Cuomo Orders New Round of Safety Checks as Inspectors Uncover Defects in Train Cars and Tracks Carrying Crude Oil

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo yesterday announced completion of another round of targeted crude oil tank car and rail inspections across New York.

This round of inspections—state and federal teams examined 855 crude oil tank cars and approximately 30 miles of track—uncovered 84 defects, including three critical safety defects and two hazardous materials violations that required immediate corrective action, according to the governor’s office.

They were the latest part of the state’s push to protect New Yorkers from the potential dangers associated with the transport of crude oil by freight rail companies. Crude-oil trains have been the cause of massive explosions and fires in the U.S. and Canada.

Two trains carrying 3 million gallons of crude oil travel down the Hudson Valley daily, according to environmental advocacy group Riverkeeper.

“These inspections are part of this administration’s ongoing commitment to keep New Yorkers safe and ensure that crude oil cars and rail tracks that run through our state are kept in good repair,” Cuomo said in a prepared statement. “As New York continues to thoroughly inspect these cars and facilities, I am also calling on our federal partners to implement strong, standardized safety measures that impact all crude oil rail carriers in the United States. Together we can ensure that all issues are identified and resolved quickly, and that public safety is protected nationwide.”

RELATED:

• Crude-Oil Train Safety Along the Hudson River
• Riverkeeper: Lawmakers Must Prevent Crude Oil Train Disasters on the Hudson

The inspections last week were carried out at the CSX Corporation-owned Selkirk Yard in Albany County and Frontier Rail Yard in Buffalo; and the Canadian Pacific Railway-owned Kenwood Rail Yard in Albany and Colonie Yard in Watervliet. The inspectors also examined the CSX mainline track between Milton and Fort Montgomery, Fonda and Rotterdam, and within the city of Kingston.

The inspections focused on track, track hardware and tank car mechanical safety equipment, including wheels and brakes. The teams also performed hazardous materials inspections to ensure that equipment is in line with regulations, including valves, valve closures, and placards that describe the cargo being shipped. They also checked tank car inspection and pressure test dates.

Critical defects identify important maintenance issues that must be addressed immediately, but do not necessarily indicate safety lapses. Non-critical rail defects must be repaired within 30 days, while all tank car defects must be fixed before the train departs the yard. If that is not possible, the affected car will be pulled from the train to await repair.

Officials at Riverkeeper, which has been waging a “Stop the Bomb Trains” campaign, were pleased that inspections are being done, but said it was not enough.

State rail inspections continue to expose the dangers posed to our communities and our environment every day along the rail lines used by trains carrying volatile Bakken crude oil.

It’s good that the governor is inspecting operations and putting pressure on the feds to act. But there are things the governor can do at the state level that will be even more effective in getting action at the federal level, including:

To require an environmental impact statement on current crude oil transport operations – and prevent any expansion of operations – at state-licensed terminals in Albany;

To increase fees on oil being transported across New York State’s borders, to assure adequate spill preparedness and response capacity;

To pass legislation for increased insurance and bond requirements for oil shipments;

To order independent inspections of privately owned rail bridges along crude oil routes – particularly the CSX bridges identified by Riverkeeper and by Sen. Charles Schumer as having signs of degradation.

This problem isn’t getting better just by calling on the feds to take action.

» News Alerts: Subscribe to a free email newsletter:

BEDFORD-KATONAH • BRONXVILLE-EASTCHESTER-TUCKAHOE • CHAPPAQUA-MOUNT KISCO • HARRISON • LARCHMONT-MAMARONECK • NANUET • NEW CITY • NEW ROCHELLE • NYACK-PIERMONT • OSSINING-CROTON-ON-HUDSON • PEARL RIVER • PEEKSKILL-CORTLANDT • PELHAM • PORT CHESTER • PLEASANTVILLE-BRIARCLIFF MANOR • RIVERTOWNS • RYE • SCARSDALE • SOUTHEAST-BREWSTER • TARRYTOWN-SLEEPY HOLLOW • WHITE PLAINS • YORKTOWN-SOMERS