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A special interest group comprising the American Chemistry Council, Chlorine Institute Inc., The Fertilizer Institute and PPG Industries Inc. recently filed a complaint with the Surface Transportation Board (STB) seeking to halt the implementation of enhanced safety measures associated with transporting chlorine and hazardous commodities at the Alabama Gulf Coast Railway (AGR) and other railroads operated by RailAmerica Inc., the short-line holding company announced yesterday.
 
AGR’s safety protocols for haz-mat shipments include advance notification of a rail car’s delivery, special car inspections and the operation of short, dedicated trains pulling no more than three haz-mat-carrying cars, according to RailAmerica. The chemical industry group wants the STB to order AGR to “immediately discontinue its new safety protocols” and prohibit future implementation of enhanced protocols, RailAmerica officials said in a prepared statement.
 
The group “inaccurately told the STB that the enhanced safety program’s procedures and requirements impose ‘unnecessary and wasteful additional costs on the movement of [toxic] materials,’” they said. In addition, group members believe there will be “no practicable way” for shippers and receivers of haz-mat commodities to recover the costs incurred by the safety measures, RailAmerica officials said.

“Moving toxic materials and poison by rail imposes burdensome, costly and risky obligations on railroads,” said Paul Lundberg, RailAmerica’s chief operations officer. “Steps that enhance public safety should not be considered unnecessary, wasteful or burdensome where toxic and poisonous materials are concerned.”