Safety Enhancements Implemented in Response to Recent Derailments

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Safety Enhancements Implemented in Response to
Recent Derailments

• A Proactive Approach

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The Accidents

• 1/18/02 Minot, ND
• 6/28/04 Macdona, TX
• 1/6/05 Graniteville, SC
• 1/31/05 Creighton, PA
• 7/10/05 Anding, MS
• 10/15/05 Texarkana, AR
• 10/20/06 New Brighton, PA
• 1/16/07 Sheperdsville, KY
• 3/12/07 Oneida, NY

Minot, ND
Graniteville, SC
Macdona, TX
Anding, MS
New Brighton, PA
Creighton, PA
Sheperdsville, KY
Texarkana, AR
Oneida, NY
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The Issues

• Railroad Operations
• Human Factors
• Dark (Non-signalled) Territory
• Track Conditions
• Joint Bars
• Plug Welds on CWR
• Hazmat
• Availability of Information
• Tank Car Survivability

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Rail Safety Action Plan

• Initiated in 2005
• Targets the most frequent, highest risk causes of
  train accidents
• Focuses FRA oversight and inspection resources
  more precisely
• Accelerates research efforts that have the
  potential to mitigate the largest risks.

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Accomplishments

• Published NPRM on Human Factors
• Validated Fatigue Measurement Model
• Close Call Pilot Initiated
• 2 New Track Geometry Vehicles
• Completed T/C Research
• Roll-out of Joint Bar Flaw Detection Technology
• Grade Crossing Public Meetings
• NOW/FreightScope System Implementation

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Hazmat Concerns

• Train Consist Accuracy
• The Ethanol Crisis
• Improving TIH Survivability
• Emergency Response Concerns

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Consist Accuracy Project
Original Project Started in 2003 Daytime showed
7.4 non-compliance rate Report Available on
FRAs website
Phase II of a Nationwide View Nights and
Weekends 150 Train Goal per Region 3 Month
Timeframe Response to Anding, MS
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2006 and Future Train Placement Accuracy
Activities

• Inspectors will conduct 10 quarterly random
  consist inspections at major yards.
• Verify standing order vs. consist order and
  shipping paper/emergency response contact
  accuracy.
• Write violations/individual liabilities where
  required.
• Communicate with train crews on the importance of
  updated and accurate consist information.

14.8 of Trains Had Missing Info
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1ST and 2ND Quarter Data
In general, we are ahead of our goals with and
seeing a positive change in compliance.
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Provision Specific Findings
Several issues emerge from a review of specific
data.
174.26(a) Position in Train
174.26(b) Shipping Information
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Ethanol ActivitiesAn Intervention

• Prioritized investigations (with root cause
  analysis).
• Working with new ethanol facilities at initial
  start-up.
• Improved training with regulated community.
• Increased communications with Emergency
  Responders.

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Ethanol Activities (Cont)

• ERPG Development Contract with CTEH
• Coordinated Transcaer Activities in IA/NE
• Push with RFA Safety Committee for Prevention

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TIH Enhancements

• Response to
• Minot, Macdona, Graniteville Accidents
• Industry Activity in 2006
• Public Outcry for Improvements

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TIH Enhancements

• Two-Fold Approach to improved TIH Transportation
  Safety
• Better Packages (Tank Cars)
• Operating Requirements to Reduce Risk
• Public Meetings
• 3 Held (2 in 2006, 1 in 2007)
• Next Public Meeting in July/August Timeframe
• Seek Industry Input into Process

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Where we were

• Prior approach was
• Careful balancing of costs and benefits
• Emphasis on working with existing tank car
  designs and design practices
• Weaknesses of the approach
• Societal costs are not reasonably foreseeable
  with any degree of precision
• Loss of public confidence and impact on ability
  to make wise transportation decisions cannot be
  quantified
• Working with existing design practices forecloses
  options

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Where we are going(Car Enhancements)

• Anticipate maximum forces under reasonably
  foreseeable circumstances closing speed 25
  mph
• Set performance standard to resist head/shell
  puncture or other catastrophic loss under those
  forces
• Apply to all cars carrying TIH materials
• Change out fleet within reasonable time frame,
  constrained by production capacity

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Where we are going(Car Enhancements)
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The Design Process
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Where we are going(Operations)

• Interim measure
• Possible speed restriction in dark territory
  based on
• Higher train mile collision risk
• Derailment risk absent broken rail detection
• Make exceptions for territories with PTC, SPMS,
  track integrity circuits, other measures?

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Emergency Response Enhancements Training

• Goal
• Faster Information to Help Emergency Responders
  during the First 15 minutes of an Incident
• Enhanced Training/Information Sharing
• Approach
• Access to CSX Network Operating System
• Freightscope Project
• Locomotive Emergency Response Video
• Transcaer Participation

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Non-Accident Releasesvs. Safe Shipments

• Railroads Transport approximately 1.7 million
  shipments of Hazardous Materials each year
• 85 of these shipments are in tank car quantities
• Approximately 600 shipments result in releases
  during transportation
• These are the top priority for the HM Division

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Non-Accident Releases
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Closing
Questions?
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Questions
Still have questions or concerns?

• Contact me at 202-493-6247
• Visit FRAs web page at www.fra.dot.gov
• E-mail me at Edward.Pritchard_at_DOT.GOV

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THANKS for listening to my slant on selective
rail topics