Governor Cuomo Announces Latest Round of Rail Inspections
Crude Oil Track Defects Found and Corrected Throughout New York State
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo recenty announced the successful completion of
another round of targeted crude oil rail inspections intended to reduce
potential dangers associated with the transport of crude oil across New
York. Inspection teams examined approximately 140 miles of track and 87
switches. Overall, state and federal teams uncovered and addressed seven
critical defects and 32 non-critical defects.
“Rail inspections are a critical to the continued operation of New
York’s transportation network and vital to the safety of those who
live and work near these tracks,”
Governor Cuomo said. “This rigorous inspection schedule has enabled us to find and quickly
address defects in the system and we will continue to enforce strict standards
to keep New Yorkers safe.”
An inspection team from the New York State Department of Transportation
examined CSX mainline track between Ravena (Albany County) and Coxsackie
(Greene County); between Rome (Oneida County) and Canastota (Madison County);
in Rochester (Monroe County); between Blasdell and Alden (both in Erie
County); and between Lyons (Wayne County) and Port Byron (Cayuga County).
Inspections also examined Canadian Pacific-owned mainline track Willsboro
(Essex County) and Rouses Point (Clinton County); and between Albany (Albany
County) and Clifton Park (Saratoga County).
The inspections focused on track and track hardware.
During the inspections, two types of defects are identified: critical
and non-critical. Critical defects identify important maintenance issues
that must be addressed immediately, but do not necessarily indicate safety
lapses. Non-critical rail defects must be repaired within 30 days. All
tank car defects must be fixed before the train departs the yard. If that
is not possible, the affected car must be pulled from the train to await repair.
New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Matthew J. Driscoll said, “In partnering with the federal government and the railroad companies
we have made New York State safer and reduced the risk of transporting
volatile crude oil through the state. Governor Cuomo has made New York
State a leader in rail safety and we will continue to closely monitor
and improve our rail infrastructure.”
Since Governor Cuomo initiated this targeted inspection campaign in February
2014, the Department of Transportation and its federal partners have inspected
13,135 rail cars, including 11,127 crude oil tank cars, and 5,324 miles
of track, uncovered 1,817 defects, and issued 24 hazardous materials violations.
Track Inspection Results
CSX Mainline Track Inspection – Ravena to Coxsackie – Federal
Railroad Administration track inspectors examined approximately 10 miles
of track and four switches along the CSX mainline between Ravena and Coxsackie.
They found one critical defect for failing to ensure a mainline switch
was locked when not in use. No non-critical defects were identified.
CSX Mainline Track Inspection – Rome to Canastota – Department
of Transportation track inspectors examined approximately two miles of
track and 20 switches along the CSX mainline between Rome and Canastota.
They found 10 non-critical defects, including loose guard rail bolts,
missing guard rail end blocks, loose and missing bolts on switch transition
devices, insufficient fasteners at a rail joint and a missing cotter pin.
CSX Mainline Track Inspection – Rochester – Federal Railroad
Administration track inspectors examined approximately one mile of track
and seven switches along the CSX mainline in Rochester. They found one
critical defect – a center cracked joint bar – that was immediately
corrected. No non-critical defects were identified.
CSX Mainline Track Inspection – Blasdell to Alden – Department
of Transportation inspectors examined approximately 26 miles of track
and 29 switches along the CSX mainline between Blasdell and Alden. They
found two critical defects, including a broken wing rail on a switch transition
device and having less than two bolts per rail at a joint, both of which
have been repaired. Inspectors found 11 non-critical defects, including
loose bolts on a switch transition device, loose guard rail bolts, insufficient
fasteners, fouled ballast, loose adjustable rail braces and loose switch
rod bolts.
CSX Mainline Track Inspection – Lyons to Port Byron – Department
of Transportation inspectors examined approximately 22 miles of track
and 15 switches along the CSX mainline between Lyons and Port Byron. They
found two critical defects, including less than two bolts per rail at
a joint, and worn tread on a switch transition device, both of which have
been repaired. Inspectors found seven non-critical defects, including
loose switch rod bolts, loose guard rail clips, missing rail brace, missing
bolts on a switch transition device and missing cotter pins.
CP Mainline Track Inspection – Willsboro to Rouses Point –
Department of Transportation track inspectors examined approximately 49
miles of track and five switches along the Canadian Pacific mainline track
between Willsboro and Rouses Point. They found one non-critical defect,
a loose switch rod bolt.
CP Mainline Track Inspection – Albany to Clifton Park – Department
of Transportation track inspectors examined approximately 30 miles of
track and seven switches along the Canadian Pacific mainline track between
Albany and Clifton Park. They found one critical defect, a center cracked
joint bar, which has been repaired. Inspectors found three non-critical
defects, including missing bolts on a switch transition device, broken
bolts on a switch transition device and an insecure heel of switch.
Following a series of out-of-state disasters involving the transport of
crude oil by rail, New York State has taken a series of aggressive actions
to improve the safety and reliability of the practice.
In 2014, at the direction of Governor Cuomo, the New York State Departments
of Environmental Conservation, Transportation and Health, along with the
Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services and the Energy Research
and Development Authority conducted a coordinated review of safety procedures
and emergency response preparedness for crude oil shipments. The agencies
issued a report in April 2014 containing 27 recommendations for state
and federal government and industry to take to reduce risks and increase
public safety in the transport of crude oil.
In addition, Governor Cuomo's 2015 Opportunity Agenda and the 2015-16
New York State Budget included several measures to further prevent and
prepare for potential crude oil incidents. These include providing the
necessary funding for staff and associated preparedness costs by increasing
the Oil Spill Fund cap to $40 million from $25 million and allowing up
to $2.1 million of the Fund annually to be used for prevention and preparedness
measures. These changes support compliance with Governor Cuomo's Executive
Order 125, which outlines steps the state is taking to improve oil spill
response and prevention.
The state budget provided for eight new employees at the Department of
Environmental Conservation and six at the Office of Fire Protection and
Control dedicated to oil spill planning, training and response. The budget
also increased fees for oil transported through New York to 13.75 cents
per barrel from 12.25 cents for oil imported into the state, and 1.5 cents
for transshipped oil, irrespective of whether the oil remains in New York
or is transferred on to another State. In-state end users will be exempted
from the fee increase and will remain at 12.25 cents per barrel.
Governor Cuomo also initiated the hiring of five new Department of Transportation
rail safety inspectors, which has allowed the Department of Transportation
to increase its capacity to perform rail safety inspections across the state.
Other state actions include:
- Urging federal authorities to revise design specifications and expedite the phase-out of older, unsafe rails cars; implement more stringent standards to test crude oil; and review the routing of crude oil to ensure the most appropriate routes;
- Issuing fines to companies that fail to comply with state regulations related to derailments;
- Calling on federal authorities to expedite and strengthen rail safety standards and increase inspections; and
- Increasing the Oil Spill Fund cap from $25 million to $40 million and allowing up to $2.1 million of the Fund annually to be used for prevention and preparedness measures.
State and emergency response officials also participated in more than two dozen training exercises last year to better prepare our communities for potential crude oil disasters.