Derailment after derailment. They just keep happening.

Since early February, there have been at least six train derailments in North America carrying crude from North Dakota’s Bakken Shale. These accidents have sparked increased calls from citizens, the rail industry and lawmakers for the federal government to increase safety regulations.

To keep up with these incidents and new safety regulations, PublicSource provides a roundup of stories every Friday.

*Interested in learning more about the risks of crude oil trains in Pennsylvania? Join us at 6:30 p.m. June 17 for a panel discussion we’re hosting in Pittsburgh at Carnegie Mellon University. Sign up and learn more here.

More track inspectors needed in Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission chair told state senators at a hearing on crude-by-rail safety this week in Harrisburg that the state needs more inspectors to monitor the more than 5,000 miles of track in state.

 

Crash in Minnesota between crude oil and flour truck

A BNSF Railway Co. train hauling crude oil collided on Tuesday with a truck carrying flour. There were no injuries and no spills, but Minnesota’s governor visited the scene to urge for more rail safety funding in the state, according to Forum News Service.

 

Oil firms shell out billions to victims of Quebec train crude-oil train disaster

Oil giants, including Shell, Marathon and ConocoPhillips, have contributed to a $345 million fund for victims of the July 2013 crash in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec. Still, the energy industry maintains it wasn’t responsible for the crash, according to Dow Jones Business News.

 

All they can do is let it burn, firefighters say

Firefighters who fought crude-oil train fires in Illinois, Virginia and Quebec attended a meeting in Albany, N.Y., this week and explained the realities of fighting an oil fire, according to the Albany Times Union.

Reach Natasha Khan at 412-315-0261 or nkhan@publicsource.org. Follow her on Twitter @khantasha.

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Natasha is director of audience & visuals strategy at Pittsburgh's Public Source. She runs the organization's audience and visual team. She manages social media, the website, brand strategy and works...