3 replies to this topic

[CNJRoss]

Freight Waves, 5/1/19:
 

BNSF responds to Pacific Northwest legislation targeting crude-by-rail

 

 

As state legislatures react to the growing volumes of crude oil being transported by rail in the Pacific Northwest, their responses will continue to bump up against the freight railroads’ federally mandated obligation to move goods, including hazardous materials.

 

Washington state’s Senate Bill 5579, which seeks to establish a vapor pressure limit on crude oil shipments, could face scrutiny in the courts should the bill get signed into law, while Oregon has several pieces of legislation addressing crude-by-rail activities in the state.

 

Continue here.

[CNJRoss]

Progressive Railroading, 6/14/19:
 

North Dakota lawmakers seek Chao's help to fight Washington state's crude-by-rail law

 

 

North Dakota's congressional delegation is making its case to U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao that Washington state's new crude-by-rail law violates the nation's Interstate Commerce Clause and interferes with the U.S. Department of Transportation's authority over the shipment of crude oil over state lines.

U.S. Sens. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) and U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-N.D.) this week asked Chao's assistance in North Dakota's concerns about Washington's new law.

USDOT "clearly has the primary authority over crude oil that is shipped across state lines, which is why we’ve reached out to Secretary Chao," the delegation said in a joint press release.

"Further, Washington State’s law will limit our energy industry’s ability to access safe and reliable transportation for this vital commodity, impacting good-paying jobs in our state and undermining our nation’s energy security," the lawmakers said.  .  .  .

 

SNIP

 

.  .  .  The law requires crude oil unloaded in Washington to meet a 9 psi Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP), which will effectively block the Pacific Northwest as a destination for Bakken crude oil, according to North Dakota's delegation.

Washington's new law relies on "unscientific understanding of crude-by-rail transpiration, and according to current science, would not improve safety of workers or those along rail lines,"  .  .  .

 

More here.

[CNJRoss]

RT&S, 10/28/19
 

California Attorney General pushes back on regulation of trains carrying flammable oil being retained at the federal level

 

 

Several states are pushing back on the notion that regulation of crude oil trains in the United States belongs in the hands of the federal government, as opposed to being regulated by the states.  The Sierra Times reports that California Attorney General Xavier Becerra has contacted the U.S. Department of Transportation, and expressed support of the State of Washington efforts to retain state control with laws that limit the vapor pressure level in cars that are carrying very flammable crude oil by rail.

 

Interestingly, North Dakota and Montana are opposed to these Washington state laws, and the Attorney General’s letter expressed opposition to the position of these two states.  The transportation of crude oil by rail is relatively safe, but an accident can have disastrous consequences. The railroads have made efforts to minimize the impact of oil train derailments by building stronger tank cars that are better equipped to retain leaks and prevent fires.

 

Continue here.

[CNJRoss]

Associated Press 5/11/20
 

US says Washington state overstepped with oil train law

 

 

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — The Trump administration on Monday moved to block a Washington state law that imposed safety restrictions on oil shipments by rail following a string of explosive accidents.

 

The Department of Transportation determined federal law preempts the Washington law adopted last year, which mandated crude from the oil fields of the Northern Plains have more of its volatile gases removed prior to being loaded onto rail cars.

 

Continue here.