The U.S. Department of Transportation and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration issued its final rule authorizing the bulk transportation of liquefied natural gas by rail.
The rule would allow the bulk transportation of LNG in certified tank cars with enhanced outer tank requirements and additional operational controls.
“The Department’s new rule carefully lays out key operational safeguards to provide for the safe transportation of LNG by rail to more parts of the country where this energy source is needed,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao.
With Federal Railroad Administration approval, the new ruling changes the existing authorization to transport LNG by rail in portable tanks. Federal Hazardous Materials Regulations also approved the transportation of flammable cryogenic materials. The new ruling incorporates additional safety requirements, like an enhanced carbon steel outer tank, as well as remote monitoring of pressure and location of LNG tank cars, and two-way end of train or distributed power systems when a train is transporting 20 or more LNG tank care.
U. S. Rep. Pete DeFazio (D-OR), chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, criticized the rule, saying transporting NKG by rail would endanger Americans.
“Of all the ways the Trump administration seeks to put profits over people, this action is one of the most reckless yet. Should even one LNG tank car get punctured, the results could be far more devastating than most freight train disasters we’ve seen, yet this administration still fast-tracked a plan to move LNG by rail tank car through populated areas with a sham process whose outcome was a foregone conclusion,” DeFazio said.
Previously, DeFazio and House Democrats proposed the INVEST in America Act, which would have included a provision to rescind any authorization for transporting LNG by rail.
“Ever since President Trump issued his executive order last year, I’ve done everything in my power to block this reckless plan from moving forward. It was disappointing the Senate failed to pass my amendment to prohibit DOT from finalizing this rule last summer, but thankfully just last night our Committee passed the INVEST in America Act, which includes my provision directing the administration to do what it should have done from day one: thoroughly analyze the safety, security, and environmental risks of moving LNG by rail,” DeFazio said. “I will continue to press forward on this important issue and urge my Senate colleagues to work with me to pass this important provision because the potential for a catastrophic accident is too big a risk.”