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NYS DOT RAIL SAFETY INSPECTION
State Rail Safety Program was created in 1910
RAIL INSPECTION In 1923, Dr.
Elmer Sperry,
started to
develop and
build a rail
inspection car
with the
capability of
detecting
transverse
fissures in
railroad rails.
RAIL SAFETY ACT OF 1970
Since the Rail Safety Act of 1970, NYSDOT has
partnered with the Federal Railroad
Administration (FRA) to enforce Federal Law
Inspection Disciplines:
*Track
*Motive Power & Equipment
*Hazardous Materials
* Signal & Train Control
* Operational Practices
Historically, the NYSDOT Rail Inspection
program has consisted of 6 inspectors:
3 Track inspectors
3 Rail Equipment Inspectors
We went about our business
inspecting rail cars and train
tracks…very few even knew that
New York had a rail inspection
program..
Until July 6th, 2013….
Lac-Mégantic
•On the evening of July 5, 2013, a Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway (MMA) train arrived at Nantes, Quebec, carrying over two million gallons of petroleum crude oil in 72 DOT111 tank cars. Originating in New Town, North Dakota, these were bound for Saint John, New Brunswick.
CRUDE OIL FROM NEW TOWN TO SAINT JOHN, NB
THE TRAIN
The freight train (MMA 2) was 4,701 ft long and
weighed 10,287 tons.
It was composed of five locomotives, one
remote-control "VB" car, one loaded box car
used as a buffer car followed by 72 non-
pressure DOT-111 tank cars loaded with
petroleum crude oil (Class 3, UN 1267).
Each tank car was filled with 30,000 gallons of
crude oil.
TRAIN PARKED ON THE MAIN LINE
• After arriving in Nantes, the engineer parked
the train on a descending grade on the main
track. A replacement engineer was scheduled
to continue the trip east in the morning.
• After parking the train, the engineer departed
the location and went to a local hotel for rest.
• This was the railroads normal operating
procedure for this route.
NOT ENOUGH HAND BRAKES APPLIED
The engineer applied hand brakes on all five
locomotives, plus two other cars, and shut
down all but the lead locomotive.
US and Canadian rules require hand brakes
alone be capable of holding a train, and this
must be verified by a test.
That night, the locomotive air brakes were left
on during the hand brake test.
IMPROPER BRAKE TEST
The air brakes were left on during the hand brake test,
meaning the train was being held by a combination of
hand brakes and air brakes.
This gave a
false
impression
that the hand
brakes alone
would hold the
train.
TRAIN BRAKES
ENGINE FIRE
At 11:30 p.m. a 911 call was made reporting a
fire on one of the locomotives. Firefighters from
the town of Nantes arrived, along with a track
foreman from the railroad
In keeping with railway instructions, emergency
responders shut off the engine, which
subsequently caused the air holding the
locomotive air brakes to leak off.
Just before 1 a.m., the brakes on the train failed
and the train began to roll downhill toward the
small town of Lac-Mégantic, just over seven
miles away.
As it moved down the grade, the train picked up
speed, reaching a top speed of 65 mph. It
derailed near the center of the town at about
1:15 a.m.
DESCENDING GRADE
DERAILMENT AND EXPLOSION
AFTERMATH AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE
Almost all of the 63 derailed tank cars were
damaged, and many had large breaches.
About one and one half million gallons of
petroleum crude oil was quickly released.
The fire began almost immediately.
The ensuing blaze and explosions left 47
people dead.
Another 2000 people were forced from their
homes, and much of the downtown core was
destroyed.
AFTERMATH
The pileup of tank cars, combined with the
large volume of burning petroleum crude oil,
made the firefighters' job extremely difficult.
Despite the challenges of a large emergency,
the response was well coordinated, and the fire
departments effectively protected the site and
ensured public safety after the derailment.
LAC MEGANTIC QUEBEC JULY 6, 2013
HAND BRAKES REQUIRED
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada
concluded that, without the extra force
provided by the air brakes, a minimum of 17
and possibly as many as 26 hand brakes would
have been needed to secure the train,
depending on the amount of force with which
they had been applied.
