Tank Car Safety Act of 2014

Bill: 113-hr-4738
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Payne, Donald M., Jr. [D-NJ-10]
Introduced: 2014-05-22
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Department of Transportation

Hazardous wastes and toxic substances

Oil and gas

Railroads

Transportation safety and security
Latest action: action_date: 2014-05-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.

Summaries:
action_date: 2014-05-22
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>Tank Car Safety Act of 2014 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) to revise federal regulations regarding DOT-111 tank cars used to move flammable liquids to: (1) improve tank car design standards for new cars to include an outer steel jacket around it and thermal protection, full-height head shields, and high-flow capacity pressure relief valves; and (2) require additional safety upgrades to tank cars built after October 2011 by including installation of such valves and design modifications to prevent bottom outlets from opening in case of accident.</p> <p>Directs the Secretary to submit to Congress a plan to phase out older-model DOT-111 tank cars that are not retrofitted to meet the new federal requirements.</p>

tv_txt: I 113th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4738 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 22, 2014 Mr. Payne introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To ensure the safety of DOT–111 tank cars by improving standards for new tank cars and upgrading existing tank cars, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Tank Car Safety Act of 2014 . 2. DOT–111 tank car improvements (a) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall revise regulations regarding DOT–111 tank cars to— (1) improve such tank car design standards for new cars to include an outer steel jacket around the tank car and thermal protection, full-height head shields and high-flow capacity pressure relief valves; and (2) require additional safety upgrades to tank cars built after October 2011 by including installation of high-flow-capacity relief valves and design modifications to prevent bottom outlets from opening in the case of an accident. (b) Phase out plan Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall submit a plan to the appropriate committees of Congress to phase out, on an aggressive basis, older-model DOT–111 tank cars used to move flammable liquids that are not retrofitted to meet new Federal requirements established under this section.