New Safety Rules for 'Bomb Trains' Under White House Review
In 2013, oil production in the United States hit a 31-year high, due in large part to the introduction of two drilling innovations: hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling. In the absence of new pipeline capacity, all that new oil has put a strain on the railway system used to transport it around the country, leading to at least eight major spills in North America in just the last three years.
After 47 people died in a derailment and subsequent explosion in Lac-Megantic, Quebec in July 2013, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) began developing a proposal for stricter safety standards for transporting volatile crude and other flammable materials over the nation's railways. On Wednesday, the Department submitted the final draft of its proposed regulations to the White House to begin a formal review.
"I've made the tank car rule a top priority for this department because the American people must have confidence that when hazardous materials are transported through their communities, we've done everything in our power to make that train as safe as possible," US Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx told VICE News. "This is a highly complex issue, consuming massive staff time, scientific study, dialogue with stakeholders and experts, and coordination across borders."
'Sometimes first responders let these fires just burn for days.'
It's now up to the White House's Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) to decide whether the proposed regulations are in the best interest of public health and safety and for generating economic development. DOT declined to speculate on when new rules might take effect, but a DOT spokesperson said OIRA's review is "essentially the final step."
https://news.vice.com/article/new-safety-rules-for-bomb-trains-under-white-house-review
