Hazmat on the rails: A closer look
Despite what appears to be a rash of railroad incidents involving hazardous materials, the Association of American Railroads (AAR; Washington, DC) maintains that 1995 was the safest year in railroad history, even though rail freight traffic was at an all-time high. AAR says railroads have an especially good record when it comes to moving hazardous waste. Railroads in 1994 moved more than 1.6 million carloads of hazardous materials, yet only 43 cars released hazardous contents--fewer than one for every 37,000 cars moved, AAR notes. Preliminary figures indicate another 43 cars released hazardous materials in 1995. Not all rail car releases occur as a result of an accident or derailment. Nonaccident releases (NARs) can result from such problems as tank car overfilling, chemical reactions during temperature changes, or loose tank closures. The top 10 hazardous commodities are: sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid solution, anhydrous ammonia, liquefied petroleum gases, sodium hydroxide solution, flammable liquids not otherwise specified, corrosive liquids not otherwise specified, phosphoric acid, methyl tertiary butyl ether, and methanol.
- OSTI ID:
- 392285
- Journal Information:
- Environmental Solutions, Vol. 9, Issue 9; Other Information: PBD: Oct 1996
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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