Pennsylvania Gov. Wolf taps Zarembski to consult on crude-by-rail safety

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf announced this week he has hired railway civil engineering consultant and researcher Allan Zarembski to evaluate that state's freight-rail system and advise the governor on safety issues.

Under a three-month contract, Zarembski also will make recommendations for crude-by-rail safety measures and identify ways to implement those measures, according to a press release issued by Wolf's office.

"I have expressed grave concern regarding the transportation of crude oil in the commonwealth and have taken several steps to prevent potential disasters," Wolf said. "Pennsylvania sees some of the largest volume of Bakken crude oil transportation by rail in the United States and the potential for disaster is too great to ignore."

Zarembski is an internationally recognized rail expert who has extensive experience in rail operations, safety and risk analysis, according to Wolf's press release. He currently is research professor and director of the railroad engineering and safety program at the University of Delaware's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Prior to joining the university, Zarembski was president of ZETA-TECH Associates Inc., a railway technical consulting and applied technology company that he established in 1984. Zarembski also served as director of R&D for Pandrol Inc., director of R&D for Speno Rail Services Co. and manager, track research for the Association of American Railroads.