House approves cutting rail safety program from PSC budget - Grand Forks Herald
Ron Guggisberg, D-Fargo, asked the House to adopt a minority report to restore $970,000 for two rail safety inspectors and a rail safety manager to supplement the Federal Railroad Administration’s rail inspection program in the 2015-17 biennium. The proposed program grew out of concerns about rail safety after a December 2013 incident near Casselton in which more than 400,000 gallons of Bakken crude oil spilled or burned up when an oil train ignited after striking a derailed soybean train. The FRA has two full-time rail inspectors in North Dakota who also oversee parts of South Dakota and Montana, as well as eight part-time staff based in the state. Thirty states have rail inspection programs to supplement the federal program. Source: www.grandforksherald.com
