New DOT Order on Bakken Crude Rail Shipments Not Strong Enough
By: Waterkeeper Alliance
New DOT Emergency Order on Rail Shipments of Bakken Crude a Welcome but Overdue Step for Protection of First Responders and Environment
CONTACT: Peter Cleary, Communications Director, (347) 322-9695; [email protected]
New York, NY – Waterkeeper Alliance today offered reluctant support for a new U.S. Department of Transportation Emergency Order designed to increase safety of rail shipments of Bakken crude oil.
“Today’s action is welcome, but long overdue, and not strong enough” said Marc Yaggi, Executive Director of Waterkeeper Alliance. “We are disappointed that the Order only applies to trains carrying 35 cars or more of Bakken crude oil. A requirement that all rail transport of crude oil involve the notification of State Emergency Response Commissions would be more transparent and best protect first responders, communities and the environment.
Furthermore, a mere suggestion to remove unsafe tanker cars unnecessarily leaves communities at risk. in Canada, a mandatory removal of unsafe DOT-111 tanker cars from rails has already been ordered, and the same order should be implemented in the United States. Why the USDOT continues to defer to an industry that has proven to put profits before safety is unacceptable.”