OTC adopts new rules, adds more inspectors to increase rail safety

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor
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Port of Vancouver USA

The Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC) approved an updated set of rules for transporting hazardous materials by rail. Combined with Oregon Department of Transportation's (ODOT) addition of four rail inspectors, the rules aim to improve the state's ability to both prevent incidents and respond to them if they do occur.

 

“These rules will help ensure that first responders get the information they need, when they need it and agencies that need the information for planning purposes can also get it,” said ODOT Director Matthew Garrett. “The rules also provide a means for the public to get information they may need to be prepared in case of an incident.”

Emergency responders will now get immediate notification from railroads for incidents involving hazardous materials. Those notifications include information about the type, quantity and placement of any materials on the train.

Railroads now must file quarterly reports with ODOT detailing shipments of hazardous materials. ODOT will in turn share those reports with emergency responders. The new rules specify the information is to be released under the state’s public records law, but allow some exemptions for trade secrets.

ODOT can now assess penalties up to $1,000 for each day railroads don’t comply with the rules.

OTC will add four new staff members, which will bring the number of railroad inspectors who partner with the Federal Railroad Administration in overseeing the safety of Oregon’s extensive rail operations to 11. When the four new hires are certified by FRA, ODOT will have two inspectors in four of the five FRA disciplines (operating practices; hazardous materials; signal and train control and motive power and equipment) and three inspectors in the fifth discipline (track).

“We increased staffing in part because of national concerns about the increase in crude-by-rail shipments,” said Garrett. “With our new staff members, we will have specific discipline-trained inspectors on duty to cover the state even if an inspector is out sick or on vacation.”

The Rail Division team decided to bring the track inspector total to three because statistics show that track-related defects are the most common cause of derailments.

 

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