Martinez News-Gazette - Thompson authors rail safety act

A second group of federal lawmakers has introduced legislation to regulate the transport of crude oil by rail.

U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) yesterday introduced the Crude-By-Rail Safety Act (H.R. 1804), which the congressman said would set new safety and security standards to address growing concerns that current standards fail to address the threat posed by transporting crude oil by rail.

Thompson said the bill would "establish new, common sense federal safety standards for railcars transporting oil across the country.".

The act would take on a number of factors, including maximum volatility standard for crude oil transported by rail, higher fines for violating volatility standards and hazmat transport standards. The act will also seek to remove 37,700 unsafe cars off the rail network and recommend other measures to increase the safety of crude by rail.

"Public safety is priority No. 1 when it comes to transporting highly volatile crude oil," Thompson said in the release.

There have been four derailments of trains carrying crude oil in the United States and Canada in under a month earlier this year — in Illinois, West Virginia and twice in Ontario.

"Rail cars transporting crude run through the heart of our communities, and as recent accidents have demonstrated, robust, comprehensive action is needed," Thompson said in a press release. "The bill introduced today puts safety measures in place that will help make sure communities are secure, railcars are as strong as possible, and first responders are prepared in the event of an emergency."

According to Thompson, the bill would:

• establish a maximum volatility standard for crude oil;

• prohibit the use of DOT-111 tank cars;

• require comprehensive oil spill response planning and studies;

• increase fines for violating volatility and hazmat transport standards;

• require disclosure of train movements through communities and emergency response plans; and

• require railroads to implement a confidential close-call reporting system.