WHAT IS CRUDE OIL DOING ON THE RAILS?
Prior to Lac-Mégantic, we knew very little of the
commodities on each train.
Interstate Commerce
Common Carrier Obligation
Authorized Packaging for Hazardous Material
DOT 111 Tank car is an authorized Package for
Class 3 Flammable Material
NORTH DAKOTA OIL BOOM
The Parshall Oil Field in North Dakota was
discovered in 2006.
Rapidly expanding oil extraction from the
Bakken formation that continues today.
North Dakota has the lowest unemployment
rate in the United States
The boom has given the state of North Dakota,
a state with a 2013 population of about
725,000, a billion-dollar budget surplus.
North Dakota, which ranked 38th in per capita
gross domestic product (GDP) in 2001, rose
steadily with the Bakken boom, and now has
per capita GDP 29% above the national
average.
There are three reasons for the oil boom, not
just in North Dakota but nationwide:
The recent discoveries of shale gas reserves in
the United States
Initiatives to seek independence from unstable
energy sources, such as Venezuela and
nations in the Middle East
The successful use of horizontal drilling and
hydraulic fracturing, which have made energy
deposits recoverable
NORTH DAKOTA OIL BOOM
OIL RIGS IN THE UNITED STATES
WHAT TO DO WITH ALL THAT OIL?
Oil companies have to get the oil from the
Midwest to be refined. Canada, US East/West
coast, Gulf coast)
Remote locations
Pipelines are not always available
North Dakota oil companies are shipping huge
amounts of oil by tanker rail car as they can
direct the oil to the market that gives the best
price.
BAKKEN CRUDE OIL
Rail Transportation is one of the safest forms
of transporting bulk hazardous material.
Rail cars can be used to avoid a congested oil
pipeline to get the oil to a different pipeline
and get the oil to market faster at different less
busy oil refineries.
Oil is generally shipped via Unit Train.
Unit Trains usually consist of 50-100 or more
tank cars shipped from one origin to a single
destination as a “unit”
BNSF RAILROAD PICKS UP THE PACE!
BNSF’s tracks sit on top of North Dakota’s Bakken formation, where energy
producers are using fracking and other extraction methods to pull crude from
the ground in unprecedented volumes. Because pipeline capacity is limited in
the area, oil companies have turned to BNSF to ship their product to refineries.
On November 3, 2009,
Warren Buffett’s Berkshire
Hathaway Holding
Company purchased the
final 70% of BNSF
Railroad that it did not
already own.
Why would Warren Buffett buy a railroad?
TRUCK TO RAIL NORTH DAKOTA
BOE RAIL LOADING FACILITY DICKINSON, ND
CIRCLE TRACK LOADING FACILITY-ALBERTA CA
TAR SANDS OIL FROM ALBERTA
TAR SANDS OIL DILUTED BITUMEN
Tar sands Oil is much heavier than
Bakken Oil. Rail Tank Cars carrying this
heavier substance typically have heat
coils surrounding the tanks so the product
can be unloaded.
ONE COMMIDITY TO A SINGLE DESTINATION
“VIRTUAL PIPELINE”
WHAT IS THE DESTINATION?
US OIL LOADING AND OFF-LOADING
OIL TRAINS PER WEEK-WSJ
Yellow 1-10 Orange 11-25 RED >25
MORE ACCIDENTS
After the Lac Megantic disaster, state and
federal regulators began taking a hard look
at the crude by rail business.
On January 28, 2014 Governor Cuomo
issued Executive Order 125. A thorough
examination of crude oil by rail takes place.
Since the tragedy in Canada, there has been
a significant number of rail accidents
resulting in the release of crude oil and
subsequent fires and explosion.
