Posted on 12/22/2014 6:14:48 AM PST by thackney
One-third of the crude oil hauled from North Dakota’s Bakken Shale region by railcars could be forced off the tracks and into expensive truck fleets in the next four years, according to a railcar-industry trade group.
The Railway Supply Institute says there aren’t enough shops to retrofit cars carrying flammable liquids in time to meet proposed federal deadlines, and that tens of thousands of cars will be idled as a result. The U.S. Department of Transportation wants tank cars carrying crude oil to be retrofitted with more puncture-resistant features in two years, and those carrying ethanol to be upgraded in three years. Those carrying other flammable liquids, such as heating oil and chemicals, have five years to be upgraded.
“They can’t all be modified by the deadline, and the only alternative would be to yank them out of service,” said Kevin Neels, a transportation consultant for the Brattle Group, which studied the impact of the proposed regulations for the railway institute, which represents railcar-leasing companies and car manufacturers. The DOT is expected to complete standards and compliance deadlines for tank cars by early next year.
Without enough tank cars, producers of oil, ethanol and other flammables could be forced to curtail production or switch to other, more expensive types of transportation, mainly trucks. The oil “is either going to move by trucks or it’s going to stay in the ground,” said Mr. Neels, adding that expanding the use of pipelines and river barges would provide only limited additional capacity. Greater reliance on trucks would add traffic to congested interstate highways and expose more motorists to flammable cargoes, Brattle says.
The American Petroleum Institute, the oil industry’s trade group, declined to comment directly on the Brattle report, but said it has warned the DOT’s...of looming output disruptions and car shortages...
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
But if it saves even one life.....................................
Obama and his EPA will do everything they can to crimp carbon energy sources. The Keystone pipeline or for that any major pipeline project will never be approved by this or probably any Democratic administration.
Thanks thackney.
Guess we’ll have to have the pipeline after all
Tanker trucks don’t and won’t have to be manufactured to anywhere near the new railcar requirements.
Best Christmas gift ever for Obastard.
But trucks don’t have the same level risk carrying 200~250 barrels and decent ability to stop compared to 60,000 barrels or so and requiring a mile or more to stop.
Energy is the engine of freedom...
So the left will attack it from every angle. Tax it and regulate it as much as possible.
Warren Buffett lobbied in the WH with Obama to get these oil shipping contracts for his train cars. Then after he gets it, his train cars are involved in 3 bad accidents causing a large environmental disaster. But Obama got the money for campaigns, Buffett got the contract money, and back room handshakes were made. Now Warren needs to improve his rail cars and he can’t do it in time. So the Teamsters are up next with the trucks. Another disaster waiting to happen.
The only question I have is it truth that all three wrecks were BNSF trains?
If not, then Warren is off the hook to some degree.
I think this is a scam on the part of Buffett to jack up the price of shipping the oil by rail. That POS has been working actively behind the scenes to kill the pipeline.
his train cars are involved in 3 bad accidents
Which three do you attribute to BNSF?
By increasing his operating costs?
All three Burlington Northern train crashes involving oil cars. Warren owns Burlington Northern. I’m not counting the other train crashes that Warren doesn’t outright own.
One in 2012, one in 2013 and one this year. Here is one of them I found quickly.
http://atomicinsights.com/burlington-northern-oil-train-explodes-and-burns-in-casselton-nd/
Following the DOT site on trains can keep you up to date on the dangers of train and oil
http://dot111.info/category/recent-derailments/
Here is one on Propane for Burlington Northern. Give me a little while and I can find the others. But there have been 3 in the Dakotas involving Burlington Northern in the last 3 years with oil cars.
But the one that made all the headlines and preciptated the FRA rule was in Canada on the CN
and the cause of this one was not motion but allowing the train to idle unattended in a damaged condtion
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lac-Mégantic_rail_disaster
Another punishing blow by our government to business having to rebuild railcars for operating failures.
And it continues. The Bakken oil being delivered by trains instead of a pipeline is a major problem
http://www.desmogblog.com/2014/03/17/record-year-oil-train-accidents-leaves-insurers-wary
Keep building and retrofitting rail cars. Rail is the best way to transport this kind of quantity overland quickly and safely. Build the pipeline too. Build more trucks for local deliveries of refined product. Lower the price for diesel and kerosene. Stop using corn for fuel and use it for whiskey instead.
Especially if they are gay, seniors, or female minority children.
Another reason to build the Keystone Pipeline.
The DOT is working hard to keep the use of fossil fuels to a minimum.
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