DOT Proposes DOT-111 Phase-Out, If Not Retrofitted Rules that the U.S. Department of Transportation is proposing would phase out the use of older DOT-111 tank cars to ship packing group I flammable liquids, including most Bakken crude oil, within two years unless the railcars are retrofitted to comply with new tank car design standards. DOTs Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposes enhanced tank car standards, a classification and testing program for mined gases and liquids, and new operational requirements for high-hazard flammable trains that include braking controls and speed restrictions. A separate Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeks input on expanding comprehensive oil spill response planning requirements for shipments of flammable materials. Both rulemakings are open for 60 days of public comment. They follow the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administrations rulemaking last fall that asked stakeholders for comments about enhancing standards for DOT-111 tank cars that are used to transport packing group I (materials posing great danger) and II (medium danger) hazmats. DOT received more than 152,000 comments in response. The NPRM defines a high-hazard flammable train as a train carrying 20 or more tank carloads of flammable liquids (including crude oil and ethanol). Safety is our top priority, which is why Ive worked aggressively to improve the safe transport of crude oil and other hazardous materials since my first week in office, Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said July 23. While we have made unprecedented progress through voluntary agreements and emergency orders, todays proposal represents our most significant progress yet in developing and enforcing new rules to ensure that all flammable liquids, including Bakken crude and ethanol, are transported safely.
Posted on: Wed, 06 Aug 2014 13:55:20 +0000
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