Rep. Mike Thompson Speaks On Rail Safety

Press Release

U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5) today spoke on the
importance of rail safety and observed a training demonstration during the
final day of the 3-day Railroad Hazardous Materials Awareness Training.

BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Railroad hosted this disaster
response training in conjunction with Rep. Thompson, Contra Costa County Fire
Departments, the Contra Costa County Sherriff's Office of Emergency Services
and the City of Hercules for local first responders to be better prepared in
the event of a train derailment or other accident that involves hazardous
materials.

"Public safety is priority number one when it comes to
transporting hazardous materials," said Thompson. "I appreciate BNSF Railway and
Union Pacific Railroad for working with my office to provide this week's
training to our local responders. While we certainly hope our first
responders never have to use what they learned in this training in a real life
situation, we need to make sure our first responders have all the information
and training they need to quickly, safely and effectively address emergency
situations."

This week's training is the result of a series of local
stakeholder meetings held by Rep. Thompson regarding the safe transportation of
hazardous materials by rail. During these meetings, it was identified
that our local first responders should have greater access to hazardous
materials training. Rep. Thompson then worked with BNSF Railway and Union
Pacific Railroads to bring the Railroad Hazardous Materials Awareness Training
to Hercules.

Rep. Thompson has co-authored and introduced the Crude-by-Rail
Safety Act, legislation which establishes comprehensive new safety and security
standards for the transport of crude oil by rail. The legislation is designed
to help protect communities along the nation's railway networks. More
specifically, the Crude-by-Rail Safety Act would establish new, commonsense
federal safety standards for railcars transporting oil across the
country. This legislation:

* Establishes a maximum volatility standard for crude oil
(propane, butane, methane, and ethane) transported by rail

* Prohibits use of unsafe DOT-111 tank cars, including the removal
of 37,700 unsafe cars off the rail network

* Establishes the strongest tank car standards to-date

* Requires comprehensive oil spill response planning and studies

* Increases fines for violating volatility standards and hazmat
transport standards

* Requires disclosure of train movements through communities and
emergency response plans

* Requires railroads to implement a confidential close-call
reporting systems

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