WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — US President Barack Obama must take immediate action to confront the realities of oil train safety in the United States with new allotted congressional funding following recent train accidents, US Representatives Tammy Baldwin and Ron Kind said in a joint statement.
A few years ago, an #OilTrain in the state was a rare sight. Today, it's time to act. http://t.co/5pGn5ov4Xe pic.twitter.com/uL9muBcuEa
— Sen. Tammy Baldwin (@SenatorBaldwin) 9 Март 2015
“Congress has provided additional funding to study tank cars, hire more track inspectors, and repair rail infrastructure,” the statement, issued on Monday, read. “We urge your Administration to use this funding, along with its regulatory powers, to improve oil train safety as quickly as possible.”
The two lawmakers said that the danger facing the US state of Wisconsin municipalities has materialized quickly, and will continue to grow if not corrected.
Read the letter to the @WhiteHouse urging immediate action on dangerous #OilTrains http://t.co/5pGn5ov4Xe pic.twitter.com/Blw2FMt7eY
— Sen. Tammy Baldwin (@SenatorBaldwin) 9 Март 2015
“Just a few years ago, an oil train in the state was a rare sight. Today, more than 40 oil trains pass through Wisconsin cities and town, many more than 100 tank cars long,” they said.
“It is clear that the increase in oil moving has corresponded with an uptick in oil derailments,” the congressmen said.
In January, Baldwin and Kind pushed for the US Department of Transportation (DOT) and the US Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) to rule on increasing oil tank car safety after both agencies missed their January 15, 2015 deadlines.