NOVEMBER 7, 2013 ALICEVILLE, ALABAMA
26 OF 90 CARS DERAILED AND CAUGHT FIRE
LARGE RELEASE OF BAKKEN OIL
DECEMBER 30 2013 CASSELTON, ND
21 OUT OF 106 CARS DERAILED
SUBSEQUENT FIRE AND EXPLOSION
CASSELTON-LARGE PLUME OF SMOKE
SUSPECTED CAUSE: BROKEN RAIL
JANUARY 7 2014 PLASTER ROCK NB
5 /122 CARS DERAILED
SUSPECTED CASUE BROKEN WHEEL
JANUARY 20,2014 PHILADELPHIA PA
7 OUT OF 101 CAR DERAILMENT ON A BRIDGE
NO RELEASE OF MATERIAL
WEATHER RELATED EQUIPMENT FAILURE
FEBRUARY 13, 2014 VANDERGRIFT, PA
19 OF THE 120 CARS DERAILED
NO FIRE OR EXPLOSION
THERE WAS A RELEASE OF CRUDE OIL
TRACK CAUSED
APRIL 30, 2014 LYNCHBURG, VA
13 OUT OF 105 CARS DERAILED
EXPLOSION AND SUBSEQUENT FIRE ENSUED
SUSPECTED CAUSE: TRACK FAILURE
JAMES RIVER LYNCHBURG VA
FEBRUARY 14, 2015 GOGAMA, ON
29 OF 100 CARS DERAILED
EXPLODED AND CAUGHT FIRE
ACCORDING TO TSB
WHEEL AND RAIL COMPONENTS SUSPECTED
FEBRUARY 14, 2015
CROWSNEST RIVER VALLEY ALBERTA CANADA
12 CARS DERAILED
NO RELEASE OF OIL
FEB 16, 2015 MT. CARBON WV
27 OF 109 CARS
DERAILED.
EXPLSIONS AND
FIRE ENSUED.
SUSECTED
CAUSE: BROKEN
RAIL
Mt. Carbon West Virginia
Mt Carbon West Virginia
MARCH 5, 2015 GALENA, IL
21 OF 100 TANK CARS DERAILED
EXPLOSION AND FIRE
CAUSE SUSPECTED BROKEN WHEEL
MARCH 5, 2015 HORNEPAYNE, ONTARIO
16 EMPTY OIL TANK CARS DERAILED
ON CANADIAN NATIONAL’S MAINLINE
INVESTIGATION ONGOING
MARCH 7, 2015 GOGAMA, ONTARIO
39 OF 94 CARS DERAILED
EXPOSION AND FIRE
SUSPTECTED CAUSE BROKEN RAIL
GOGOMA ONTARIO
GOGOMA ONTARIO
COULD SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN IN NEW YORK?
New York state is intersected by railroads from
the North to the South, from the West to the
East.
Tracks pass through or close to most major
cities within the state.
There are over 4000 miles of track in our state
Approximately 850 miles over which crude oil
traffic passes.
OIL TRAINS IN NEW YORK
Oil is carried by Canadian Pacific Railroad via
Montreal to the Port of Albany
CP delivers oil trains to Global Energy for trans
shipment via tankers and barges.
Global Oil currently handles about 1- 1½ trains
of oil per day (100 car consist)
Global is permitted to transfer1.8 billion
gallons of oil per year
PORT OF ALBANY
CRUDE OIL TANKER PRIMORSK
Crude oil is transferred from holding tanks to oil
tankers and barges headed down the Hudson.
OIL TO BARGE-PORT OF ALBANY
VIRTUAL PIPELINE
The majority of crude oil passes through New York
along CSX’s main line.
Typically 2-3 trains each day pass along CSX tracks
from Buffalo through Selkirk and down along the West
shore of the Hudson River to New Jersey and then on
to Philadelphia.
Six Million Gallons per day- 21 Billion Gallons per year
Virtual Pipeline
CSX also ships oil to the Port of Albany which is
handled by Buckeye Chemical for trans shipment to
water vessels. (Irving Oil Customer)
WHY ALL THE CONCERN? IT’S JUST CRUDE OIL!
BLACK GOLD!
A Danger on the Rails
By Jon Bowermaster | Apr. 21, 2015 | 5:05
This short documentary warns about the
dangers posed by trains that transport
explosive oil across North America.
