Dive Brief:
- Pennsylvania has passed a bill intended to make it more difficult for thieves to sell pieces of railroad materials. The bill also requires scrap dealers and recyclers to obtain stronger credentials in order to operate.
- SB 1077 requires items such as pieces of railroad be sold only by a commercial entity; individuals are not permitted to sell certain items listed on the bill.
- The bill was passed by the Pennsylvania Senate and was amended to include a statewide registry of scrapping facilities and recyclers on the state police website, provide the court with authority to impound cars used in metal thefts and require scrap processors and recycling facilities to register with state police.
Dive Insight:
Legislators were concerned it was only a matter of time before a train was derailed due to scrappers. Senator David Argall noted a large quantity of railroad materials were stolen on a daily basis. Other items individuals are not allowed by law to sell include detached catalytic converters, metallic wire, beer kegs and construction materials.
In January, the ISRI established a group to combat metal theft. Multiple states have introduced legislation aimed at reducing the ongoing threat metal theft. North Dakota instituted state regulation of metal scrap in May 2013. The state of Michigan passed an anti-metal theft bill in March of this year. California governor Jerry Brown vetoed a bill in October 2013, requiring scrap metal businesses to pay for metal via check; the bill was seen as a hindrance to the industry. The governor had previously signed four bills earlier that year that enacted measures to combat metal theft.