Casey calls for improved rail safety

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey on Thursday called on the Obama administration to enact a rail safety rule to put new, stronger oil tankers on the nation’s railroads and increase resources for first responders.
He also called for a review of speed limits for shipping the volatile fuel.
Casey, D-Pa., noted in a news release the U.S. Department of Transportation has been working on a proposal for more than a year, but new safety measures remain at the Office of Management and Budget, which, according to Casey, said it needs until May to finalize the rule and make it public.
Casey said after last week’s derailment in Mount Carbon, W.Va., that caused tankers to rupture and explode, and resulted in the evacuation of thousands from the area, as well as recent derailments in McKeesport, Vandergrift, Uniontown and Philadelphia, he released a new letter to OMB Director Shaun Donovan calling for the agency to move forward on the safety measures.
“Train derailments threaten the health and economic well-being of communities across Pennsylvania,” Casey said in a statement. “New safety requirements by the Department of Transportation are a step in the right direction, but more must be done to protect vulnerable communities and our first responders.
“Pennsylvania has borne the brunt of many of these derailments. It’s important for residents to have the peace of mind in knowing that the necessary actions are being taken to improve safety on our nation’s railways.”
In his letter to Donovan, Casey noted crude oil shipments by rail increased drastically over the past several years, largely because of the rise in oil production in North Dakota. He said large quantities of the oil travel through Pennsylvania and other states on a daily basis and are shipped on older rail cars that are prone to rupture.
“While we know the increase of crude oil has catalyzed growth in rail shipments, it is important that we make sure the appropriate measures are taken to ensure safety and that railroads are properly communicating with first responders.”
During a brief telephone conference call with reporters, Casey said he was seeking to increase resources for first responders – fire departments and emergency medical technicians who are usually the first ones on the scene of a derailment – but did not provide specifics on the resources, adding the OMB and Congress should be “consulting with the experts on how to deal with a train derailment.
“There are people in this country who know how to do this really well,” he said.
While stating first responders do a good job, he said one of the problems is how response to a derailment is coordinated and communicated among various safety and law enforcement agencies.
“I’m seeking to increase resources for whatever the experts tell us will bring the best results,” he said. “I’m for whatever works, but we’ve got to be serious about this.”
As for seeking new rules that will improve the safety of moving fuel over the rails, he said the expectation is to provide “not just good rail safety, but the best in the world.”