Buttigieg urges U.S. railroads to boost safety, not oppose reforms
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[February 20, 2023]
By David Shepardson
(Reuters) -U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said Sunday he
would call on major railroads to improve safety after a Feb. 3
derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, of a train operated by Norfolk
Southern.
Buttigieg in a letter to Norfolk Southern Chief Executive Alan Shaw said
he would also urge Congress to raise the cap on fines against railroads
for violating safety regulations "to ensure their deterrent effect is
commensurate with the economic proportions of today's large railroad
companies."
Buttigieg said he would soon outline specific safety improvements
railroads should take immediately. He harshly criticized them for
lobbying against steps "intended to improve rail safety and to help keep
Americans safe."
"Major derailments in the past have been followed by calls for reform –
and by vigorous resistance by your industry to increased safety
measures. This must change," Buttigieg wrote.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Feb/20/images/ads/current/lccpreschool_quarter_EDUCATION_2023.png)
Buttigieg has faced harsh criticism from many Republicans in Congress
for his response to the derailment of the train loaded with toxic
chemicals that caused a fire and sent a cloud of smoke over the town
that forced thousands of residents to evacuate while railroad crews
drained and burned off chemicals.
No fatalities or injuries have been reported, but residents have been
demanding answers about potential health risks.
Buttigieg's letter emphasized "the urgent need for Norfolk Southern to
demonstrate unequivocal support for the people of East Palestine and the
surrounding areas."
Norfolk Southern said Sunday it "received a copy of the letter from the
secretary and are reviewing." Shaw said last week the railroad had
established an initial $1 million community support fund and distributed
$1.7 million in direct financial assistance to more than 1,100 families
and businesses to cover evacuation costs.
"We will not let you down," he told residents in a letter.
Buttigieg's letter said that in response to many derailments, two U.S.
agencies had finalized rules on high-hazard flammable trains and
Electronically Controlled Pneumatic (ECP) braking.
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![](../images/022023PIX/news_h83.jpg)
Drone footage shows the freight train
derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, U.S., February 6, 2023 in this
screengrab obtained from a handout video released by the NTSB.
NTSBGov/Handout via REUTERS
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Feb/20/images/ads/current/atlantabank_quarter_LUAL_2022.png)
"Rather than support these efforts to improve rail safety, Norfolk
Southern and other rail companies spent millions of dollars in the
courts and lobbying members of Congress to oppose common-sense
safety regulations, stopping some entirely and reducing the scope of
others," Buttigieg wrote.
"As a result, Congress enacted language that undermined the ability
of USDOT to sustain the ECP brake requirements, and they were
ultimately withdrawn under the Trump administration."
Buttigieg said he also planned to outline "prioritized actions
planned" by the U.S. Department of Transportation on rail safety.
In response to the derailment, U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chair
Maria Cantwell Friday opened an inquiry into railroad hazardous
materials safety practices.
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee said Friday it
planned to hold a hearing on the derailment.
In a letter to Shaw and CEOs of major railroad companies, Cantwell
said "every railroad must reexamine its hazardous materials safety
practices to better protect its employees, the environment, and
American families and reaffirm safety as a top priority."
The companies included Berkshire Hathaway's Burlington Northern
Santa Fe (BNSF), Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, CSX, Kansas
City Southern and Union Pacific.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Feb/20/images/ads/current/castlemanor_sda_FINANCIAL_2017.png)
A group representing major railroads said last week 99.9% of all
hazmat shipments reach their destination without incident and the
hazmat accident rate has declined by 55% since 2012.
(Reporting by David Shepardson in Franconia, New Hampshire; Editing
by Lisa Shumaker, Richard Chang and Diane Craft)
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