USDOT to take additional measures to bolster crude-by-rail safety, says Foxx

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) this week expects to send a comprehensive rulemaking package to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) that will include options for enhancing tank-car standards, U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said on April 24 during a visit to Casselton, N.D.

The secretary was invited to Casselton — the site of a BNSF Railway Co. crude train accident in January — by U.S. Sens. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D. ) and U.S. Rep. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) to continue to discuss ways to strengthen the safety of transporting crude oil by rail. Foxx sought to reaffirm the USDOT's commitment to ensuring energy products transported by rail are carried safely, he wrote in an April 24 "Fast Lane" blog.

"We're putting every option on the table when it comes to improving the safe transport of crude oil by rail," he said. "In addition to updating tank-car regulations, we have taken immediate action — issuing multiple safety advisories, conducting investigations, and reaching agreements with the rail industry to reduce speeds, utilize new braking technology and improve first responder training — an unprecedented, comprehensive approach."

The USDOT plans to work collaboratively with OIRA on the forthcoming tank-car rulemaking and initiate the formal comment process as soon as possible, Foxx wrote.

"I’m also sending a letter today to producers requesting all available results and data regarding the variability and flammability of Bakken crude. It's not the first time we've asked for this information, but we continue to cast as wide a net as possible to gather as much data as possible," he said. "And, looking ahead, we’re working with Congress to support a proposal that will be part of our reauthorization bill — a $40-million flexible fund that will provide us with more resources to enhance the safe transport of energy products."