Debate over tank cars carrying hazardous materials

Journal Article · Wed Apr 12 00:00:00 EST 1978 · Chem. Week; (United States)

OSTI ID:7141531

U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) hearings in Apr. 1978 generated heated controversy over whether to accelerate the deadline for installation of safety equipment for tank cars carrying hazardous materials. J. King (NTSB) maintained that it would be feasible to order installation of head shields and couplers (required by the Department of Transportation (DOT)) by the end of 1978, rather than the current Jan. 1982 deadline; and demonstrated his point by having two workers install couplers in about six minutes and head shields in 1.5 hr on a tank car model. Railroads have contended that those operations take a day to perform on new cars. According to the agency, a DOT requirement for insulation of tank-car bodies will delay the feasible installation date. According to G. C. Falcone (API), older tank cars require 45-60 days to retrofit. B. Adams (DOT) has opened an official agency inquiry into the deadline issue.

• OSTI ID: 7141531
• Journal Information: Chem. Week; (United States), Vol. 122:15
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
RAIL TRANSPORT
RAILROAD CARS
SAFETY ENGINEERING
US DOT
TRANSPORT REGULATIONS
HEARINGS
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENGINEERING
LAND TRANSPORT
MATERIALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
REGULATIONS
TRAINS
TRANSPORT
US ORGANIZATIONS
VEHICLES
290700* - Energy Planning & Policy- Transport & Storage