To understand what safe and effective federal procedures are in place for ensuring effective transportation, several members of the U.S. House Science, Space, and Technology Committee have requested details from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) on its current and future research efforts.
Specifically, the bipartisan contingent of committee members requested information about the research, development, and technology (RD&T) efforts being made by DOT to improve the transportation of hazardous materials following the Feb. 3 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, when the tanker cars, carrying several types of chemicals, ruptured, and caught fire.
“Despite the advances from RD&T over the past few years, the recent events in Ohio have highlighted potential reasons for concern,” wrote the five members, who included Science Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK), Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), and Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Jay Obernolte (R-CA) in a May 30 letter sent to DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
“In the interest of transparency, we seek further insight into DOT’s rail RD&T agenda, as well as DOT’s plans for process adjustments going forward by providing the committee with a briefing and answering [our] questions,” they wrote. “This will help to ensure federal research investments are translated to operational safety applications on the rail system.”
The lawmakers pointed out that it is the shared goal of their committee and the DOT to ensure the safe, efficient, and reliable movement of people and goods by rail.
“DOT’s various research programs are meant to contribute to the strategic goals of good repair and economic competitiveness through innovative technologies and safety-focused projects,” the members wrote. “While competitiveness is essential, it cannot come at the expense of Americans’ safety.”
Incidents like the one in East Palestine, Ohio, require careful consideration of how current practices, procedures, and efforts are improving effective operability of the nation’s transportation systems, according to their letter.
The lawmakers also requested information into the implementation of funding from recent appropriations for continued RD&T activities, DOT’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Infrastructure (ARPA-I), and the Transportation Technology Center (TTC) in Pueblo, Colo.
“The committee seeks to ensure that ARPA-I is truly investing in practical solutions,” they wrote. “We want to ensure that the tax dollars of the American people are funding solid efforts that will provide real results and mitigate accidents like the recent derailment.”
Additionally, the committee is interested in the RD&T work being conducted at TTC, specifically as it relates to tank car development, way-side detection research, and implementation of automated track inspection technology, according to their letter.
The committee members requested a briefing and written responses to several questions in their letter by June 20.