Federal investigators are pushing to speed up the removal of puncture-prone DOT-111 tank cars from trains, facing strong opposition from the rail and chemical industries.
Sarah Raza reports for The Washington Post.
In short:
- The 2013 Lac-Mégantic disaster, which caused the death of 47 people in Canada, renewed calls to phase out DOT-111 tank cars due to their safety risks.
- However, over 25,000 DOT-111 cars are still in use, with complete phase-out not expected until 2029.
- Industry opposition and cost concerns hinder the acceleration of their removal, despite repeated warnings to do so by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Key quote:
"We shouldn’t wait until 2029 to phase these out. We have recommendations we’ve issued since 1991 stating these should no longer be in service."
— Jennifer Homendy, NTSB chair.
Why this matters:
DOT-111 tank cars have been involved in numerous fatal derailments, posing ongoing risks. In fact, the East Palestine disaster last year in Ohio was initiated when three DOT-111 cars with flammable materials ruptured and started a fire after the derailment that led to the vent-and-burn of five vinyl chloride tank cars, investigators founds. Delays in phasing them out could lead to more preventable disasters, threatening communities and the environment.
