PHMSA extends comment period for rail tank car proposal

Washington – The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has extended the comment period on a proposal to enhance the safety and durability of rail tank cars used to transport hazardous materials.

The original deadline to submit comments was Nov. 5. In response to environmental group requests for an extension, PHMSA moved the deadline to Dec. 5. The proposal was made partly in response to recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board regarding a common non-pressure tank car model used to transport ethanol and crude oil, designated DOT 111. The board found that this tank car model is vulnerable to ruptures based on investigations of several recent train derailments.