Freight Waves, 1/14/20
California representative introduces crude-by-rail bill
Rep. John Garamendi, D-Calif., has introduced a bill that prohibits the transport of crude oil via rail if the crude oil’s Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) exceeds 9.5 pounds per square inch (psi).
Garamendi introduced the Crude by Rail Volatility Standard Act, or H.R. 5553, Monday, alongside four Democratic co-sponsors: Reps. Bill Foster of Illinois, Barbara Lee of California, Nita M. Lowey of New York and Jamie Rasin of Maryland.
The bill has been referred to the U.S. House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials.
“Every day we delay the implementation of a stronger safety standard for the transport of Bakken crude oil-by-rail lives are at risk,” said Garamendi, whose district represents an area just outside of San Francisco and Sacramento in northern California and includes the cities of Davis and Fairfield. Garamendi introduced similar legislation in 2015.
