{"id":81502,"date":"2017-06-04T19:27:56","date_gmt":"2017-06-04T23:27:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/?p=81502"},"modified":"2017-06-03T14:14:31","modified_gmt":"2017-06-03T18:14:31","slug":"schneiderman-fellow-ags-to-trump-administration-close-loophole-allowing-trains-to-carry-explosive-crude-oil-through-communities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/?p=81502","title":{"rendered":"Schneiderman, fellow AGs to Trump administration: Close loophole allowing trains to carry explosive crude oil through communities"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/strong>\u201cBomb Trains\u201d Carrying Millions Of Gallons Of Crude Oil Routinely Travel Through Cities And Towns In NY And Across Country, Without Any Limits On Explosiveness And Flammability<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Six-State Coalition Calls For Immediate Action To Set National Limit On Vapor Pressure Of Crude Oil To Minimize Threat Of Explosions And Uncontrollable Fires From Rail Accidents<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Schneiderman: It\u2019s Time For The Federal Government To Close This Dangerous And Nonsensical Loophole<\/em><\/p>\n

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman, leading a coalition of six state Attorneys General, is urging the Trump Administration to immediately close a loophole that allows highly flammable, highly explosive crude oil to be shipped by rail through communities in New York and across the country. These so-called \u201cbomb trains\u201d are responsible for several catastrophic rail accidents in recent years, including the 2013 explosion in Quebec that killed 47 people; in New York alone, these trains cover roughly 700 miles of the state.<\/p>\n

In comments filed in response to an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) issued by the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), the coalition calls on the agency to take immediate steps to require that all crude oil transported by rail in the U.S. achieve a vapor pressure \u2013 a key driver of the oil\u2019s explosiveness and flammability\u2013 of less than 9.0 pounds per square inch (psi). The comments were filed by the Attorneys General of New York, California, Illinois, Maryland, Maine, and Washington<\/p>\n

Click here to read the comments filed by the Attorneys General.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cBecause of a regulatory loophole, these trains can carry crude oil through some of our most densely populated areas without any limit on explosiveness or flammability \u2013 creating ticking time bombs that jeopardize the safety of countless New Yorkers and Americans,\u201d said Attorney General Schneiderman. \u201cIt\u2019s time for the federal government to put New Yorkers\u2019 safety first and take immediate action to close this dangerous and nonsensical loophole.\u201d<\/p>\n

In December 2015, Attorney General Schneiderman filed a petition for rulemaking with PHMSA<\/a> to set the national limit on vapor pressure of crude oil transported by rail at less than 9.0 psi .\u00a0In December 2016, specifically citing the Attorney General\u2019s petition, the agency announced that it would issue an ANPRM in order to gather public comment on vapor pressure limits and the safety benefits of utilizing such a limit in regulating the transport of crude oil and other dangerous materials.<\/p>\n

Accidents of trains carrying crude oil have resulted in devastating explosions and uncontrollable fires \u2013 including the 2016 train derailment in Mosier, Oregon, where the resulting fire caused the evacuation of nearly one-quarter of the town\u2019s residents, and the infamous 2013 Lac-M\u00e9gantic, Quebec accident, where a derailed train burst into flames, destroyed the downtown area, and killed 47 people.\u00a0 Despite the catastrophic impacts that these and other rail accidents have had on communities, currently there is no federal limit on the vapor pressure of crude oil transported by rail.\u00a0In the comments filed with PHMSA on Friday, the Attorneys General argue that reducing crude oil vapor pressures to levels below 9.0 psi\u00a0is not only practical, but is necessary for minimizing the explosion and fire danger involved in transporting crude oil by rail.<\/p>\n

The Fixing America\u2019s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act of 2015 requires PHMSA and the federal Department of Energy to report the results of a multi-year study conducted by Sandia National Laboratories to assess the volatility of crude oil and make recommendations on improving the safety of its transport. The completion of this study and the development of accompanying recommendations may take years.\u00a0For this reason, the coalition is urging PHMSA to recognize the substantial present danger that oil trains pose to communities by taking immediate action to set a vapor pressure standard less than 9.0 psi until a final standard is promulgated.<\/p>\n

It has been reported that up to 44 \u201cunit trains\u201d \u2013 chains of 70 to 120 tank cars \u2013 travel on rail routes that bisect New York each week, each carrying from 2 to 3.5 million gallons of crude oil.\u00a0 These trains cover approximately 700 miles of the state, passing through small communities as well as the heart of population centers such as Buffalo, Syracuse, Rochester, Plattsburgh, Saratoga Springs, Albany, Kingston, and Newburgh, and within a few miles of New York City.\u00a0 An oil train accident along these routes of the size and intensity of those seen in Quebec and other locations, could endanger the safety of thousands of New Yorkers who live, work, travel, and recreate along the trains\u2019 paths.<\/p>\n

Vapor pressure is a key contributor to crude oil\u2019s explosiveness and flammability.\u00a0 Crude oils with the highest vapor pressures \u2013 such as those produced from the Bakken Shale formations in North Dakota \u2013 have the highest concentrations of propane, butane, ethane, and other highly volatile gases.\u00a0 While the vapor pressure of the crude oil involved in train accidents is frequently not disclosed, in the limited number of instances it is known \u2013 including the Mosier (Oregon) and La-M\u00e9gantic (Quebec) accidents \u2013 vapor pressures have exceeded 9.0 psi.<\/p>\n

