A 2nd train derailment in Ohio Saturday has legislators calling for extra freight security guidelines at a time when the market is currently on the defensive following last month’s disastrous hazardous chemical derailment.
“I am extremely worried about the power of the railways to beat back security policies,” Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, stated on ABC’s “This Week”.
Saturday’s derailment included about 20 vehicles of a freight train owned by Norfolk Southern, the exactsame business that saw another one of its trains thwart in East Palestine on Feb. 3.
The February derailment gushed hazardous product, resulting in a hazardous chemical leakage in the town. There’s no proof Saturday’s latest derailment leaked any hazardous products.
“Luckily it appears we might haveactually missedouton a bullet in this one,” stated Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, who called the derailment “outrageous” on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
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After the poisonous derailment in East Palestine, some bipartisan agreement emerged on Capitol Hill with legislators requiring modifications to rail security policies. On Wednesday, Brown teamed up with fellow Ohio Republican Senator J.D. Vance and a group of other senators to present a expense intended at developing extra security guidelines.
Titled the Railway Safety Act of 2023, the costs would raise fines for security infractions, boost security evaluations, and requirer business to divulge to states when trains with dangerous products will pass through their borders.
The costs, which might pass the Democratic-controlled Senate in the coming weeks, has murkier potentialcustomers in the Republican-controlled House.
Related: White House blames Trump administration and Republicans over East Palestine, Ohio spill
“It shouldn’t take a rail catastrophe to get us working together like that,” stated Brown, who keptinmind that the costs has “good” possibilities in the Senate, however decreased to state whether he believes the House will take up the costs.
“I make no forecasts in the House,” continued Brown. “Keep in mind who has the impact in the House of Representatives. The huge railways have compromised security guidelines or withstood security guidelines for years.”
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Asked by NBC’s Chuck Todd whether the rail market needs brand-new guidelines, Turner reacted: “Absolutely.”
“The truth that we’re having derailment after derailment, reveals actually the absence of financialinvestment, the disinvestment in our facilities, and that requires to modification.” Turner stated.