This is a safety problem that the government refuses to address. The hypocrisy of DOT requiring automakers to recall in five days even as it will not stop the use of dangerous oil tanker cars is apparent and sickening.
In what is one of the most insulting public relations moves by an ineffective federal agency I’ve ever seen, the U.S. Department of Transportation has issued an “Emergency Order requiring all railroads operating trains containing large amounts of Bakken crude oil to notify State Emergency Response Commissions (SERCs) about the operation of these trains through their states.”
Hogwash!
The problem, the deadly problem, is that many of the tank cars in use by Big Oil and the railroads to move crude oil are not safe – as the Lac-Mégantic derailment that killed 42 civilians and wiped out half of a southern Quebec town recently proved.
The DOT’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Pipeline, and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued a Safety Advisory – I am not making this up – “strongly urging those shipping or offering Bakken crude oil to use tank car designs with the highest level of integrity available in their fleets.”
Wow. Here is a clear, specific example of an agency shirking its responsibility in my view.
Moreover, the kowtowing to Big Oil gets worse.
“PHMSA and FRA advise offerors and carriers to the extent possible to avoid the use of older legacy DOT Specification 111 or CTC 111 tank cars for the shipment of Bakken crude oil.”
The mission of the Federal Railroad Administration is to “enable the safe, reliable and efficient movement of people and goods…”
Too bad, they do not take it seriously and are afraid of taking on Big Oil. Taxpayers deserve better.
