Derailment after derailment. They just keep happening.
Since early February, there have been numerous 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.
Sen. Casey asks railroads to slow trains through big cities
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) asked CSX and Norfolk Southern railroads to slow oil trains down to 35 mph through cities with populations of 100,000 or more. Gov. Tom Wolf previously proposed the same speed reduction. Crude oil trains also move through midsize cities, including Harrisburg, Altoona and Reading, which all have populations under 100,000.
East Coast refinery looks elsewhere for crude oil
As the North Dakota oil boom slows due to a dip in oil prices a Delaware oil refinery is looking to source crude oil from overseas.
New York moms protest oil trains
A group of mothers in Rochester are fearful of oil trains coming through their area because of deteriorating tracks and infrastructure, lack of government oversight and trains moving too fast through communities.
Heat caused two oil trains to derail in Montana
BNSF Railway said two July derailments on their tracks in Montana happened after heat caused rails to come out of alignment. Both accidents resulted in spills and caused $3 million in combined damages.
Reach Natasha Khan at nkhan@publicsource.org or 412-315-0261. Follow her on Twitter @khantasha.
