Heitkamp asks for federal action in oil-by-rail transportation

Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) last week asked federal regulators to quickly finalize new rules to make crude oil-by-rail transportation safer to protect communities and families throughout North Dakota and the country.

Since a 2013 crude oil train derailment in Cassleton, North Dakota, Heitkamp has worked to pressure federal agencies to implement updated rules that would keep communities safe.

“North Dakota has reaped tremendous economic benefits from our energy boom, but the derailment in Casselton shook our collective community, and there have been more derailments of crude oil trains across the country – including in the past few weeks,” Heitkamp said.

Heitkamp called on Shaun Donovan, director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), to advance draft proposals created by the Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration. The proposals would update rules and help prevent explosions in future derailments.

“That’s why I’ve been working to ramp up safety efforts ever since – from making sure our first responders have the tools and support they need to protect our communities, to pressing our federal agencies to implement better crude-by-rail safety measures – and it’s why I’m calling on OMB today to finalize that rule to needed upgrades and standards will be required,” Heitkamp said.