A May 1 Federal Railroad Administration rule on moving crude by rail was supposed to make routing information more accessible to the the public, but due to lobbying by the rail industry, it will do just the opposite.
In a long-running battle on disclosure of routing information on oil trains, now known as "high-hazard flammable trains," the new May 1 rule decisively sides with the rail industry. Recent Maryland court filings show that a new Department of Transportation rule (posted here) that centered on replacement of older tank cars but also was supposed to increase transparency in the dangerous movement of crude by rail show that it has done just the opposite.
"(T)wo major oil haulers have cited the department’s new rule to justify their argument that no one except emergency responders should know what routes the trains use or how many travel through each state during a given week," writes Curtis Tate of McClatchy Washington Bureau.
The department’s rule was expected to expand the existing disclosure requirements. In its 395-page rule [PDF], the department acknowledged an overwhelming volume of public comments supporting more transparency. But ultimately, it offered the opposite.
Tate acknowledged the restricted disclosure when the rule was issued on May 1. "Details about rail shipments of crude oil and ethanol will be made exempt from public disclosure," he wrote then. "Instead, railroads will share information directly with emergency responders, but it will be exempt from the Freedom of Information Act and state public records laws, the way other hazardous materials such as chlorine and anhydrous ammonia are currently protected."
The restriction on access comes as a surprise as the Department of Transportation had rebuffed a request from two rail industry groups to end the reporting requirement as noted in the Federal Register last October:
(A) this time, DOT finds no basis to conclude that the public disclosure of the information is detrimental to transportation safety. DOT has consulted with the Department of Homeland Security and TSA.
In addition, a May 2014 emergency rule had expanded public access to the rail routing information for the more volatile Bakken crude.
"The final rule ends the existing disclosure requirements next March," writes Tate on June 25. "Railroads no longer would be required to provide information to the states, leaving emergency responders to request details about oil train shipments on their own, and the public would be shut out entirely."
FULL STORY: Railroads use new oil train rule to fight transparency
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Coming Soon to Ohio: The Largest Agrivoltaic Farm in the US
The ambitious 6,000-acre project will combine an 800-watt solar farm with crop and livestock production.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
California Grid Runs on 100% Renewable Energy for Over 9 Hours
The state’s energy grid was entirely powered by clean energy for some portion of the day on 37 out of the last 45 days.
New Forecasting Tool Aims to Reduce Heat-Related Deaths
Two federal agencies launched a new, easy-to-use, color-coded heat warning system that combines meteorological and medical risk factors.
AI Traffic Management Comes to Dallas-Fort Worth
Several Texas cities are using an AI-powered platform called NoTraffic to help manage traffic signals to increase safety and improve traffic flow.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
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.