The state Senate has approved Sen. Lois Wolk’s bill that would mandate adequate crew for trains and light engines carrying freight in California.
The legislation, Senate Bill 730, passed by a 23-11 supportive bipartisan vote.
The bill would require trains to have at least two people to every crew.
“Today’s freight trains carry extremely dangerous materials, including Bakken crude oil, ethanol, anhydrous ammonia, liquefied petroleum gas, and acids that may pose significant health and safety risks to communities and our environment in the case of an accident,” said Wolk, D-Davis, who represents Benicia.
She said the potential for derailment on California’s more than 5,000 miles of railroad track is “an ever-present danger.”
Wolk said her bill has the support of the California Public Utilities Commission, which is responsible for safety of freight railroads, inter-city and commuter railroads and highway-railroad crossings. She said the PUC has called SB 730 and its requirement for at least two-member crews “a straightforward way of ensuring two qualified crew members continue to operate freight trains in California.”
“Sen. Wolk’s legislation helps keep us at the forefront of rail safety,” said Paul King, deputy director of the Office of Rail Safety for the PUC. “Sen. Wolk’s bill would ensure that freight trains continue to have the safety redundancy that a second person provides,” King said. “Such redundancy is a fundamental safety principle that is evidenced in certain industries, such as using two pilots in an airplane cockpit, or requiring backup cooling systems for nuclear reactors.”
Wolk’s bill goes to the Assembly for airing sometime in June.
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Great. Pass the bill. Then all the Valero haters can shut up and they can start importing this stuff. Wake up people… if Valero leaves then this town becomes Vallejo. Period.
Bring on the oil, the sooner the better. As Chico would say “Oil, bean good to me”
+1.
Crude-by-rail news the community can use…
From the above article:
“Sen. Wolk’s legislation helps keep us at the forefront of rail safety,” said Paul King, deputy director of the Office of Rail Safety for the PUC.”
Really? The same PUC that facilitated the de-regulation of California’s electrical power grid a couple of decades ago, gee, that doesn’t sound very reassuring.
From the post below: more information and news for our community and appointed and elected officials to seriously consider…
“New Oil-By-Rail Rules ‘Leave Communities at Risk of Catastrophe'”
“Obama administration announces mandate for safer cars, brakes on oil trains, but climate groups decry regulations as too lax”
A few clips :
Environmental groups reiterated their call for a total ban on hazardous oil trains on Friday, saying the U.S. Department of Transportation’s newly released safety standards for tank cars “virtually guarantee more explosive derailments, putting people and the environment at great risk.”
“Without an immediate ban on those cars and only a few new speed limit impositions, the new rules are “yet another indication of how dangerous energy policies written by and for Big Oil are for our communities and our climate. These weak regulations allow the industry to continue endangering communities with bomb trains that facilitate hazardous expansion of the oil industry,” said David Trumbull, campaigns director of Oil Change International, one of the groups in the coalition, in a press release on Friday.”
http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/05/01/new-oil-rail-rules-leave-communities-risk-catastrophe
“Former North Dakota governor George Sinner said that oil trains posed a “ridiculous threat” shortly after one blew up near his native town of Casselton.”
From the book :” This Changes Everything” by Naomi Klein.
The same railway executives who have lobbied the White House not to implement safety policies regarding crude-by-rail–see above comment–are the same businessmen who have delayed for years new rail infrastructure, technology innovations and worker rules for public transit. that would save lives.
More rail information and news for our citizenry and our appointed and elected officials to consider…
http://www.democracynow.org/2015/5/14/as_train_crash_death_toll_reache
s
Beyond the oil company apologists and cheerleaders—
Oil company profits vs. California’s clean water supply
More oil company news and information for our citizenry and our appointed and elected leaders to seriously consider….
From the post below a few clips:
“‘Environmentalists filed a preliminary injunction today in a California court to immediately stop the daily illegal injection of millions of gallons of oil field wastewater into protected groundwater aquifers in the state.”
“Officials with the state’s Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) have admitted that their agency improperly permitted more than 2,500 wells to pump oil industry wastewater and fluids from enhanced oil recovery techniques like acidization and steam flooding into groundwater aquifers that should be protected under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.”
” In a press release, Earthjustice points out that, according to testing done by DOGGR itself in coordination with oil companies, oil field wastewater in California has been shown to contain high levels of benzene, a carcinogen. And given that half of all new wells in California over the past decade have been fracked, oil wastewater often contains fracking fluid, which can contain chemicals that have been linked to a variety of serious human health problems, from cancer to birth defects.”
Wake-up people, indeed!!
http://www.desmogblog.com/2015/05/14/environmentalists-are-taking-california-court-over-illegal-oil-industry-wastewater-injection
Beyond the bi-partisan rhetoric—i.e. rubber stamping the status quo.
