Letter to Shaun Donovan, Director the Office of Budget and Management - Crude Oil Transportation

Letter

Dear Director Donovan:

I write to urge you to complete your review of the Department of Transportation's draft proposal to phase-out or retrofit existing DOT-111 tank cars used to transport crude oil as soon as possible. I also urge you to stay the course on the planned two-year phase-out of transporting the most volatile crude in these cars, and ensure that the regulations are as stringent as possible.

The flaws in DOT-111 cars, which represent 69% of the national tank fleet carrying crude oil and ethanol, are well known and were made even more apparent with last year's tragic derailment in Lac-Megantic, Canada, which killed 47 people and incinerated the town's center. OMB must complete its review of DOT's rule as soon as possible in order to prevent another derailment that could endanger lives and cause significant economic and environmental damage.

Recent reports that hundreds of crude oil trains travel through Upstate New York every month--each laden with outdated and flawed DOT-111 cars that are prone to rupture and explode--are of serious concern. I urge you to move forward with a mandatory two-year phase-out of DOT-111 cars carrying the most flammable liquids as soon as possible, and to ensure that the new rules surrounding the retrofitted cars, speed limits, and other critical safety issues are as strict as possible.

The boom in the transportation of crude oil and ethanol by train can certainly bring economic benefits to communities, but the recent and substantial increase in the transportation of hazardous materials must also include meaningful safety measures. While I fully understand the importance of conducting a thorough review of this rule, the safety of many of our nation's communities is at risk, and I ask that you swiftly complete your review of the rule to regulate these dangerous cars, while also making sure that the rule is as stringent as possible. Thank you for your attention to this matter, and please feel free to contact my Washington, DC office should you need more information.

Sincerely,

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