Biden Administration Seeks Changes in Railroad Transport of Hazardous Materials

From The Center Square:

Norfolk Southern, USDOT, Congress all targeted in Buttigieg’s requests

(The Center Square) – Ten points of enhancement or change are being recommended by the national transportation secretary nearly three weeks after a train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.

Pete Buttigieg, in a release early Tuesday morning, also issued five requests specifically for Norfolk Southern. His 10 action items include five focuses for the U.S. Department of Transportation and five measures requested of Congress.

Norfolk Southern’s train carrying hazardous materials derailed in the small town of just under 5,000 along the Pennsylvania border on Feb. 3 and news coverage escalated in the last seven days.

The rail industry, in defense of its safety record, said 99.9% of hazardous materials reach their destinations without incident. The accident rate involving hazardous materials has declined 55% since 2012, said a message posted to Union Pacific’s website.

Five of the cars in Ohio were carrying vinyl chloride, a colorless gas that is hazardous. A decision for a controlled release and burn on Feb. 6 was heavily criticized.

Buttigieg, who separately wrote a letter to Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw on Sunday, on Tuesday asked the rail company to work with rail car owners to phase in sooner a safety measure with a 2029 mandate.

He also asked the company to be proactive in giving notice to first responders of hazardous materials transports through states, rather than first responders having to look up the information after an incident.

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The Feds also regulate pipelines.

McHenry County has many of those.

Pipelines running though McHenry County. Instead of a straight line,one has squiggles that result in part from the efforts of State Rep. Ann Hughes requiring Lakehead to pay market price for it right-of-way.

When a pipeline broke north of Crystal Lake, no notice was required to local officials.

An Endbridge pipeline was ruptured in May of 2015. No notice was given local fire departments.
Enbridge pipeline digging up a ruptured pipeline.

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Buttigieg’s other three points involved workers. He asked for human elements of inspection to remain despite lobbyists wanting more use of technology; protection “from reprisal” for workers who spot and call attention to safety issues; and paid sick leave.

USDOT, Buttigieg says, will initiate two inspection programs, one dealing with routes and another with legacy tank cars. He said the agency will use Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funds to modernize and improve tracks and crossings; and it will pursue rules changes, including a train crew staffing standard.

Congress is being asked to allow more fines by USDOT; to strengthen regulations involving hazardous shipments, and to hasten the phase-in of the hazardous materials rule that is not mandated until 2029. Lawmakers are also asked for more modern breaking regulations in the rail industry, and to expand hazardous materials training for first responders.


Comments

Biden Administration Seeks Changes in Railroad Transport of Hazardous Materials — 11 Comments

  1. Putting Pete Buttram in charge of the Department of Transportation was like making Kenneally MCSA.
    Let the ankle grabbing begin.

  2. It’s not Pete’s fault. Liberals queers are never accountable.

    Watch the media blackout Trump’s visit today.

    If you don’t understand lead from behind right in front of your eyes there is something wrong with you.

  3. Pete’s generic Ivy League credentials, probably couldn’t get him Asst Mgr at a Dollar Store, without that political appointment thingy.

    But it does come in handy, articulating how people’s flesh melted off their bodies, at all the post-tragedy pressers.

  4. Buttboy will be hanged and flensed like a whale when things ‘change’ a bit.

    If NYC and DC are nuked by the Russians, America could have a chance, a teal chance to throw off the bonds of Juda.

  5. Unless that’s what Juda wants you to think.

    Biden Hunter’s Hope & Change.

  6. How priceless.

    Who uses CTEH for analysis of water and air samples in Palestine, OH?

    How many CTEH employees died in a plane crash today on the way to OH?

    Nevermind, it’s a Qspiraracy.

    I’ll wait for the trustworthy legacy media to report on it. LOL.

  7. It was too big for Servpro. Unless you got a guy can handle it?

    They weren’t going to the train wreck, they were going to the plant explosion in Oakwood Village.

    Maybe you could tell us what their departure airport was? Hasn’t Q told you? Wonder if they had pizza.

  8. Lol Cindy. I already knew the answer. Simps like Monk can’t figure out the connection. Plant explosion is the answer. There are lots of burnings, explosiins and train derailments.

    Pull another bong monk and impart your macro view of reality on the masses.

  9. Seriously, how could any thinking person, in their sane mind, vote democrat?

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