American Petroleum Institute (API) President and CEO Jack Gerard has met with Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx, federal regulators, and representatives from the rail industry in order to discuss ways to improve the safety of transporting crude by rail.
‘Prevention must be part of our focus by keeping trains on the tracks and preventing rail accidents in the first place. Strong railcars are an important part of the equation, but the first step is to address the root causes of rail accidents’, Gerard commented following the meeting.
‘API has led the way in improving safety of rail tank cars by building since 2011 next generation tank cars that exceed federal standards. These new cars already make up nearly 25% of the crude tank car fleet and will be 60% by 2015.
‘The oil and natural gas industry will continue to work with regulators and the rail industry to make shipment by rail even safer’, he added.
Adapted from a press release by Emma McAleavey.