Lac-Megantic crash could be oil-by-rail’s Exxon Valdez

Platts ^ | July 10, 2013 | Melanie Wold

[Errant]

Corporate terrorism?

[cardinal4]

I never really thought about moving crude from land locked areas. The refinery where I work produces mostly jet fuel, and has pipelines to both STL and Ohare. The rest of the product (lubricants and coke, mostly)is moved by truck or barge, as we are right on the river..

[Tijeras_Slim]

No it won’t. Only people were killed, not birds and seals.

[who_would_fardels_bear]

No. The message is clear.

We need to put windmills and solar panels on trains.

That way we can move them when necessary to the best places for wind and sun.

The trains themselves will be run completely on the positive vibes of good intentions.

[Paladin2]

"the rail cars (belonging to the Maine, Montreal & Atlantic rail company) "

I doubt that that is true.

[ßuddaßudd]

Surprisingly, they’re not calling it Øbama’s exxon-valdez and all the drama it has caused to him, blah blah, blah, ‘we must act before its too late’, blah blah blah
yet

[Paladin2]

"as many as 140,000 carloads of crude, totaling about 91 million barrels, will be shipped on Canadian tracks this year, "

That's on the order of 4 trains/day starting their journey.

[null and void]

Ban tanker trains? The solution is in the pipe...

[JimRed]

So, how did the “Greens” manage to sabotage the train?

[thackney]

Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway (MMA)
July 6, 2013 Derailment in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec (Update)
http://www.mmarail.com/sections/news/files/MMA_7.7.2013_Press%20Release_1415.EST.pdf
: Sunday, July 7, 2013: 1615 EST

Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway wishes to provide updated information on yesterday’s tragic train accident at Lac-Mégantic, Quebec. We are advised the fires are largely extinguished, and it appears the fire brigade will finish that part of their task shortly. Provincial and Federal authorities have taken control of the derailment area, and MMA personnel have not been able to enter to continue their investigation concerning cause and to plan recovery operations.

There are a dozen MMA representatives on hand in Lac-Mégantic, with more arriving continuously. Many have been there since yesterday afternoon, in spite of statements that MMA people have not been available. MMA has established a command center in the Municipal Building. On hand also is Yves Bourdon, MMA board member, who will be the “voice of the MMA” in dealing with municipal, provincial and Federal officials, emergency personnel, relief organizations and affected individuals and property owners. Also on hand is Robert Grindrod, MMA’s President and CEO.

More at:
http://www.mmarail.com/mma_news.php

[thackney]

By convincing the train company to put a oil train on a grade with no one in attendance and not set sufficient hand brakes to hold it in place?

[JimSEA]

They are busy creating what environmentalists love, a “you can’t get there from here” situation. Apparently, the lack of a fail safe breaking system is the core problem here. That’s a quite solvable problem. No, the bureaucrats will mandate an immediate replacement of 60+% of the tankers and massive rail upgrades. All horribly expensive which is right down Obama’s alley.

Now ten dollar a gallon gas is within our reach.

[Sherman Logan]

The trains themselves will be run completely on the positive vibes of good intentions.

Nahh. The trains are self-powered by their own windmills.

[Paladin2]

"MMA said it does not own the rail cars involved in the latest accident. Chairman Ed Burkhardt said the cars were leased by the same company that was shipping the crude, but he declined to identify it, Reuters reported."

I read that tanker railcars are leasing at $3,000/mo these days. All the more reason to keep them moving 24/7 rather than parking them at the "top of a hill" overnight.

[thackney]

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/07/10/lac_megantic_explosion_mma_railway_boss_ed_burkhardt_tours_town.html

Ed Burkhardt, the chairman of Maine, Montreal and Atlantic Railways...

Burkhardt arrived Wednesday morning in Lac Megantic, a Quebec town decimated after a runaway MMA train hurtled into downtown early Saturday morning, derailed and exploded. Burkhardt announced that Tom Harding, the engineer who left the train, has been suspended and will likely not work for the company again.

“I have never been involved in anything remotely approaching this in my whole life,” he said, as angry residents heckled from behind the media scrum on a Lac Megantic street.

Burkhardt said it now appears that Harding didn’t properly set the handbrakes on the rail cars.

“He’s not being paid, I don’t think he’ll be back working for us,” said Burkhardt.

[thackney]

Thanks, I had not seen that but found it with your lead.

I don’t think that will change the responsibility, unless the inadequate DOT-111 tank cars were claimed to be something stronger.

Criminal probe launched into Quebec rail disaster
http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article1331824.ece
09 July 2013

MMA said it does not own the rail cars involved in the latest accident. Chairman Ed Burkhardt said the cars were leased by the same company that was shipping the crude, but he declined to identify it, Reuters reported.

World Fuel Services has confirmed it was shipping the crude, but did not respond to Reuters questions about the cars.

[thackney]

Interesting they haven’t taken this page down yet.

Risk Management
https://www.wfscorp.com/Risk_Management/index.jsp

In today’s global economy, risk and price volatility are urgent concerns of both customers and suppliers. The dedicated team of risk management experts at World Fuel Services provides solutions.

Uniquely positioned by our global presence, singular focus, and organizational expertise, our team designs comprehensive, creative and effective risk management programs customized to client needs.

(www.wfscorp.com => World Fuel Services Corporation)

[G Larry]

Wouldn’t the MSM have at least mention the derailment, before it became a factor in the discussion?

oh....maybe even show the 10 min. video once?????

perhaps a 30 second excerpt????

[thackney]

I wouldn’t know. I quit getting news from such sources a long time ago.