DOT Action Fails to Fully Address Grave Risks of Shipping Explosive Crude through Communities and Along the Hudson River

Statement from Riverkeeper

“The announcement by DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx that the agency has issued an emergency order requiring railroads to notify state emergency management officials before moving large shipments of crude oil through their states, and urging railroads not to use older DOT-111 cars that are easily ruptured in accidents, even at slow speeds is a good first step, but it fails to reduce the risk of future derailments and explosions, and unfairly places the burden of preparing for a 100 car derailment disaster on local first responders who don’t have the staff and equipment to deal with these dangerous oil shipments. Unit trains carrying millions of gallons of dangerous crude must be required to have their own emergency plans – current federal law requires such plans for barges and ships, but exempts trains. This is a loophole that must be closed.

Secretary Foxx must also use his emergency authority to prevent accidents, not merely notify local first responders when 100 car ‘bomb trains’ are rolling through their cities. Prevention means taking DOT – 111s off the rails, requiring modern braking systems for all trains, increasing rail inspections, and reducing train speeds – all common sense safety measures that should already be in place.”