Today, Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY) released the following statement in response to the announcement made by U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Anthony Foxx and Canada's Minister of Transport Lisa Raitt, detailing the DOT's final rule on transport of volatile chemicals via rail throughout North America.
Today, Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY) released the following statement in response to the announcement made by U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Anthony Foxx and Canada’s Minister of Transport Lisa Raitt, detailing the DOT’s final rule on transport of volatile chemicals via rail throughout North America.
“Today’s announcement by Secretary Foxx and Minister Raitt represents a first step in the laundry list of fixes we must make in order to satisfy my concerns, and the concerns of the Capital Region, with regard to the transport of crude oil and ethanol through communities across the country. I am glad that higher standards will be used in the future manufacturing of rail cars designed to transport energy products but, to put it simply, much more needs to be done in a more expedited way.
“I am disappointed that DOT is applying additional speed restrictions to only High-Threat Urban Areas, which do not include any municipalities in the Capital Region. Also, the phase out of older, inadequate tank cars is too slow. I intend to review the new regulations thoroughly in the coming days, but at first glance it appears that more work needs to be done. I will continue to pursue legislative remedies in Washington that reduce speeds, enhance equipment, and ensure an increased safety level for our communities.
“At the end of the day, the only true method of eliminating this threat is to invest in clean, renewable energy technologies that remove our crippling dependence on fossil fuels and do away with the need to transport these substances past our homes, schools, and businesses.”
Congressman Tonko remains in routine contact with Secretary Foxx and has asked the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (T-HUD) Appropriations Subcommittee Chair and Ranking Member to support full funding that ensures safe transportation of energy products, including the shipment of Bakken crude oil, while this issue receives a permanent fix. You can view a summary of the rule here and the entire rule here. For additional information, please visit www.dot.gov/mission/safety/rail-chronology.
