Few Iowa emergency responders ready for crude oil train derailment

As Iowa emergency responders wait to learn how much crude oil is coming through their counties, most say they don’t have enough supplies to fight a fire from even one tank car — much less a unit train carrying 35 cars of extra-flammable crude. Crude oil from the Bakken region of North Dakota, Montana and Canada fueled fires and explosions during several train derailments in the past year.

Source: The Gazette (Cedar Rapids)

Posted on: June 28, 2014

Outdated cars haul dangerous loads in Iowa

DOT-111 tank cars are used to carry ethanol, crude oil and other hazardous liquids across the country despite concerns about the cars’ risk of puncture and fire in a derailment. Several high-profile train wrecks, including a one that killed 47 people, have renewed scrutiny of the DOT-111s, regarded in Iowa and across the nation as the workhorse of the energy industry.

Source: The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette

Posted on: May 19, 2014