The Senate Transportation and Environmental Resources and Energy Committees Tuesday heard Gladys Brown, Chair of the Public Utility Commission, which has responsibility to do safety inspections on about 700 rail lines used by crude oil trains, say her agency would like to increase the number of safety inspectors.

About half of the crude oil moved by rail in the United State is bound for refineries near Philadelphia, according to an Associated Press report.  About 60 to 70 trains a week go through Pennsylvania carrying about 150 million gallons of crude oil.

Click Here to watch a video of the hearing.  The Committees heard testimony from--

-- Gladys Brown, Chair of the Public Utility Commission

-- Allen Zarembski, Special Advisor to the Governor on Crude Oil Transportation

-- Rudy Husband, Vice President Norfolk Southern

-- Quintin Kendall, Vice President CSX Transportation (Attachment to Testimony)

-- Robert Full, Chief Deputy Director, PA Emergency Management Agency

-- Scott Martin, Lancaster County Commissioner

-- Randy Gockley, Director Of Lancaster County Emergency Management Agency

-- Elisabeth Treseder, American Petroleum Institute

-- Philip Rinaldi, CEO, Philadelphia Energy Solutions

-- Written Testimony- Sierra Club of Chester County

Brown said the PUC inspects a total of about 5,600 miles of track with 8 safety inspectors, which is fewer inspectors per mile than neighboring states.  Brown said the PUC has trouble retaining inspectors because once they get to be certified inspectors they move to the Federal Railroad Administration for double the pay.

The FRA has primary responsibility for rail safety inspections, investigating derailments, does track inspection record checks and drug and alcohol tests.

Representatives of both CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern told the Committees  they would like to see stronger standards for tank cars.

Allan Zarembski, the Governor’s Special Advisor of Rail Transportation Safety, said he has just begun the data collection phase of his work and will address three major areas: derailment risk, tank car breach/rupture risk and regulatory oversight capacity and resources.

Lancaster County Commissioner Scott Martin said the threat of crude oil train derailments has a low probability, “however, if it occurs would be a very dangerous and tedious incident.”

“This hearing has been vital in gathering information on how energy products, including crude oil, are moved through Pennsylvania, how local, state and federal governments can work together to address rail safety, and what resources are needed to protect communities,” said Sen. John. Rafferty (R-Montgomery), Majority Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee.  “We were interested to learn more about safely moving these products across the state and work swiftly and proactively with various stakeholders to implement new safeguards.”

“Transportation by rail is obviously really important,” said Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.  “The United States is blessed with all of the energy possibilities that it has, but we need to get all those products to market.  Rail is one way we can get those products to market.  As Committee Chairmen, Sen. Rafferty and I are continuously working to ensure that these products are shipped safely and efficiently across the Commonwealth.”

“Following a rash of derailments, accidents and disasters in communities throughout our state and nation, it is critical that we take steps to reduce the risk of accidents,” said Sen. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne), Minority Chair of the Senate Environmental Committee.  “There were more crude oil train spills last year than in any year since the federal government began collecting statistics in 1975. It’s also important to emphasize that 25 million Americans live within the U.S. Department of Transportation’s one-mile oil train evacuation zone.

“While safety improvement efforts are underway, I want to make sure that state and federal officials are working together to ensure the safety of our rail transport system.  We need to make sure that the train tracks are adequately inspected and monitored, and that emergency responders are trained and prepared when incidents do occur.

“I also questioned the rail industry executives on the required training and certification for their engineers that are transporting the crude oil.

“The joint committee today heard from a number of different experts with a multitude of unique perspectives on these train transport safety issues. Their testimony will help guide our work on these issues, help us shape legislative remedies and provide direction on future challenges.”

Pennsylvania has the most operating railroad companies of any state, with a total of 57 across the state – ranging from the largest Class I railroads, moving long trains of goods along busy main line tracks to small “short line” railroads that may serve a short list of industries in a small area, moving a few cars at a time.

While testifiers emphasized that North America’s rail networks moves almost all of its hazardous material shipments to their destination without incident, they said that coordination, planning and being prepared are crucial to prevent accidents.

Testifiers also said proactive efforts are being made by government agencies, the railroad companies, the oil industry and emergency response agencies to avoid a major loss of life, the impact of a serious environmental disaster and to minimize considerable energy and utility losses.

They emphasized that Pennsylvania needs to take comprehensive approach to prevent train derailments, comply with new federal guidelines and give first responders the knowledge and tools they need to respond to incidents.

“In recent years, we have seen significant increases to U.S. oil and natural gas production improve economic growth and promote energy independence,” Sen. Rafferty said.  “We now need to continue implementing sound policy decisions to secure a prosperous Commonwealth for the decades ahead.”

“Through communication, cooperation and coordination we can make rail transportation even safer and provide assurances to communities that we have good plans in place to address this important issue,” Sen. Yaw added.

Click Here to watch a video of the hearing.

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.

NewsClips:

Railroads, PUC Call For Stricter Tank Car Standards, More Inspectors

Lawmakers Seek Answers On Oil Train Safety

PA Needs More Inspectors For Rail Line Carrying Crude Oil

Oil Firms But Millions In Fund For Train Blast Victims

Groups Push Back On Delaware County Refinery Water Intake Plan

Natural Gas Pipeline Rupture Forces Temporary Evacuations

Natural Gas Line Rupture Forces Temporary Evacuations

Feds Investigating Pipeline Explosion In PA

Lycoming Gas Pipeline Rupture Was Same Line Thru Lancaster

Pipeline Company Wants Compressors In Franklin

New Pipeline Could Mean Tax Bonanza For NJ, Not PA

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6/15/2015