The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“INTRODUCTION OF THE SAVE OUR COMMUNITIES FROM RISKY TRAINS ACT OF 2016” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Transportation was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E807 on May 26, 2016.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
INTRODUCTION OF THE SAVE OUR COMMUNITIES FROM RISKY TRAINS ACT OF 2016
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HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON
of the district of columbia
in the house of representatives
Thursday, May 26, 2016
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 of 2016, 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. Just this month, sixteen cars of a CSX freight train derailed in a densely 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 by inhalation, poisonous by inhalation, or explosive from these communities, there is no federal law requiring them to reroute the materials.
This bill would require the DOT Secretary 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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