Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) recently released a statement praising the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) for its urgent recommendations to improve rail tank car safety.
This change directly impacts DeFazio’s responsibilities as a national leader, as he is a ranking member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
The recommendations specifically apply to rail tank cars that transport hazardous materials, which can be a dangerous operation.
These common-sense recommendations will create safer rail tank cars. When they are implemented, the changes will benefit both the safety and prosperity of the environment, current populations and future American generations.
“For nearly 25 years, NTSB has been pushing to increase safety standards for rail tank cars carrying hazardous materials,” DeFazio said. “The recommendations issued today to replace the outdated, unsafe rail cars moving hazardous materials through our communities are just common sense. I am very happy to see that they recommended thermal protection for cars carrying hazardous materials, an aggressive retrofit or replacement schedule and a transparent, publicly available reporting mechanism to report tank car replacement. I applaud these suggestions and urge OMB (Office of Management and Budget) to expedite the rule to increase safety and protect our communities as soon as possible.”
