Yesterday, the USDOT issued an Emergency Order requiring all railroads operating trains carrying Bakken crude oil in the U.S. to notify State Emergency Response Commissions (SERCs) about the operation of the trains through their states. The Emergency Order (Docket No. DOT-OST-2014-0067) requires railroads operating trains carrying Bakker crude containing more than 1,000,000 gallons (approximately 35 rail cars) to notify SERCs of the estimated volumes of Bakken crude, frequency of anticipated traffic, and the route for transport.
Also yesterday, the FRA and PHMSA issued a joint Safety Advisory, "strongly recommending" the use of tank cars with the "highest level of integrity" when transporting Bakken crude. The advisory recommends that older DOT 111 tank cars not be used "to the extent possible." The Safety Advisory does not constitute a ban on the use of older tank cars.
Needless to say, yesterday's actions follow another high profile derailment and fire involving a train carrying crude oil in Lynchburg, VA on April 30th. USDOT's action also follow the recent NTSB crude by rail forum, during which Canadian authorities announced a ban on the use of certain DOT 111 tank cars for hazardous materials in Canada; here is Transport Canada's order. DOT's action on tank cars is not as drastic as the ban by the Canadians, but it appears to be initial steps while more formal rules are being developed.
Showing posts with label dot 111. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dot 111. Show all posts
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Thursday, March 6, 2014
NTSB Schedules Crude/Ethanol by Rail Safety Forum for April
It seems as though I may need to rename this blog "Crude by Rail Today," but the news continues to pour in for this hot topic in transportation safety.
Today, the NTSB announced it will hold a two-day public forum at its Washington, DC headquarters on April 22-23, 2014. The forum "Rail Safety: Transportation of Crude Oil and Ethanol" will cover DOT-111 tank car design, construction and crashworthiness, rail operations and risk management strategies, emergency response challenges, and the ever-popular federal oversight.
The Board states a detailed agenda is forthcoming and will be available on the NSTB web site, www.ntsb.gov.
Today, the NTSB announced it will hold a two-day public forum at its Washington, DC headquarters on April 22-23, 2014. The forum "Rail Safety: Transportation of Crude Oil and Ethanol" will cover DOT-111 tank car design, construction and crashworthiness, rail operations and risk management strategies, emergency response challenges, and the ever-popular federal oversight.
The Board states a detailed agenda is forthcoming and will be available on the NSTB web site, www.ntsb.gov.
Monday, February 24, 2014
Railroads to Adopt Voluntary Crude By Rail Safety Initiative
A voluntary safety initiative addressing shipment of crude oil by rail has been announced by the USDOT and the Association of American Railroads (AAR). Under the voluntary initiative, major U.S. Railroads will agree to the following steps, outlined in the attached letter from USDOT Secretary, Anthony Foxx:
1. Effective March 25, 2014, one additional internal rail test (i.e. ultrasonic testing) will be conducted each year, and at least two track geometry inspections per year, on track over which crude traffic runs.
2. Route analysis requirements under 49 CFR 171.820(c) will apply to trains transporting 20 or more loaded tank cars carrying petroleum crude oil, which are to be termed "Key Crude Oil Trains."
3. Key Crude Oil Trains with at least one USDOT 111 type tank car, not meeting AAR Circular CPC-1232 requirements, will be restricted to 40 mph, effective July 1, 2014 or before.
4. By July 1, 2014 the participating railroads will have installed wayside defect detectors to detect overheated bearings at intervals of 40 miles, over which Key Crude Oil trains operate.
5. AAR and the railroads will develop an inventory of emergency response resources along the routes over which Key Crude Oil Trains operate.
6. Railroads are to agree to jointly fund $5 million for training emergency responders to rail accidents involving crude oil shipments.
1. Effective March 25, 2014, one additional internal rail test (i.e. ultrasonic testing) will be conducted each year, and at least two track geometry inspections per year, on track over which crude traffic runs.
2. Route analysis requirements under 49 CFR 171.820(c) will apply to trains transporting 20 or more loaded tank cars carrying petroleum crude oil, which are to be termed "Key Crude Oil Trains."
3. Key Crude Oil Trains with at least one USDOT 111 type tank car, not meeting AAR Circular CPC-1232 requirements, will be restricted to 40 mph, effective July 1, 2014 or before.
4. By July 1, 2014 the participating railroads will have installed wayside defect detectors to detect overheated bearings at intervals of 40 miles, over which Key Crude Oil trains operate.
5. AAR and the railroads will develop an inventory of emergency response resources along the routes over which Key Crude Oil Trains operate.
6. Railroads are to agree to jointly fund $5 million for training emergency responders to rail accidents involving crude oil shipments.
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Rail Associations Call for Stricter Tank Car Standards
Two industry associations representing virtually all North American Railroads have called for the USDOT's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) to require tank cars carrying flammable liquids be built to more stringent standards, or be upgraded for existing tank cars. The Association of American Railroads (AAR), and the American Shortline and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA), jointly tendered comments to the PHMSA today. A copy of the joint filing is attached here.
Despite the excellent overall safety record of haz mat transport by rail, the Associations cited the recent Lac Megantic catastrophe as motivation for the industry to reevaluate tank car standards, which in fact had been increased just in 2011. Among the proposals AAR and ASLRRA make are to require newly built tank cars carrying flammable liquids to have steel jackets around the tank car, thermal protection, full car-height head shields, and high flow capacity pressure release valves. In addition to newly built cars, the comments call for the retrofit of cars built since 2011, and before, to comply with any new construction standards, and to phase out older cars that cannot be retrofitted.
The PHMSA docket at issue is PHMSA-2012-0082 - "Hazardous Materials: Rail Petitions and Recommendations to Improve the Safety of Rail Tank Car Transportation."
Despite the excellent overall safety record of haz mat transport by rail, the Associations cited the recent Lac Megantic catastrophe as motivation for the industry to reevaluate tank car standards, which in fact had been increased just in 2011. Among the proposals AAR and ASLRRA make are to require newly built tank cars carrying flammable liquids to have steel jackets around the tank car, thermal protection, full car-height head shields, and high flow capacity pressure release valves. In addition to newly built cars, the comments call for the retrofit of cars built since 2011, and before, to comply with any new construction standards, and to phase out older cars that cannot be retrofitted.
The PHMSA docket at issue is PHMSA-2012-0082 - "Hazardous Materials: Rail Petitions and Recommendations to Improve the Safety of Rail Tank Car Transportation."
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