Monday, August 25, 2014

Stabilizing Bakken crude; and plans for Short-Line safety institute


 

Does ND crude need to be stabilized?

What can be done to keep trains from becoming "Bakken bombs?"



8/25/14  April Baumgarten, Forum News Service  Prairie Business

DICKINSON, N.D. - What can be done to keep trains from becoming "Bakken bombs?"
It's a question on the minds of many North Dakota residents and leaders, so much that some are calling on the state Industrial Commission to require oil companies to use technology to reduce the crude's volatility. The words are less than kind.
"Every public official in America who doesn't want their citizens incinerated will be invited to Bismarck to chew on the commissioners of the NDIC for failing to regulate the industry they regulate," Ron Schalow of Fargo wrote in a Facebook message.
- See more at: http://www.prairiebizmag.com/event/article/id/20534/#sthash.n9NiIoPx.dpuf
DICKINSON, N.D. - What can be done to keep trains from becoming "Bakken bombs?"


It's a question on the minds of many North Dakota residents and leaders, so much that some are calling on the state Industrial Commission to require oil companies to use technology to reduce the crude's volatility. The words are less than kind.


"Every public official in America who doesn't want their citizens incinerated will be invited to Bismarck to chew on the commissioners of the NDIC for failing to regulate the industry they regulate," Ron Schalow of Fargo wrote in a Facebook message.... read more here


Rail News: Safety
FRA provides two grants to help develop a short-line safety institute


The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) will award two grants totaling $350,000 to support the development of a Short Line Rail Safety Institute, U.S. Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) announced late last week. The FRA confirmed the grants in a press release issued on Friday.

The senators earlier this year proposed the formation of a Short Line Rail Safety Institute to enhance short-line safety, including the transportation of crude oil and ethanol. On May 15, Murray and Collins sent a letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx expressing support for the institute, and in June they introduced legislation to authorize its formation.

The FRA will provide a $250,000 grant to the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association to begin the pilot phase of safety culture assessments. Pilot testing will begin in January 2015 and initially will focus on the safety of crude by rail.

The association plans to use the grant to conduct a comprehensive review of short lines' existing safety programs; use tools developed by the University of Connecticut to identify areas of non-compliance and help small railroads develop a safety culture; provide access to effective safety training processes, programs and resources; and develop large libraries of training tools, technical materials and other educational resources to assist small railroads in instilling a safety culture.

The FRA also will provide a $100,000 grant to the University of Connecticut to conduct initial work focusing on the development, testing and validation of safety education, training and related programs for short-line managers and employees......more here

 


Does ND crude need to be stabilized?

DICKINSON, N.D. - What can be done to keep trains from becoming "Bakken bombs?" By: April Baumgarten, Forum News Service
- See more at: http://www.prairiebizmag.com/event/article/id/20534/#sthash.n9NiIoPx.dpuf

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