PHMSA\u2019s stated mission is to protect people and the environment from the risks associated with the transportation of hazardous materials, including crude oil.\u00a0 In July 2015, in response to concerns raised by rail accidents involving crude oil shipments, the agency adopted a new rule that sought to enhance the structural integrity of train cars that ship crude oil, and lessen the chances of train derailments.\u00a0 Although the new rule imposed new regulations on the design and operation of train cars, it did nothing to increase the safety of the highly combustible liquids carried by these cars.\u00a0 Because of this, under federal law, crude oil can still be shipped through some of New York\u2019s most densely populated communities without any limit on its explosiveness or flammability.<\/p>\n

According to the Association of American Railroads, crude oil shipments by rail increased from 9,500 carloads in 2008 to 493,126 carloads in 2014, representing an increase of over 5,000 percent.\u00a0 While rail shipments of crude oil have dipped somewhat in recent years, rail is expected to continue to be an important mode of transporting the resource in the future, particularly as crude oil prices and total U.S. production rebound as expected.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo one should have to live with dangerously explosive materials rumbling through their backyards,\u201d said Congresswoman Nita Lowey. \u201cIn Rockland County, trains carry crude oil directly through towns and neighborhoods where children and families live, work, and play. The risk of a crude oil tragedy in New York and across the country is far too great, and I am pleased Attorney General Schneiderman is fighting for this important step to protect our communities. As Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, I will continue working with partners at all levels of government to prevent a crude transport disaster.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI join and commend Attorney General Schneiderman in his call for immediate action at the federal level to mandate a safer vapor pressure standard of 9.0 or lower for crude oil transported by rail. The Capital Region remains a major hub for oil train traffic and as long as volatile crude oil is permitted to be transported through the area, residents remain at risk. Almost two dozen Assemblymembers wrote the Administration last fall supporting this safety change,\u201d saidAssemblymember Patricia A. Fahy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI join Attorney General Schneiderman in calling on the Trump administration to take immediate action to protect our community by reducing the volatility of crude oil shipped by rail to mitigate the impact of accidents involving oil trains,\u201d said Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy. \u201cI believe the lower threshold would reduce the possibility of explosions and go a long way toward holding rail shippers accountable for the risks we face every day. I have called for lower thresholds since 2014 after we found out that the Bakken crude in the Lac Megantic disaster had a psi between 9 and 9.3 and my Expert Advisory Committee on Crude Oil Safety Issues made the same recommendation that I sent to the former Secretary of Transportation.\u00a0 As we near the fourth anniversary of that disaster, we must take every precaution necessary to protect our residents. I applaud the Attorney General for pursuing this requirement and offering his comments to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration on behalf of New Yorkers.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI fully support Attorney General Schneiderman\u2019s efforts to improve the safety of crude oil that is transported by rail through cities like Albany every day,\u201d said Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan. \u201cImproving vapor pressure standards will help to protect our communities from the harm that can occur if a derailment or accident occurs. \u00a0I applaud the Attorney General\u2019s leadership on this important issue.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe City of Plattsburgh cares deeply about the movement of the most volatile crude oil products by train through our dense urban core and along our lake. Reducing the permissible vapor pressure for crude oil and chemical containers reduces both the potential for explosions and for chemical inhalation should an accident or puncture occur. I fully support the OAG\u2019s effort to keep our population safe by restricting the allowable vapor pressure of these volatile chemical cars,\u201d saidPlattsburgh Mayor Colin Read.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the past 10 years, U.S. production of crude oil has nearly tripled\u2014and most of it is now being shipped by rail.\u00a0 The frequency of related deadly fires and explosions has also skyrocketed across the country,\u201d said Kimberly Ong, Staff Attorney, Natural Resources Defense Council.\u00a0 \u201cCommunities nationwide urgently need the Department of Transportation to put existing safety technology to use to limit crude oil vapor pressure and greatly reduce the likelihood of these dangerous incidents nationwide.\u00a0 We applaud Attorney General Schneiderman and his colleagues for pushing for immediate action on this critical matter of public safety.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUntil the state achieves its goal of 100% clean, renewable energy powered economy, an oil train tragedy in New York is sadly a matter of when, not if,\u201d said Peter Iwanowicz, executive director of Environmental Advocates of New York. \u201cThe federal government should immediately act on Attorney General Schneiderman\u2019s call for less volatile oil on the rails in our communities.\u00a0 It could be a real life saver.”<\/p>\n

This matter is being handled by Assistant Attorney General Mihir Desai, Environmental Scientist John Davis, and Policy Analyst Jeremy Magliaro under the supervision of Deputy Bureau Chiefs Lisa Burianek and Monica Wagner of the New York Attorney General\u2019s Environmental Protection Bureau. The Environmental Protection Bureau is led by Lemuel M. Srolovic and is part of the Division of Social Justice, which is led by Executive Deputy Attorney General for Social Justice Alvin Bragg.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cBomb Trains\u201d Carrying Millions Of Gallons Of Crude Oil Routinely Travel Through Cities And Towns In NY And Across Country, Without Any Limits On Explosiveness And Flammability\u00a0 Six-State Coalition Calls For Immediate Action To Set National Limit On Vapor Pressure Of Crude Oil To Minimize Threat Of Explosions And Uncontrollable Fires From Rail Accidents\u00a0 Schneiderman: […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":70131,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[23810,8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-81502","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wellbeing","category-top-story"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p43meu-lcy","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/madisoncountycourier.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/Attorny_General_Eric_T_Schneiderman.jpg?fit=260%2C221&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81502","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=81502"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81502\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/70131"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=81502"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=81502"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=81502"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}