Fourteen attorneys general recently released a comment letter supporting the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s proposed rule that would expand communications between railroads and emergency first responders.
The Hazardous Materials: FAST Act Requirements for Real-Time Train Consist Information rule would mandate railroads make available to emergency responders information electronically regarding hazardous material loads.
The new rule would require an emergency response notification to be sent to all first responders within a 10-mile radius, require railroads provide “train consist information” to first responders along their railroad route, and expand the description of the records required to be kept electronically and physically.
The attorneys general asked that the rule be expanded to require railroads to develop contingency plans for when electronic “train consist information” is unavailable or not accessible, railroads periodically test their electronic communication tools and report the results, and railroads to utilize a data repository for electronic “train consist information.”
“We hope the federal administration takes our recommendations to heart as we all share a mission of keeping residents and their families safe,” Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry said.
The attorneys general are from Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Wisconsin.