I attended the meeting of the Rockland County Legislature Environmental Committee last Wednesday March 26, 2014 where a resolution was passed in regard to safety standards for trains that carry crude oil through Rockland County. While I applaud these efforts I feel a MUCH stronger response is needed. A moratorium should be put in place prohibiting any transport of crude oil until all safety regulations are in place including the TOTAL REPLACEMENT OF ALL DOT 1111 train cars which have been deemed unsafe. In addition, as per the testimony of expert John Lipscomb of Riverkeeper, the transport of oil by barge on the Hudson River has unacceptable risks. Not mentioned by him was the fact that construction barges moored in the river near the Tappan Zee Bridge have broken loose and floated down the river FOUR TIMES SINCE SEPTEMBER 2013, MOST RECENTLY YESTERDAY MARCH 30, 2014. It was discovered by a Piermont resident who happened to notice. That barge could have slammed into a crude carrying barge resulting in a massive spill. THE PIERMONT MARSH COULD BE DECIMATED!! It is obvious to anyone that the citizens of Rockland are NOT BEING PROTECTED FROM WHAT COULD BE A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT. If there is a train derailment, an oil spill, an explosion there would be an evacuation, A five mile evacuation along any stretch of the West Shore line could involve schools, nursing homes, hospitals, businessses, light industry with risk of chemical involvement. None of this is acceptable. We need a much stronger response to this urgent, dangerous situation. Call every elected official and GET MAD AS HELL. Its not if it will happen...its when.
Posted on: Tue, 01 Apr 2014 11:45:28 +0000
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