The railroad industry is warning the White House against some potential safety rules for trains carrying explosive crude oil, saying freight and passenger rail traffic could be disrupted for years if companies must obey 30 mph speed limits, install more sophisticated brakes and keep the trains manned at all times.
The arguments, contained in documents posted after a meeting this week between railroad officials and the Office of Management and Budget, also offer a preview of what steps the Obama administration may be considering in response to oil train crashes that have struck the U.S. and Canada in the past year. Those include a disastrous July 6 explosion that killed 47 people in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, after an engineer left a train packed with North Dakota crude oil parked on a steep incline with brakes that may not have been properly set.
The Department of Transportation declined to comment on the documents. DOT submitted a draft rule proposal to OMB in April but has offered no details about what’s in it.
Read the complete story at Politico.
Related News
- Statement from National Safety & Legislative Director Jared Cassity on FRA’s ATI Ruling
- Long-time Union Ally Mikie Sherrill Runs for New Jersey Governor
- New law would end unfair taxation on workers’ strike pay
- 1% Declares War On 2-PC & SMART-TD
- NRLC Bargaining Chart
- Local Pride T-Shirt Contest Rules
- Local 9 Car Show – Car Registration
- Public Comment of SMART-TD Regarding Tesla’s Special Permit Request for Transporting Lithium Batteries by Rail
- Colorado Transit Worker Safety Bill (House Bill 25-1290)
- Assembly, No. 1672