Vancouver (WA) Business Journal, 2/10:
BNSF beefs up safety measures ahead of EFSEC ruling
Rail company agrees to additional inspections on its rail line & on every oil train traveling to Vancouver
BNSF Railway has agreed to make additional commitments to improve safety and reduce the risk of derailments and oil spills on its tracks, as requested by Washington’s Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) during deliberations for the proposed Vancouver Energy oil export terminal at the Port of Vancouver.
Three specific new safety measures have been agreed to by BNSF, including the inspection of every oil train traveling to Vancouver Energy, at the BNSF rail yard in Pasco or another location in Washington; inspection of rail track throughout the Columbia River Gorge 24 hours in advance of a Vancouver Energy-destined loaded crude oil train; and tripling the number of “geometry cars,” which are cars with sensors, X-rays and other technological equipment used to detect defects and other issues on the rail track.
BNSF currently runs two geometry cars each year; the railway says it will run them six times a year once the Vancouver Energy terminal opens.
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