In the midst of the hazardous Norfolk Southern train derailment disaster in East Palestine, Ohio, a bipartisan coalition of senators is launching a new bill to strengthen rail safety.
The legislation was introduced on Wednesday, only days before a vital hearing with Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw, who has volunteered to speak before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, according to a source familiar with the case.
Republican Senators JD Vance of Ohio, Marco Rubio of Florida, and Josh Hawley of Missouri will present the Railway Safety Act of 2023, as will Democratic Senators Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Bob Casey, and John Fetterman of Pennsylvania.
According to a statement from the senators, the bill includes “new safety requirements and procedures for trains carrying hazardous materials like vinyl chloride,” a requirement for railways to provide advance notice to state emergency response officials about what their trains are carrying, requirements to prevent blocked railway crossings, and new rules for train size and weight.
The bill also increases detection and inspection to reduce the danger of wheel bearing failures. It includes a need for “well-trained, two-person crews aboard every train.” It also increases the maximum punishment for rail carriers who commit violations.
The bill also boosts grants for HAZMAT training and research and development by the Federal Railroad Administration, as well as financing for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s development of tank car safety features.
As it confronts criticism for its handling of the crash, the Biden administration has campaigned for similar reforms in the rail industry, advocating for congressional action.
“When it comes to rail safety, we’re focusing on lessons learned,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told AWN on Tuesday, blaming the rail sector for “(wielding) a lot of power in Washington.”
Buttigieg cited specific legislative actions sought by the administration, including raising the cap on fines for rail companies for safety violations, speeding up the timeline for bringing in fortified tank cars that are less likely to spill during a derailment, and granting the Transportation Department “a freer hand on things like breaking regulations and regulations on hazardous material transportation.”
Buttigieg has also urged train businesses to “join a close call reporting system that protects whistleblowers who detect vulnerabilities that could lead to accidents,” noting that “at the moment, not one freight railroad operator joins.”
