WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Charles Schumer pushing federal regulators to expedite their rulemaking on DOT-111 train cars still being used to transport highly volatile crude oil across New York State even though they are putting local communities in danger given they are prone to rupture and explode during derailments.
DOT-111 cars parked near Cornwall (filed)
Schumer’s call comes in light of word from federal regulators that the final proposal, due to the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) soon, could take several months or longer to finalize. Last year, following a years-long effort by Schumer, the federal Department of Transportation (DOT) released its proposed regulations, including reductions in train speed, tougher tank car design standards and enhanced communication with local first responders.
“I have been fighting for well over a year now, since the Lac-Megantic disaster, to get the DOT to issue a final rule requiring the phase-out or retrofitting of outdated tanker cars, and they are finally on the doorstep,” Schumer said. “But, these dangerous trains have not pulled into the station for good just yet.” said Schumer.
Schumer said that he has two major priorities in relation to the final step in the rulemaking process. First, he urged DOT and OMB to ensure these regulations are as tough as possible, and that the final rule include the two-year phase-out, significant reductions in train speed, the toughest possible tank car design standards and enhanced communication with local first responders.
