Wyden applauds rail transportation notification rule for first responders

U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) recently applauded a proposed rule announced by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) that would require railroads to provide more notification about shipments of crude oil and other flammable liquids.

Wyden introduced the Hazardous Materials Rail Transportation Safety Improvement Act, which implements National Transportation Safety Board recommendations to increase the amount of information provided to first responders. U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) introduced a companion bill in the House of Representatives this week.

“First responders must be informed when trains carrying hazardous materials are going to travel through their communities,” Wyden said. “Today’s proposal moves toward greater transparency by requiring railroads to better notify emergency responders about large shipments of any flammable liquid, not just oil. I have been calling for stronger notification standards for two years, and I will be looking at the details of this proposal to see if it goes far enough to ensure communities are prepared.”

The proposed transparency rule is part of a notice of proposed rule making that was issued by the DOT on Wednesday. The proposed rule would update and clarify the comprehensive oil spill response plan requirement for certain trains and would incorporate a test method for the initial boiling point for flammable liquids into the hazardous materials legislation.

Wyden was joined in calling for the changes by U.S. Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Diane Feinstein (D-CA) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA).