Oil-train blow-up in Virginia reverberates in New York

[hrmjustin]

Scott Waldman

ALBANY—New York released an oil-train safety report on the same day a derailed oil train drained into a river near Lynchburg, Virginia.

Moments after the Virginia accident, which also shut down the city water supply for Richmond, the company that brings much of the crude oil through New York announced that it would replace its entire fleet with safer cars by June 1.

New York's report is essentially a request for more help from Washington. The number of trains carrying crude through New York has increased rapidly, now carrying 160,000 barrels of oil a day. The report found that 82 percent of the cars are deficient and that the state does not have the staffing to properly handle spill response and emergency planning so it will need more federal assistance.

Moments after the Virginia accidents, Global Partners of Massachusetts announced that it would switch to safer CPC-1232 rail cars at its crude handling facility in Albany by June 1. Global transports much of the crude through New York, and it has state approval to transport almost 2 billion gallons. Global made a similar announcement for its facility in Oregon.

http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2014/05/8544607/oil-train-blow-virginia-reverberates-new-york?top-featured-2

[Historic NY]

1. Same crap they are trying to bring to my town....

problem is all the other volatile fuels in the millions of gallons nearby.The question is why Global won't load at Albany Port???

[hrmjustin]

2. I hope the feds and the local legislature acts on this.

[hrmjustin]

3. Cuomo announces results of rail car, track inspections

Casey Seiler, Capitol bureau chief

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has put out the results of a new round of targeted inspections of freight rail cars and track as an accident in Virginia heightened awareness of the increase in crude oil shipment.

The inspection covered nearly 700 tank cars and 152 miles of track across upstate. In the Capital Region:

At the Kenwood Yard in Albany, inspectors examined 120 DOT-111 tank cars for mechanical defects, 80 carrying crude oil and 40 carrying ethanol. The inspection found five defects including one wheel defect and four worn brake shoes. On April 23, hazardous materials inspectors from the FRA and PHMSA examined 204 DOT-111 crude oil cars and found two defects, including one improper placard and one unattached lower outlet valve cover chain.

At the Selkirk Rail Yard in Albany County, inspectors examined 103 DOT-111 tank cars carrying crude oil for mechanical issues and found no defects. On April 24, hazardous materials inspectors from the FRA and PHMSA examined 185 DOT-111 tank cars carrying crude oil and discovered five defects. Two defects involved lock pins for lower outlet levers that were not applied; two improper placards; and a broken safety chain for a lower outlet cap.

http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/211719/cuomo-announces-results-of-rail-car-track-inspections/