As railroads replace pipelines

Life felt simpler when North Dakota was known primarily for ice fishing, Lawrence Welk and the Norsk Hostfest in Minot. Today, crude oil beneath the Bakken formation in western North Dakota has rejuvenated the state’s economy and driven down unemployment to the lowest in the country at 3.1 percent.

The trouble with Bakken crude (disregard its carbon footprint and the mess of hydraulic fracking for now) is that it’s highly flammable. The 2013 derailment of an oil train in Quebec and attendant inferno that killed 47 people brought into focus the perils of rail transport, particularly with older “DOT-111” tank cars. These aging carriers — around 80,000 are in use — are more likely to puncture than newer tank cars with sturdier hulls.

Bakken crude is an everyday feature of the Northwest landscape. Washington is the fifth-largest refining state in the U.S.

Shipments of Bakken crude into the Pacific Northwest began with zero fanfare two years ago, the Sightline Institute’s Eric de Place writes in an institute report, “The Northwest’s Pipeline By Rails.”

”So sudden was the region’s oil boom that companies found themselves with scant infrastructure,” de Place writes. “Railways seized the opportunity to play a role traditionally reserved for pipelines: moving large volumes of crude oil. The rail industry embarked on a breakneck campaign of building tanker cars as refineries and ports began hatching plans to receive the product from trains.”

Last week, at a hearing on rail safety before a Senate subcommittee, Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash, pushed for better federal oversight. The rail-industry’s non-compulsory safety agreement throws the question into relief.

“When you have a voluntary system, not everybody complies with it; what do you do about that?” Cantwell asked.

Sixty percent of aging tank cars will be phased out by the end of 2015, industry representatives said. Is that fast enough, while Bakken crude DOT-111 cars rumble through major population centers, from Spokane to Seattle?

“We’ve gone from four years ago — having basically nothing on rail by crude — to now having something like 408,000 carloads of crude,” Cantwell said. “Knowing when those DOT-111 cars are going to be off those rails — these cars that the National Transportation Safety Board has already said are unacceptable — this is a key issue for me and for my state.”

Standards to improve the DOT-111 cars are more than a year behind schedule, according to regulators. That needs to be stepped up, and teeth added to federal measures to hold the rail industry accountable. No excuses, no delays.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Opinion

toon
Editorial cartoons for Sunday, Feb. 16

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Rivian, based in Irvine, Calif., has introduced its new R2 models, smaller and more affordable SUVs. (Rivian)
Editorial: Open electric vehicle market to direct sales

Legislation would allow EV makers to sell directly to customers, making lease or purchase easier.

President Donald Trump listens alongside Elon Musk as he explains the administration’s cost-cutting efforts in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. Musk has for weeks posted on social media about government spending, often amplifying and seeding false information. (Eric Lee/The New York Times)
Comment: This crisis can’t be left to courts alone

The courts can uphold the law, but they can’t match the speed of the executive branch in tearing down systems.

Eco-nomics: Climate change is making insurance a risky bet

Keeping home insurance affordable amid climate change will take adaptation to threats and broader efforts.

The Buzz: When you gotta boogie, best to shake it off, kid

A pasquidadian review of the week’s news.

Stick with solutions to homelessness that have heart

A friend of mine, a poet from Leningrad who was born during… Continue reading

SAVE Act would restrict voting rights

As a mother, I am flabbergasted by the continued and increasing attacks… Continue reading

Solar for All program is very beneficial and should be kept

The recent Herald article about the $156 million grant for Solar for… Continue reading

Comment: Keeping health care fair, affordable as costs rise

Bills in the state Senate would look to control costs and keep decisions in the hands of providers.

Comment: Proposal takes a swipe at credit card swipe fees

State legislation would exempt taxes and gratuities from the fees that credit card firms charge businesses.

People walk adjacent to the border with Canada at the Peace Arch in Peace Arch Historical State Park, where cars behind wait to enter Canada at the border crossing Monday, Aug. 9, 2021, in Blaine, Wash. Canada lifted its prohibition on Americans crossing the border to shop, vacation or visit, but America kept similar restrictions in place, part of a bumpy return to normalcy from coronavirus travel bans. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Editorial: U.S. and Canada better neighbors than housemates

President Trump may be serious about annexing Canada, but it’s a deal fraught with complexities for all.

CNA Nina Prigodich, right, goes through restorative exercises with long term care patient Betty Long, 86, at Nightingale's View Ridge Care Center on Friday, Feb. 10, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Editorial: Boost state Medicaid funding for long-term care

With more in need of skilled nursing and assisted-living services, funding must keep up to retain staff.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.