The D.C. Council passed legislation today that bans trains carrying hazardous materials from traveling through the District. This from GovExec.com:

The legislation — introduced by Councilwoman Kathy Patterson, D-Ward 3–requires rail and trucking companies to get a special permit before they can transport large quantities of extremely hazardous chemicals, such as chlorine or propane, through the nation’s capital. Several council members have said the legislation was needed because the Homeland Security Department refused to order rail and trucking companies to reroute hazardous shipments.

A variety of community groups including the AFL-CIO and Greenpeace activists strongly supported the emergency legislation because “The vulnerability of hazardous rail cargo to attack is one of the most serious threats to homeland security.” Meanwhile, its unclear how the federal government will react to the law, and how the hazardous material will be transported around D.C. As one DC Indymedia commenter asks, “So what community has to endure the risk of hazardous cargo if DC refuses it?”