Bustos & Durbin Urge Stronger Safety Standards For Transport Of Flammable Materials Following Train Derailment Near Galena
WA SHINGTON, D.C. – March 12, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — Following the recent BNSF train derailment south of Galena, U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) called for renewing efforts to create the strongest possible safety standards for the transportation of flammable materials such as crude oil by rail. In a letter to the Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and Office of Management and Budget Director Shaun Donovan, the Illinois members cited booming oil production in the Bakken region and Canadian tar sands that have caused an exponential increase in shipments of crude oil.
“In 2014, railroads carried almost 650,000 carloads of oil, compared to just 9,500 carloads in 2008,” Bustos and Durbin wrote. “This impact is felt in Illinois, which has the second most railroad track in the country, and approximately 25 percent of all U.S. rail traffic passes through densely populated Chicago. Improving freight rail safety is more critical than ever before.”
Since the train derailment, Bustos and Durbin have been in contact with BNSF and federal, state and local agencies including the Department of Transportation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Yesterday, on the first day that non-emergency personnel were permitted on-site, Bustos thanked first responders and got to see the clean-up progress firsthand. She also met with local community leaders and officials in downtown Galena to hear their feedback on the impact of the accident to the surrounding area.
Text of today’s letter is below:
March 10, 2015
The Honorable Shaun Donovan The Honorable Anthony Foxx
Director Secretary
Office of Management and Budget U.S. Department of Transportation
725 17th Street, NW 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, D.C. 20503 Washington, D.C. 20590
Dear Director Donovan and Secretary Foxx:
In light of the recent BNSF oil tank derailment near Galena, Illinois, we urge you to complete your review of the Department of Transportation’s proposed rule regarding the transport of flammable materials such as crude oil by rail with the strongest possible safety standards.
On March 5, 2015, 21 BNSF tank cars carrying Bakken crude derailed in a rural area south of the city of Galena. Five cars caught on fire, and crude oil leaked from the cars. This is not the first such event for Illinois. Tank car weakness was exposed in two high profile derailments in Cherry Valley and Tiskilwa. Recent derailments have caused similar explosive fires across the country, including last month in West Virginia. The most severe occurred in Lac-Megantic, Quebec, in July 2013 when a train carrying crude oil derailed and exploded, wiping out dozens of buildings and killing 47 people.
Booming oil production in the Bakken region and Canadian tar sands have caused an exponential increase in crude oil shipments in recent years. In 2014, railroads carried almost 650,000 carloads of oil, compared to just 9,500 carloads in 2008. Not only are the quantities greater, but this crude oil from the Bakken region is believed to be more volatile. This impact is felt in Illinois, which has the second most railroad track in the country, and approximately 25 percent of all U.S. rail traffic passes through densely populated Chicago. Improving freight rail safety is more critical than ever before.
Safe freight rail is vital both to communities in Illinois and across the country. We urge you to help improve freight rail safety by swiftly completing OMB’s review to ensure new regulations uphold the strongest possible standards for safety.
Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
