Rail and Oil Industries Agree on Measures to Prevent Crude-by-Rail Explosions

U.S. DOT brokered a deal with energy and rail industries whereby both would take immediate steps to prevent the recent explosions involving the more volatile Bakken crude. While voluntary, actual regulations will take more than a year to approve.

2 minute read

January 20, 2014, 6:00 AM PST

By Irvin Dawid


The meeting was convened by the U.S. Department of Transportation after a string of tank car explosions transporting oil from the Bakken formation throughout North America beginning last summer in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, followed by a Nov. 1 explosion in Aliceville, Ala.; Dec. 30 explosion in Casselton, N.D. and a Jan. 7 explosion in New Brunswick, Canada.

"The voluntary changes, which include improving the safety of tanker cars, were announced after a meeting...that included top agency officials [including Secretary Anthony Foxx], executives from the big freight railroads and members of the American Petroleum Institute (API), the oil industry's chief lobbying group," write Betsy Morris and Laura Stevens.

However, the meeting was not entirely copacetic. Union Pacific, the largest railroad in the nation, stated that the rail industry "had already been proactive in setting tougher standards for tank cars, and...were urging regulators to do the same."  

The oil industry went further, blaming the railroads for failing to prevent derailments, and blasting regulators for not imposing new safety rules. "The DOT needs to do more than just host meetings," charged an API spokesman.

Among the measures agreed to:

Rail industry steps:

  • Study rerouting trains around high-risk areas in the next 30 days.
  • Work on speed-reduction plans in riskiest areas.
  • Address where to place locomotives to help prevent derailments.

Petroleum industry steps:

  • Share information on the content of crude oil.

Both agreed to:

  • Find recommendations on changing tank-car standards within 30 days.

For regulators to issue those new tank car standards, "it would take the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, the unit of DOT that regulates hazardous-material transport, more than a year to institute new safety rules for tank cars," write Morris and Stevens.

However, within a month of the July 6, Lac-Mégantic disaster in Quebec caused by an unmanned, runaway, oil-unit train that cause 47 fatalities and the devastation of the downtown, PHMSA issued an emergency rule to Prevent Unintended Hazardous Materials Train Movement.

Note: Access to The Wall Street Journal may require subscription. This International Business Times article mentions the Wall Street Journal report and is a good substitute - open access.

Friday, January 17, 2014 in The Wall Street Journal

Sweeping view of Portland, Oregon with Mt. Hood in background against sunset sky.

Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary

Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.

March 12, 2024 - Housing Wire

Aerial view of green roofs with plants in Sydney, Australia.

Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024

A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.

March 10, 2024 - Daily Journal of Commerce

Cobblestone street with streetcar line, row of vintage streetlights on left, and colorful restaurant and shop awnings on right on River Street in Savannah, Georgia.

Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts

From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.

March 12, 2024 - Strong Towns

Aerial View of Chuckanut Drive and the Blanchard Bridge in the Skagit Valley.

Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding

The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.

March 18 - The Seattle Times

Historic buildings in downtown Los Angeles with large "Pan American Lofts" sign on side of building.

Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly

The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.

March 18 - Beverly Press

View from above of swan-shaped paddleboats with lights on around artesian fountain in Echo Park Lake with downtown Los Angeles skylien in background at twilight.

LA's Top Parks, Ranked

TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.

March 18 - TimeOut

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.