Tank Car Safety and Security Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-1789
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Payne, Donald M., Jr. [D-NJ-10]
Introduced: 2015-04-14
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Department of Homeland Security

Department of Transportation

Hazardous wastes and toxic substances

Oil and gas

Railroads

Transportation safety and security
Latest action: action_date: 2015-04-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Transportation Security.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-04-14
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Tank Car Safety and Security Act of 2015 </b></p> <p> 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 Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration to issue regulations to require that all rail safety coordinators ensure that no tank car containing crude oil is left unattended during any period that it is being transferred between railroad carriers or between a railroad carrier and a shipper.</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 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1789 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 14, 2015 Mr. Payne (for himself, Ms. Norton , Mr. Rush , Mr. Connolly , Ms. Slaughter , and Mrs. Watson Coleman ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure , and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 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 and Security Act of 2015 . 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 the 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) Security Enhancements Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration shall issue such regulations as are necessary to enhance the security of tank cars by requiring that all rail safety coordinators ensure that no tank car containing crude oil is left unattended during any period of time that such tank car is being transferred between railroad carriers or between a railroad carrier and a shipper. (c) 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.