U.S. Representative Jim Bridenstine (R) says the Obama administration’s “war on energy” is continuing at the Department of Transportation through a newly proposed rule that he contends would dramatically hinder crude oil transport by rail. The congressman says it would severely limit throughput, impose huge costs on the industry and severely restrict transport capacity.
In a letter recently sent to Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, Bridenstine opposed the rule entitled, “Hazardous Materials: Enhanced Tank Car Standards and Operational Controls for High Hazard Flammable Trains.”
The GOP Representative from Tulsa issued a statement, saying “True to form in the Obama administration, the rule attacks the industry without attacking the root cause of the problems.” He said a study of freight derailments in the last decade found broken rails or track welds were by far the leading cause of derailments.
“The proposed rule largely neglects addressing the condition of the rails. Furthermore, the Administration has refused to approve construction of the pipelines that would alleviate crude rail transport.”
Bridenstine said pipeline transportation has long proven to be the cheapest, most efficient crude transportation mode.
