Shipping and Cargo

The nation's nuclear watchdog wants to issue new rules on transporting radioactive material to bring the United States in line with international standards.

The changes to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) rules would meet 2009 revisions to regulations from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the global nuclear energy organization, as well as 2011 regulations from the Department of Transportation.

Maritime Administrator David Matsuda said on Monday that he was stepping down from his position in the Department of Transportation (DOT).

Matsuda, who is a former assistant to Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), has been at the helm of the DOT's Maritime Administration since he was nominated by President Obama in 2009. He was confirmed by the Senate in July 2010 vote.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, who is also leaving office this year, said Matsuda was a "valuable member of my team."

“I’m particularly proud of his work to improve federal maritime education programs and revitalize the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy," LaHood said in a statement announcing Matsuda's departure from the DOT.

With the final conflict involving the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) sequester budget cuts appearing to be resolved, lawmakers will turn their attention this week to issues involving freight transportation and space navigation.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will hold a “Panel on 21st Century Freight Transportation” on Wednesday. The hearing, titled “Coordinating Federal Efforts to Improve Freight Transportation,” will “examine what efforts the Department of Transportation and the Army Corps of Engineers have made to coordinate freight transportation policy, and what challenges exist for greater coordination among federal departments and agencies,” according to officials committee.

The panel will also hold a hearing on Thursday on the FAA’s progress on implementing safety provisions that were included in the $63 billion funding bill that was passed for the agency last year.

Your morning transportation speed-read:

Your morning transportation speed-read: 

The administration has begun to roll out regulations representing the largest overhaul of federal export controls in U.S. history.

Lawmakers in the House will turn their attention to the transportation of freight throughout the U.S. this week.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will hold a hearing on Wednesday to discuss the requirements of creating a "21st century" freight transportation system.

The hearing will be chaired by Rep. John Duncan Jr. (R-Tenn.).

The presidents of FedEx, Norfolk Southern Corporation, the South Carolina Ports Authority, Werner Enterprises and the AFL-CIO's Transportation Trades Department (TTD) are scheduled to testify at the meeting.

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The bill would allow for the interstate sale of firearms and for the interstate transportation of firearms.

The Oversight Committee chairman said it's time for the Postal Service to take action to avoid a “taxpayer bailout."

After pushback from outside groups, the federal government is proposing to relax its rules on tanks used to store liquids at oil and natural-gas production sites.