Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

Emergency Crude-by-Rail Safety Orders Take Effect

The emergency rules issued by DOT, including lowering oil-train speeds to 40 mph in urban areas, go into effect on April 20. They are in addition to rules expected to be released May 12 that address oil tanker car construction.

April 20, 2015 - The New York Times - Energy & Environment

Freight Rail Conundrum: Speed vs. Safety

Safety would win hands down for passenger rail, but for-profit railroads have a bottom line to consider. Regulators have proposed reduced train speeds, opposed by railroads, to prevent fiery derailments that have resulted from shipping shale oil.

October 18, 2014 - The Gazette

Transparency about Hazardous Oil Shipments Possible After All

After the Federal Railroad Administration issued an emergency order on May 7 that Bakken information about oil shipments be shared with appropriate state agencies, question arose about whether that information could be shared with the public.

July 1, 2014 - Sacramento Bee

Oil Train Derailment, Fire, and Spill Shed Light on Lack of Preparation

The derailment of the CSX oil unit train in downtown Lynchburg, Va. on April 30 and subsequent fire and oil spill into the James River caught Lynchburg, Va. officials off-guard, who were unaware of the oil shipments, let alone how to handle crashes.

May 3, 2014 - The Wall Street Journal - U.S.

Feds Enforce First Crude By Rail Regulations

In the first case of its kind, federal regulators fined three oil companies for allegedly either failing to test, or improperly testing crude from the Bakken Shale in N.D., resulting in rail companies not knowing which type of oil tanker cars to use.

February 6, 2014 - The Wall Street Journal

NTSB Makes Urgent Recommendations to Address Crude-by-Rail Explosions

The National Transportation Safety Board called on federal regulators on Jan. 23 to approve several measures in light of a rash of oil train derailments and crude oil explosions as did their Canadian counterparts, the Transportation Safety Board.

January 28, 2014 - The Wall Street Journal

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.

January 20, 2014 - The Wall Street Journal

Why are Crude Oil Trains Exploding Across North America?

Crude oil may be flammable, but until recently was not thought to be explosive. However, three recent oil train explosions all involving crude oil from the Bakken formation have prodded investigators to determine why Bakken crude is more explosive.

January 8, 2014 - The Wall Street Journal - Business

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