Hat tip, Trainorders: Crude oil derailment in North Dakota

North Dakota Town Evacuated After Train Derailment

Oil train safety link farm: Oil Train Safety. Links to News Articles, Industry Groups, Regulatory Agencies. Updated 04-30-2015

Full disclosure: I own shares of stock in rail companies, though not BNSF, which is owned by Warren Buffett. The Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meeting was earlier this week, I think.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/apr/14/north-dakota-house-rejects-plea-to-fund-rail-safet/

April 14, 2015

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - North Dakota’s Republican-led House on Tuesday rejected a plea by Democrats to restore funding for a state-run rail safety program intended to supplement federal oversight of burgeoning oil train traffic.

The debate came as the House approved the Public Service Commission’s two-year, $21.5 million spending bill. The PSC had requested $972,000 in the next two-year budget cycle to fund the program, which included two rail safety inspectors and a rail safety manager to supplement inspections by the Federal Railroad Administration.

The Senate had unanimously approved the funding in February for the PSC, which regulates sectors from auctioneers to pipelines.

Public Service Commissioner Julie Fedorchak, a Republican, called last year for the creation of the safety program. GOP Gov. Jack Dalrymple also has supported the idea, following a spate of accidents involving North Dakota crude in the U.S. and Canada - including a fiery derailment in the governor’s hometown of Casselton.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026321336

Mar 6, 2015

The Obama administration considered national standards to control explosive gas in oil trains last year but rejected the move, deciding instead to leave new rules to North Dakota, where much of the fuel originates.

Current and former administration officials told Reuters that they were unsure if they had the power to force the energy industry to drain volatile gas from crude oil originating in North Dakota’s fields. Instead, they opted to back North Dakota’s effort to remove the cocktail of explosive gas — known in the industry as “light ends” — and rely on the state to contain the risk. North Dakota’s regulations come into force next month.

The administration’s internal debate shows that concern about the risks associated with oil trains reached the upper level of the White House. But the administration balked at addressing the problem in new regulations governing crude oil trains that it is preparing to introduce this spring.

... invest little, grab much. Repeat.

Parts of ND will just be uninhabitable toxic wasteland.

A pipeline, of course, ... smell bacon? ...

you aren't trying to hint that this was done on purpose are you?

You should check out the reporting VICE has done-


The Crude Gamble of Oil by Rail: Bomb Trains