WASHINGTON – The US Department of
Transportation Friday announced a final rule for the safe transportation
of flammable liquids by rail.
The finale rule, developed by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration and Federal Railroad Administration in coordination with
Canada, focuses on safety improvements that are designed to prevent accidents,
mitigate consequences in the event of an accident, and support emergency
response.
The rule includes an enhanced tank car standard ad a risk-based retrofitting
schedule for older tank cars carrying crude oil and ethanol; requires
a new braking standard for certain trains; designates new operational
protocols for trains transporting large volumes of flammable liquids,
such as routing requirements, speed restrictions, and information for
local government agencies; and provides new sampling and testing requirements
to improve classification of energy products placed into transit.
Local authorities are concerned because of the number of tank cars traveling
through the Mid-Hudson while carrying Bakken crude oil.
US Senator Charles Schumer said the rule is both good and bad news. “The
good news is that the standards for tank cars are tough and provide certainty,
but the phase-in timeline lets the railroads take too long to implement
it.”
Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D, NY-17) is encouraged by the rule. “It’s
a step in the right direction to prevent the next tragedy, but more must
be done to ensure families in the Lower Hudson Valley are safe from crude
oil accidents.”
Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney (D, NY-18) said the rules are “common-sense
and in some cases long overdue; we’ve known these DOT-111 cars were
hazardous for 23 years, so time’s up.”
