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“INTRODUCTION OF THE SAVE OUR COMMUNITIES FROM RISKY TRAINS ACT” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Transportation was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1687-E1688 on Dec. 12, 2017.
The Department handles nearly all infrastructure crisscrossing the country. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, said the Department should be privatized to save money, reduce congestion and spur innovation.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
INTRODUCTION OF THE SAVE OUR COMMUNITIES FROM RISKY TRAINS ACT
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HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON
of the district of columbia
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, in light of recent train derailments across the country and ongoing transportation security threats, I rise to introduce the Save Our Community from Risky Trains Act, which directs the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to find ways to the greatest extent possible to reroute trains that are carrying certain hazardous materials from selected high-threat urban areas, including the District of Columbia. This legislation is needed now more than ever, especially given DOT's recent announcement that it will rescind a requirement that rail tank cars carrying crude oil be outfitted with an advanced braking system designed to prevent derailments.
Derailments of rail cars carrying hazardous materials are a serious concern and should be a priority of Congress. In 2016, 16 cars of a CSX freight train derailed in a dense residential neighborhood of the nation's capital, disrupting Metrorail, passenger rail, and freight rail service and putting families at risk. Among the derailed freight train cars, cars carrying sodium hydroxide, calcium chloride and ethanol--which is flammable and led to a Metrorail shutdown--spilled. The neighborhood was lucky that there were no injuries, but the continuing threat to the safety and security of urban communities is clear.
In 2007, the House passed the Rail and Public Transportation Security Act of 2007, which included my amendment to protect the District and similar communities nationwide from dangerous hazardous material shipments by mandating that federal regulations and penalties be developed to increase security and safety for the shipment of these materials through high-threat urban areas. My amendment was not included in the final bill signed into law. While freight companies have begun working with DOT to voluntarily reroute the shipment of certain materials that are toxic or poisonous by inhalation, or explosive from these communities, there is no federal law requiring them to reroute the materials.
This bill would require the Secretary of Transportation to issue regulations to require enhanced security measures for shipments of security-sensitive materials. The bill also requires railroad carriers to use the most secure route and storage pattern to avoid moving certain hazardous materials by rail through selected high-threat urban areas. These security sensitive materials include a highway route-
controlled quantity of a Class 7 (radioactive) material; more than 25 kilograms of a division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3 explosive; more than one liter per package of a material poisonous by inhalation; shipment in other than a bulk packaging of 2,268 kilograms gross weight or more of one class of hazardous materials for which placarding of a vehicle, rail car or freight container is required; and select agents or toxins regulated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
High-profile derailments in North Dakota, Virginia, West Virginia, and Canada demonstrate the need for this legislation. Ethanol, which is flammable, still travels through big cities, and even within a few blocks of the U.S. Capitol. This bill will protect our communities from the risk created by trains carrying hazardous materials.
I urge support for this bill.
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