals, and accidents involving hazardous materials, the locating of any lost cargo should be quite feasible"

"We would request that the percentage be lowered to, say, 20%. This is somewhat small, but matters where populations are best measured in percentage-dead, are of great import, particularly wherein various species have different resilience to certain chemicals."

"The established definition of 'Median Lethal Concentration' is the concentration of a hazardous material that, when applied to a sample, would result in the death of fifty percent of those exposed. What you suggest would be more akin to a... First Quartile Lethal Concentration."

in combination with a mandate that all such matters also be reported to relevant National authorities. We should not have to go through a third party to determine shipping information within our own borders, nor to liaise with another Member-State on the matter where necessary."

"Obligating member states and entities operating within them to inform the Toxic Materials Commission of these events does not override any national disclosure requirements, nor does it require the use of an intermediary to determine shipping information or require unnecessary liaising between member states. All that is required is that the 'departures, arrivals, and accidents pertaining to hazardous cargo' are reported to the TMC. Nothing more, nothing less."

Ambassador Puschat leans back in her armchair, and removes her glasses.

"We hope you now better understand the positions of the Gemein delegation on these matters. We most certainly value your input, though we may not find all of your recommendations feasible or desirable. We would like to wish you and the rest of your delegation a wonderful rest of the day."