Bill to Avoid Future Oil Train Disasters

Rain didn't keep away some 60 community members and city officials from the La Crosse AMTRAK station where Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) held a press release Tuesday morning re: her Crude by Rail Safety Act of 2015 co-sponsored with Sen. Maria Cantwell ( D-WA) Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA).

Although Congress has voted on regulations requiring new standards for oil tankers, Senator Baldwin is taking brave stances with this bill as she opposes the oil and rail industries profit making.  Very easily she could have said these regulations are enough but instead she chose a more difficult path stating oil transport should be stopped immediately in the unsafe tanker cars until the trains are equipped with the new model cars with thermal shields along with a limit of the volatility of that crude oil cargo. 

Baldwin spoke of the once rare sight of seeing an oil train car to the now constant daily sight of these crude oil trains and the occurrence of 5 U.S. accidents since February. As if on cue, a BNSF oil train rolled through the station during her words. 

The Senator also voiced concern that emergency response teams receive 'specialized' emergency training to insure each responder has been  properly prepared for an oil rail disaster. The Chief was present along with some emergency response staff.  

Freedland

After Baldwin's words, Maureen Freedland spoke representing herself as a resident as she lives some 200 yards from the track, her neighborhood, and C.A.R.S. (Citizens Acting for Rail Safety) thanking Baldwin and other Wisconsin legislators including Ron Kind, Jennifer Shilling and Jill Billings for their support. The Chief of Emergency Response added a statement and Senator Baldwin fielded questions from both the Press and community members.

Senator Baldwin specifically recognized  CARS member Karen Ringstrom for her efforts and presented Karen a photograph of the endangered tern, a marsh resident taken by

Al explains where the bird was in the marsh

CARS member videographer, 
Al Stankevitz. 

Sen. Baldwin chatted with members of CARS.

Kudos to CARS, our very own grassroots organization who gathered and educated our community and approached Baldwin and other government officials with their research findings regarding the crude oil trains. Their work is also helping other U.S. communities make the oil and train industries accountable.
Thank you from all of us along the Mississippi River and our country. 

CARS group stands with Senator Baldwin :front row l to r: Rich , Sen. Baldwin, Al , Maureen, Carolyn
back row l to r : Nancy, Ralph , Karen , Guy, Irv & Chuck (not present George)

*See what's happening around the country: Monday's Post in Washington