Rail Safety Act

Bill: 114-hr-4397
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Kind, Ron [D-WI-3]
Introduced: 2016-01-28
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Accidents

Emergency planning and evacuation

Fires

Hazardous wastes and toxic substances

Oil and gas

Railroads

Transportation safety and security

User charges and fees
Latest action: action_date: 2016-01-29
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.

Summaries:
action_date: 2016-01-28
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Rail Safety Act</strong></p> <p>This bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to develop and preposition caches of emergency response equipment, which may include firefighting equipment and fire suppression agents, to facilitate the rapid deployment of resources needed to reduce damage to life, property, and the environment in the event of an accident involving rail tank cars transporting hazardous material, crude oil, or flammable liquids.</p> <p>Such caches shall be strategically prepositioned along rail routes over which a high volume of high-hazard trains operate in a manner that lowers the response time of firefighters to fight fires involving flammable liquids and to prevent such fires from spreading. FEMA may collect fees from railroad carriers to develop and preposition the caches.</p>

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4397 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 28, 2016 Mr. Kind introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide for caches of emergency response equipment to be used in the event of an accident involving rail tank cars transporting hazardous material, crude oil, or flammable liquids.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Rail Safety Act . 2. Prepositioning of emergency response equipment (a) In general Not later than 6 months after the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall develop and preposition caches of emergency response equipment to facilitate the rapid deployment of resources needed to reduce damage to life, property, and the environment in the event of an accident involving rail tank cars transporting hazardous material, crude oil, or flammable liquids. (b) Contents The caches described in subsection (a) may include— (1) firefighting equipment; (2) fire suppression agents; and (3) any other safety equipment considered necessary by the Administrator to respond to railroad accidents involving hazardous material, crude oil, or flammable liquids. (c) Location The caches described in subsection (a) shall be— (1) located along rail routes over which a high volume of high-hazard trains operate; and (2) strategically prepositioned along such routes in a manner that lowers the response time of firefighters to— (A) fight fires involving crude oil and other flammable liquids; and (B) prevent such fires from spreading. (d) Consultation In determining the contents of the caches under subsection (b) and the location of the caches under subsection (c), the Administrator shall consult with the Secretary of Transportation, appropriate State and local governments, railroad carriers, and local first responders. (e) Fee collection The Administrator may collect fees from railroad carriers, as appropriate, to develop and preposition the caches under subsection (a). (f) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.