[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 84 (Thursday, May 26, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E807]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF THE SAVE OUR COMMUNITIES FROM RISKY TRAINS ACT OF 2016

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 26, 2016

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, in light of recent train derailments across 
the country and ongoing transportation security threats, I rise to 
introduce the Save Our Community from Risky Trains Act of 2016, which 
directs the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to find ways to the 
greatest extent possible to reroute trains that are carrying certain 
hazardous materials from selected high-threat urban areas, including 
the District of Columbia. Just this month, sixteen cars of a CSX 
freight train derailed in a densely residential neighborhood of the 
nation's capital, disrupting Metrorail, passenger rail, and freight 
rail service and putting families at risk. Among the derailed freight 
train cars, cars carrying sodium hydroxide, calcium chloride and 
ethanol--which is flammable and led to a Metrorail shutdown--spilled. 
The neighborhood was lucky that there were no injuries, but the 
continuing threat to the safety and security of urban communities is 
clear.
  In 2007, the House passed the Rail and Public Transportation Security 
Act of 2007, which included my amendment to protect the District and 
similar communities nationwide from dangerous hazardous material 
shipments by mandating that federal regulations and penalties be 
developed to increase security and safety for the shipment of these 
materials through high-threat urban areas. My amendment was not 
included in the final bill signed into law. While freight companies 
have begun working with DOT to voluntarily reroute the shipment of 
certain materials that are toxic by inhalation, poisonous by 
inhalation, or explosive from these communities, there is no federal 
law requiring them to reroute the materials.
  This bill would require the DOT Secretary to issue regulations to 
require enhanced security measures for shipments of security-sensitive 
materials. The bill also requires railroad carriers to use the most 
secure route and storage pattern to avoid moving certain hazardous 
materials by rail through selected high-threat urban areas. These 
security sensitive materials include a highway route-controlled 
quantity of a Class 7 (radioactive) material; more than 25 kilograms of 
a division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3 explosive; more than one liter per package 
of a material poisonous by inhalation; shipment in other than a bulk 
packaging of 2,268 kilograms gross weight or more of one class of 
hazardous materials for which placarding of a vehicle, rail car, or 
freight container is required; and select agents or toxins regulated by 
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  High-profile derailments in North Dakota, Virginia, West Virginia, 
and Canada demonstrate the need for this legislation. Ethanol, which is 
flammable, still travels through big cities, and even within a few 
blocks of the U.S. Capitol. This bill will protect our communities from 
the risk created by trains carrying hazardous materials.
  I urge support for this bill.

                          ____________________