We've written before about the dangers of transporting oil by rail car. On Friday, DOT issued new regulations for trains carrying oil, requiring new brake systems and requiring cars to be designed for this purpose (as opposed to the old ones, designed for hauling corn syrup). Here’s the Wall Street Journal’s take, calling the rules “tough.” But Congress can yet do better, as Public Citizen points out in its press release: Sen. Maria Cantwell’s proposed Crude-by-Rail Safety Act (which we’ve also mentioned on the blog) would require puncture resistance and stronger flame retardants, among other safeguards.