The bigger picture—-Planetary survival vs. private profit which will it be Senator Wolk?
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/05/14/3658741/hottest-4-month-record/
As we wait for a decision on crude by rail—
The bigger planetary picture of increasing emissions-(carbon dioxide and methane) and a warming planet is upon us.
Remembering, that our city council has voted overwhelmingly for a climate action plan to lower emissions and a sustainability commission for a viable future. Key question: Will our city council continue to be a force for positive change in a very uncertain climate changing world?
The article below gives Senator Wolk, our city council, the mayor and our citizenry a wake-up call— on how to proceed, if we are to have a living, thriving planet
“Methane’s Danger Accelerating”
http://dissidentvoice.org/2015/05/methanes-danger-accelerating/#more-58392
Moe crude-by-rail news the community can use–
What’s happening in Seattle?
More information (sights and sounds) and news for our citizenry, Senator Wolk our city council, and Mayor and appointed officials to seriously contemplate…
“What’s Wrong with Our Energy Policy in One Short Video”
“If you’re looking for one clip that shows a bit of the craziness of an energy policy pushing bomb trains, arctic drilling, and unchecked oil production all over our country while communities remain at risk and our climate continues to race towards catastrophe…watch this clip.
Key question: Is this what we want in our “little town?”
http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/05/15/whats-wrong-our-energy-policy-one-short-video
Rail safety: it is more than having 2 crew members per mile long oil (“bomb”)trains– the article below gives the interested reader a litany of concerns that are not being addressed or lobbied against by the oil and rail industry.
More crude by-rail news the community and our appointed and elected officials can use…
“”Seven environmental groups — Earthjustice, ForestEthics, Sierra Club, Waterkeeper Alliance, Washington Environmental Council, Friends of the Columbia Gorge, Spokane Riverkeeper, and the Center for Biological Diversity — together filed a lawsuit on Thursday in the 9th Circuit, citing a litany of shortcomings in the new safety rules.”
“We’re suing the administration because these rules won’t protect the 25 million Americans living in the oil train blast zone,” Todd Paglia, ForestEthics Executive Director, said in a statement about the newly filed case.”
http://www.desmogblog.com/2015/05/15/environmental-groups-file-lawsuit-objecting-shortcomings-loopholes-new-federal-oil-train-safety-standards
“Former North Dakota governor George Sinner said that oil trains posed a “ridiculous threat” shortly after one blew up near his native town of Casselton.”
From the book :” This Changes Everything” by Naomi Klein.
More rail safety news the community and our appointed and elected officials can use…
From the post below:
“U.S. Military Concerned As Oil “Bomb Trains” Roll Dangerously Close to Nuclear Bomb Silos”
“The latest oil train derailment and explosion in Heimdal, North Dakota is another frightening reminder of the danger this industry poses to communities across the country. Thankfully evacuating Heimdal wasn’t that big an operation because there are only 27 residents in the town.”
“Which is a significantly smaller number than the 150 nuclear missiles buried in the ground under North Dakota. A recent report by Rachel Maddow reveals that the U.S. military is concerned about the proximity of the oil train tracks to those missile silos. Images like this one are why they are concerned.”
http://www.desmogblog.com/2015/05/20/military-concerned-bomb-trains-roll-actual-nuclear-bomb-silos
Hot off the presses – over 50 people hurt in an Amtrak derailment back east. Obviously, to save people we need to stop transportation of our citizens by this unsafe method until we can get the federal, state and local government to hold a summit to address rail safety of not only crude, but our most precious resource, our citizens. Maybe we should consider a ban on rail transportation of any and all goods and people.
Agreed. Because accidents ONLY happen with trains.
Coincidentally, house republicans have voted to cut transportation budget.
Yes. The House voted to cut the budget. I say, with an $18 trillion debt and annual deficits exceeding $500 million forecasted into the future decade, we should be cutting every department budget.
Federal revenue receipts are at record levels, yet the deficits continue and debt accumulates. We have to cut budgets as a matter of fiscal sanity.
Now … What do budget cuts have to do with train accidents that are caused by 100 mph train speeds in a 50 mph speed zone? Absolutely nothing. High speed rail is a luxury we cannot afford.
2
: occupying the same space or time
— co·in·ci·dent·ly \-sə-dənt-lē, -ˌdent-; (ˌ)kō-ˌin(t)-sə-ˈdent-lē\ adverb
Also, yes, let’s start with cutting the military’s budget.
it has been cut
Cutting the defense budget. Great idea!
After all there are no threats in the world and the USA is safe from all attacks.
Despite our campaigns being so successful, right?
Nope. So your solution is to cut the military further?
