New standards for rail tanker cars that ship crude oil could be forthcoming very soon.
Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) says that’s the upshot from a meeting the state’s Congressional delegation had with Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administrator Cynthia Quarterman. Hoeven asked for the meeting after oil tanker cars derailed near Casselton, causing most of the city's 2400 residents to evacuate.
"The Secretary indicated he will be meeting with the rail industry and shippers," said Hoeven. "He said they'll be using some of the testing data they've been doing since August to come out with guidance on the new standards. And he indicated that over the next several weeks, he'll hopefully have a proposed rule on tank cars."
Hoeven has invited Foxx to come to Casselton – and hold a meeting on the recent train derailment. And he says Foxx is open to the idea.
"We'd have not only the regulators there, but rail and oil industry representatives as well, to both hear from the citizens and give them information on what's being done to make sure crude is moved safely," said Hoeven.
The date of that meeting has not yet been set.
