US inspectors fan out to examine crude-carrying rail cars in 'Bakken
Blitz'
Washington (Platts)--29Aug2013/123 pm EDT/1723 GMT
US government inspectors have been dispatched to examine rail cars
carrying crude from the Bakken shale to determine whether the cars
contain the type and grade of oil indicated on shipping papers, the head
of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration said
Thursday.
The effort, dubbed the "Bakken Blitz," was launched last weekend with
the Federal Railroad Administration.
"We are doing what we call a 'Bakken Blitz,'" PHMSA Administrator
Cynthia Quarterman told reporters during a break at an emergency meeting
of the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee in Washington. The group met
Thursday to discuss regulatory areas that need to be examined in the
wake of July 6 accident that occurred when an unattended train owned by
Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railroad and carrying crude oil rolled into
the town of Lac-Megantic, Quebec. A number of the crude oil tank cars
derailed, resulting in several explosions and multiple fires that killed
at least 42 people and caused extensive damage to the town.
"FRA and PHMSA together are going out with our inspection teams as we
speak looking at crude in these cars and measuring them and ensuring
that the quality of the crude that is being carried is what the shipping
papers say it is," she said.
A Department of Transportation spokeswoman later clarified that the
inspections are being made to verify that crude oil is being properly
classified in accordance with federal rules.
"'Operation Classification' primarily involves shipments from the Bakken
and activities include unannounced spot inspections, data collection and
sampling as well as verifying compliance with federal safety
regulations," PHMSA spokeswoman Jeannie Layson said in a statement.
"These activities are underway and taking place at strategic terminal
and transloading locations that service crude oil."
Planning for the inspections started in March following FRA audits and
PHMSA field observations that found inconsistencies with crude oil
classification, the agencies said.
The content of rail cars carrying crude is an issue in the Lac-Megantic
investigation. Bakken crudes tend to be lighter and thus more volatile
than other grades.
"That explosion in Lac-Megantic was very unusual for crude," FRA
Administrator Joseph Szabo said. "Generally speaking, most grades of
crude would not be that volatile."
"Our big concern at the moment is what is in the tank car is what people
say is in the tank car because there are certain requirements they have
to meet if the flash point is different from what the regulations say.
For example, they should have a safety and security plan if they are
shipping something that is extremely volatile, which means they should
be taking into account already some of the issues we're talking about
today, including securement ... ."
The Railroad Safety Advisory Committee, which includes 60 members from
39 organizations, representing railroads, labor, manufacturers, state
organizations and others, has been asked to examine current rules in
light of the Lac-Megantic disaster.
The group will look at issues such as whether trains carrying hazardous
materials should be allowed to operate with one-man crews, as was the
case with the Montreal, Maine and Atlantic train that crashed.
Other issues include how to properly secure trains that are left
unattended and whether trains carrying certain hazardous loads should be
left unattended at all.
The group has been asked to split into working groups and report back to
the FRA with recommendations next April.
--Gary Gentile,
gary.gentile@platts.com
--Edited by Jeff Barber,
jeff.barber@platts.com
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