That should make us safe.
Let’s see … We disarm further, make the military weaker, our enemies see our actions and decide to retreat and leave us alone. Right?
Dude, please ….
“Retreat”? From where? Where are these foreign invaders? “Dude”, indeed!
Off topic….
Mr. Ethier, (Editor of the Benicia Herald)
What do these above comments about the “military” on this thread have to do with subject matter (of the above Herald article) of crude-by-rail, rail safety and our environment?
Just curious?
Stop it Will you are never on topic. Just copy some article you read and thats all you know. Better start to understand the comment section. You personally ARE the off topic subject. Just more of your nonsense. Will you are clueless.
Wiil, What does your curiosity have to do with the topic?
Off topic comments…
Let us have the editor of the Herald decide this matter. I shouldn’t have to remind you that in the past, Mr. Ethier, has on numerous occasions reminded( Implored) the commenters on this thread to stay on topic.
That is al,l I’m saying.
Does that include why you are no l;onger writing A feature on the Forum page. Your way out of line and very clueless.
Then perhaps HE (the editor) should bring it up as a matter, in this instance. Then you can resume posting links in quite comfort.
In the mean time there is this right wing “journalist” trying to put his weird spin on the Amtrak tragedy:
http://deadstate.org/right-wing-journalist-chuck-c-johnson-solves-amtrak-disaster-hint-someone-is-gay/
Amtrac was given seven years to instsall the tech info. Did not complete the job, budget had nothing to do with it. Only the blame game that Liberals play. Sad fact that they do not understand deadlines and apparently do not care about the riders..
Budget had everything to do with it.
Sorry it did not.
Sorry it did.
Lol! Amazing how every issue in the world can be solved by spending more. Every problem is the result of insufficient funding.
And they call conservatives simple. Hahahaha
And any budget increase which is lower than the demanded increase is viewed as a budget cut.
As long as we’re painting with a broad brush … Amazing how conservatives believe money should never be spent.
Do you have an example where Republican’s have promoted such an elimination of all federal spending?
Republicans won’t support Amtrak because their constituents don’t use it. Real statesmanship.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2015/05/13/why-is-funding-amtrak-such-a-struggle-because-republican-districts-dont-use-it/
Let’s consider a reverse headline on this subject:
“Democrats Spend 1.4 Billion Dollar for their constituents low cost Train Rides”
Does anyone really think that any elected official is not supposed to advocate for their constituency?
Let’s consider the eventual outcome of Republicans’ extremist shortsightedness: Does anyone really think we should not have passenger rail in this country?
Let’s consider the eventual outcome of Democrat extremist control of the government without opposition: Detroit
The difference between the two ‘let’s consider’s’ is the first one is based on a false premise, as Republican’s are not advocating for an elimination of rail service, they are advocating for a reduction of the subsidy and a sharing of the costs of the rail service.
The second one though is based on the reality of a destroyed city.
Apples and Thursday. Seeing the GOP really start to squirm on this Amtrak thing. Especially Toomey.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/erica-payne/stupid-is-as-stupid-does-_1_b_7293940.html
Could you be talking about this speed train in California? If so yes we do not need it. There is a big difference between the east coast and the west coast and also the EU and America. The East Coast is still living in the 1800’s. The EU still uses trains for public transportation America uses trains to haul freight and very few passengers except on select runs. The Boston to DC is a good example. This is pure anti fossil fuel by the Enviro Greenies. You want politics in this discussion you came to the right guy.
I prefer to talk politics with someone who knows what they’re talking about. LA to Bay Area to Sacto will be hugely popular and useful.
Please give me the fACTS on why that is the case. I know more than you will ever know about politics. I guess if you get your news from the Huff Post verifies your knowledge.
Tell me why I should get all my news from Fox instead. What a fool. Your knowledge of politics is zero.
FACT: High speed rail in California will be a huge success. Eventually it will extend down to San Diego and north to Portland. Maybe even Seattle. That’s a FACT.
You only use what you need to use. As a Conservative I have used the east coast Amtrac many times. DC to Baltimore to Philly to NYC and then Boston. Have you Donald? Very bad comment.
Are you the arbiter of comments? I think not. And nobody cares whether you are the conservative outlier who rode Amtrak. It means nothing. Read the article. It is correct.
You said it I commented. Apparently it hurt. Read what you wrote and you will understand my comment. You took it political and I commemnted back.
The article is correct. Try to focus. You don’t get to be judge of the worthiness of the comments.
Donald I did read the article. You are the one that wanted to make politics. I gave it back to you and now you are trying to Huff nandPuff out of it. Yiou made it political and otherrs see that. So make up your mind and quit waffling like a true Liberal.
Blah blah. More wasted words.