River Keeper
BAKKEN CRUDE OIL
What’s so different about Bakken oil?
Crude oil from North Dakota's Bakken Shale is
a type of “light sweet crude” that is easy to
refine into commercial products.
As you’ve seen in the previous slides, it is also
very easy to ignite.
It may have a Low Initial Boiling Point and Low
flash point
Crude oil from North Dakota's Bakken Shale
formation contains several times the
combustible gases as oil from elsewhere
On January 2, 2014 the Pipeline and
Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
issued a safety alert.
The type of crude oil being transported from
the Bakken region may be more flammable
than traditional heavy crude oil.
BAKKEN OIL IN A TANK CAR
REID VAPOR PRESSURE
Entrapped natural gas liquids such as pentane,
butane, ethane and propane may cause this
particular type of crude oil to be more volatile.
Recent state regulation in North Dakota
requires crude oil to be processed prior to
loading-limits to the vapor pressure permitted.
TAKING THE GAS OUT OF CRUDE OIL
Degassing Bakken crude for rail is costly.
Small processing towers known as stabilizers
that shave off NGLs from crude need to be
built. Pipelines to carry the NGLs to a viable
market are also required.
Right now, little of that infrastructure exists in
the Bakken, which produces about 950,000
barrels of crude per day with some 67 percent
of that moving by rail.
THE UNKNOWN
Just last week, Department of Energy (DOE)
Secretary Ernest Moniz said it will probably
take two years to complete research into what
makes some crude oil more volatile than other
varieties.
Moniz said information provided to Sandia
National Laboratory suggest that the data that
was reviewed did not imply that any one
property of the oil would determine what
would happen in terms of combustibility in an
accident.
DOT 111 TANK CAR
This all purpose tank car is an authorized
package for transporting Class 3 Flammable
Materials in Packing Group I II and III. It is
authorized by the USDOT, PHMSA.
If the shippers use this tank car they are
incompliance with federal regulations
The dilemma: Both federal and state
regulators and the Association of American
Railroads believe that the tank car is not an
appropriate package for Bakken crude oil.
SAFETY CONCERNS-DOT111 TANK CAR
ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN RAILROADS
“Voluntary” operating procedures for
shipments containing crude oil including:
Lower speeds for crude oil trains
Increased number of track inspections
installation of additional safety technologies —
wayside wheel bearing detectors that alert
railroads to problems with rail cars — along
crude routes;
Enhanced braking either EOT device or
distributed power trains=Quicker Braking
CPC 1232 STANDARD
The DOT 111 tank car was “redesigned” in the
final quarter of 2011 to include several safety
improvements: “CPC 1232” Standard
Improved Head shields
Roll over protection for the top fittings
Normalized steel
Thicker head and tank metal
Pressure relief valves (recloseable type)
FRA EMERGENCY ORDERS/ADVISORIES
8/17/13-Emergency order focusing on securement of
unattended trains.
11/20/13-Safety Advisory focusing on proper
classification and package group for flammable
material.
5/07/14 Emergency order to railroads carrying
1,000,000 or more gallons of Bakken Crude oil to
notify State Emergency Response Commission (SERC)
information regarding frequencies, routes, and
quantities transported.
FRA ADVISORIES
5/07/14- Safety Advisory- To offerers and
transporters should avoid using older “legacy”
DOT 111 tank cars.
4/17/15-Safety Advisory-To Railroad
companies regarding inspector qualifications
and wheel impact load detector thresholds for
trains carrying large amounts of flammable
material.
FRA ADVISORY
4/17/15-Safety Advisory issued to railroads
regarding information required to be provided
after an accident involving large amounts of
flammable liquid.
4/17/2015-Emergency order requiring 40 MPH
speed limit through “High Threat Urban Areas”
applicable to trains carrying large amounts of
flammable material. “HHFT”
FEDERAL ACTIONS
In July 2014, the USDOT announced a
proposed rulemaking in regards to the
transportation of large quantities of
flammable material by rail.
It proposes the phase out of the use of older
DOT 111 tank cars for the shipment of packing
group I flammable liquids, including most
Bakken crude oil, unless the tank cars are
retrofitted to comply with new tank car design
standards.
