July 23, 2014

Statement From Mayor Emanuel On Proposed DOT Rule For The Safe Rail Transportation Of Crude Oil, Flammable Materials

Mayor's Press Office    312.744.3334

"From his first days in office, Secretary Foxx has been an active leader in the effort to keep our communities safe from rail accidents involving crude oil shipments, including his work to increase the transparency of rail shipments and obtain important testing data from oil companies. Today's release of the proposed DOT Safe Transportation of Crude Oil and Flammable Materials rule is another very important step to reduce the risk of catastrophic disasters in our Cities, as the rule includes a comprehensive approach to improve tank car and train safety, bolster testing and classification standards and provide safety information to emergency responders. I, along with the Mayoral Rail Safety Coalition, applaud this critical step and look forward to working with Secretary Foxx, Congress and others to make our rail infrastructure safer, strengthen classification standards for hazardous materials, provide resources our first responders need and ensure companies involved in oil production and shipment are playing by the rules and are prepared to share in the responsibility for reducing the risk of potential accidents."

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