Walden and Oregon colleagues offer bipartisan bill to help communities respond to rail accidents

U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR) and bipartisan members of Oregon’s congressional delegation joined together to introduce legislation that would create a new fund to help communities prepare for emergencies involving rail cars that transport flammable liquids.

The Community Protection and Preparedness Act, H.R. 2223, would establish a Rail Account in the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund and authorize the secretary of transportation to assess a fee of $1,500 for each outdated DOT-111 and CPC-1232 tank car that does not meet Department of Transportation standards.

“Safety is a top priority for Oregon communities near highly trafficked railways,” Walden, the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said. “The people who live in areas like the Columbia Gorge deserve peace of mind that, if an accident occurs, the proper emergency response and protection plans are in place and ready to be implemented.”

Last year a Union Pacific train transporting oil derailed and caught on fire in the Columbia River Gorge.

“Our bipartisan plan takes important steps to improve rail safety, including assessing where inspections need improvement, imposing a fee for older standard tank cars and equipping first-responders with the tools they need to protect lives and property,” Walden said.

In addition to emergency response and remediation efforts in the event of accidents involving flammable liquids like crude oil and ethanol, Rail Account funds could also be used to help state and tribal governments develop emergency response plans and to develop and train regional response teams.

“Rail safety is critical as we work to protect the natural treasures in our state and the people who live here,” Walden said.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration would also be directed to issue a final rule on oil spill response plans and information sharing for high-hazard flammable trains. Additionally, the Federal Railroad Administration would be authorized to hire more track safety specialists, and the transportation secretary would be instructed to explore the effectiveness of track inspections under the bill.

U.S. Reps. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) joined Walden in introducing H.R. 2223.

“Every day, thousands of rail tank cars carrying toxic, hazardous materials crisscross the country,” DeFazio, the ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said.

“The communities along these train routes shouldn’t be on the hook for clean up or damages after an accident and spill occurs. This legislation would help protect and prepare communities by providing funding to help states and Native American tribes develop and carry out emergency response plans, and provide critical training for emergency responders,” DeFazio added.