The Senate Transportation and the Environmental Resources and Energy Committees will hold a joint hearing from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on June 9 in Harrisburg to collect testimony on the “Safe Transportation of Crude Oil and Other Energy Products by Rail in Pennsylvania.”

The hearing will take place in the Keystone Building, Pennsylvania Utility Commission, Room 1, 400 North Street, Harrisburg.  The hearing will be aired live online through PCN.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with those communities in the United States and abroad that experienced derailments, accidents and disasters involving trains transporting crude oil and other volatile materials,” remarked Sen. John. Rafferty (R-Montgomery), Majority Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee.  “We want to learn more about safely moving these products across the state and work swiftly and proactively with the railroad companies who are charged with such a large responsibility of maintaining a vibrant energy economy in the Commonwealth.”

“The use of rail is the primary method for transporting crude oil to the refineries in Southeast Pennsylvania,” said Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.  “It is critically important that we have appropriate measures in place to reduce the risk of accidents in our Commonwealth.  I am pleased to join with Sen. Rafferty for this joint committee hearing to prevent and respond to accidents that could threaten public safety.”

The Committees will hear testimony from an array of experts regarding a variety of topics and perspectives at the federal, state and local levels since this issue is immersed throughout transportation and energy production.

Public comments may be sent to the corresponding Senate Committee.

Sen. John Rafferty (R-Montgomery) serves as Majority Chair of the Transportation Committee, email: jrafferty@pasen.gov, and Sen. John Wozniak (D-Cambria) serves as Minority Chair, email: wozniak@pasenate.com.

Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) serves as the Majority Chair of the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, email: gyaw@pasen.gov, and Sen. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne) serves as Minority Chair, email: yudichak@pasenate.com.

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