Pa. Attorney General signs letter urging feds to require railroads to release more information about toxic freight in emergencies

Attorneys General from Pennsylvania and 12 other states signed a letter last month to the U.S. Department of Transportation supporting a proposed federal rule to require railroads to make information about hazardous materials being hauled on their trains available electronically to emergency responders. 

The October 27 letter expressed support for a Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration rule introduced June 21 to require railroads, in the event of an accident such as a derailment, to send the details about freight to every emergency responder within 10 miles.

"It (the rule) should be fully supported because it is to the benefit of the safety of the communities, as well as to first responders," said Randall Gockley, president of the Lancaster County Firemen's Association. The association represents more than 80 organizations and more than 750 members in the county. 

Gockley said first responders can't easily deal with a freight train derailment or other accident if they don't have a cargo manifest listing any potentially hazardous materials being hauled.

MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/pa-attorney-general-signs-letter-urging-feds-to-require-railroads-to-release-more-information-about/article_37a52698-7ce3-11ee-be31-77f36038e1c6.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share