The rulemaking proposes enhanced tank car
standards (DOT 117 Tank car), a classification
and testing program for mined gases and
liquids and new operational requirements for
high-hazard flammable trains (HHFT) that
include braking controls and speed
restrictions.
We are still waiting for the final rule. It is
expected sometime this month.
FEDERAL ACTIONS
There has been numerous safety advisories
and recommendations issued but the opinion
of most is that federal regulatory action is far
overdue.
Interstate Commerce-Federal Pre-emption.
NEW YORK HAS BEEN PROACTIVE
Governor’s Executive Order 125
The NYS Departments of Environmental
Conservation, Transportation, Health, Division of
Homeland Security and Emergency Services,
and the New York State Energy Research and
Development Authority, conducted an extensive
assessment of the State’s prevention and
response rules and inspection programs
involving the transportation of petroleum
products by rail and water
NYS ONGOING EFFORTS FOR RESPONSE
Preparing First Responders
Updating and enhancing response plans
Urging action by the federal government
Urging the oil and rail industries to increase the
safety of product transportation
Increasing the oil spill cap fund from $25 million to
$40 million
Increased staff for the Department of
Environmental Conservation and Fire Protection
and Control for oil spill planning, training and
response
ONGOING EFFORTS NEW RAIL INSPECTORS
Rail Safety Inspectors- Through participation
agreements with the FRA, New York and 29
other states have rail inspection programs.
Most State Railroad Laws are pre-empted by
federal law and regulation.
FRA Pays for Class Room Training and
Certification costs for the state inspectors
State and federal inspectors utilize the same
inspection protocols and guidelines
ONGOING EFFORTS FOR PREVENTION ADDED
FIVE NEW RAIL INSPECTORS AT NYSDOT
Three Track Inspectors
Three Motive Power and Equipment Inspectors
Two Hazardous Material Inspectors
One Operational Practices Inspector
One supervisor certified Motive Power
Equipment Inspector
One supervisor certified Track Inspector.
NYS Now has one of the largest state rail
inspection staffs. (Funded by the Railroads)
FOCUSED INSPECTION BLITZ’S
Since this targeted inspection campaign began
In February 2014, NYSDOT and the FRA have
inspected 9,359 rail cars (including 7,351
crude oil tank cars) and 3,021 miles of track,
uncovered 1,132 defects, and issued 20
hazardous materials violations.
INCREASED VIGILANCE TANK CAR INSPECTIONS
We typically inspect
crude oil tank cars in
the rail yards in
Buffalo and in Albany.
Trains typically stop at
these locations for
required inspections
and crew changes.
INCREASED VIGILANCE HAZMAT INSPECTIONS
Inspectors typically inspect valves, closures,
fittings and make sure that the hazardous
material documentation is in order.
Inspectors
also check
hazardous
material
packaging, placards, and markings.
INCREASED VIGILANCE OPERATIONAL PRACTICE
Operational Practices
inspectors:
Checks for proper securement
of unattended trains.
Observes rail crews including
riding in locomotive cabs
(Speed, following signals etc.)
Observing railroad employees
in rail yards to ensure rules and
regulations are followed.
Hours of service and Crew
certification.
INCREASED VIGILANCE TRACK INSPECTORS
Track inspectors perform visual inspections of the
railroad track, structures and roadbed either on
foot or in a hi-rail vehicle. We check the railroad
to make sure they are doing proper inspections.
Check Inspection Records
Automated Geometry Car
Look for loose, missing
bolts, fasteners wide gage
and geometry defects.
Inspect tie condition
including all fasteners and
tie plates.
FINAL RULE OUT LAST FRIDAY MAY 1, 2015
Enhanced Braking- Electronically Controlled
Pneumatic (ECP) Braking
New Tank Car Standards-
Reduced Operating Speeds-
More accurate classification standards
Rail routing Risk assessment
Rail Routing Notification-Railroads must
provide contact to SERC
FINAL RULE
PROGRESS
QUESTIONS?
??