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[CNJRoss]

AP 2/14/19:
 

Feds requiring regional response teams to oil train wrecks

 

 

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Federal transportation officials are requiring railroads to establish regional response teams along oil train routes following a series of fiery derailments.

 

The new rule announced Thursday is aimed at having crews and equipment ready in the event of an accident. It applies to oil trains in continuous blocks of 20 or more loaded tank cars and those having 35 loaded tank cars.

 

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration issued the rule in coordination with the Federal Railroad Administration. The pipeline safety agency said a review identified challenges that occurred during previous responses to derailments.

 

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[CNJRoss]

PHMSA/FRA joint news release:

 

USDOT Announces Safety Rule to Strengthen Oil Train Spill Response Preparedness

 

Thursday, February 14, 2019

 

 

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), in coordination with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), today issued a final rule that requires railroads to develop and submit Comprehensive Oil Spill Response Plans for route segments traveled by High Hazard Flammable Trains (HHFTs).  The rule applies to HHFTs that are transporting petroleum oil in a block of 20 or more loaded tank cars and trains that have a total of 35 loaded petroleum oil tank cars. 

 

“This new rule will make the transport of energy products by railroad safer,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao.

 

The rule revises the oil spill response plan requirements currently in place to require railroads to establish geographic response zones along various rail routes and ensure that both personnel and equipment are staged and prepared to respond in the event of an accident.  Furthermore, railroads are required to identify the qualified individual responsible for each response zone, as well as the organization, personnel, and equipment capable of removing and mitigating a worst-case discharge.  The rule also requires rail carriers to provide information about HHFTs to state and tribal emergency response commissions in accordance with the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act of 2015. 

 

This final rule is effective 180 days after the date of publication in the Federal Register.

 

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[CNJRoss]

Emergency Management, 2/28/19:
 

New Federal Railroad Rules Aim to Improve Response to Derailments

 

But a 12-hour response window and no apparent path to coordinate with local first responders spark a concern that communication will still be lacking and response too slow.

 

 

A new federal rule announced by Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao proposes to make safer the transport of energy products via railroad.

 

The rule calls for equipment and crews to be ready for dispatch and use following an oil train derailment that causes a fire. But some of the requirements of the rule and what’s not in the rule have sources concerned about its efficacy.

 

The regulation calls for equipment and crews to respond within a 12-hour period, which for various reasons, is a long time to respond to a large oil spill and/or resulting fire. Also, there is concern about communication with local first responder agencies that may be responding to a derailment.

 

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