• Home
  • News
    • Politics / Govt
    • Legislature
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
    • Archives
  • Sports
    • Badgers
    • Packers
      • Titletown Report
    • Brewers
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support

Wisconsin Radio Network

Wisconsin News and Sports

You are here: Home / Legislature / Lawmaker wants train operators to help with derailment readiness

Lawmaker wants train operators to help with derailment readiness

December 8, 2015 By Andrew Beckett

File photo

File photo

Concerns about trains carrying hazardous materials through Wisconsin are prompting a new legislative push at the state Capitol.

A bill from state Representative Jill Billings (D-La Crosse) would require railroad operators to provide hazmat training to local fire department located along their lines. “The railroads go through the heart of many of our cities,” the La Crosse Democrat said, “and I’ve hear from citizens concerned over the possibility of a derailment and what we can do to make it as safe as possible.”

Introduction of the bill follows a pair of derailments earlier this fall, in which two trains jumped their tracks in separate incidents, spilling thousands of gallons of ethanol and crude oil. Billings said she had been working on the legislation for some time before those incidents though, due to increased traffic in recent years. “I think there’s a sense of heightened urgency…toward making sure that we are keeping our residents as safe as possible,” she said.

The legislation also calls for increasing the number of inspectors in the state railroad commissioner’s office and sets exact time requirement for how quickly operators must respond to a derailment. Billings said it’s just common sense to have clear protocols in place.

The Wisconsin Railroad Association has come out against the proposal. In a statement released earlier this fall, the group said the bill “duplicates many of the safety and preparedness protocols already in place within the railroad industry. It also adds an addition layer of government regulations on an industry already regulated at the federal level. The redundancies in this proposal increase costs to agriculture, manufacturing and retail in Wisconsin with no added public safety benefit.”

The bill, which has bipartisan support, is currently awaiting a committee hearing at the Capitol.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Legislature, News



Featured Stories

Future of abortion in Wisconsin hinges on SCOTUS ‘Roe’ decision

Juvenile arrested in connection with death of Lily Peters

Missing Chippewa Falls girl found dead, police seek suspect

Medical marijuana legislation gets public hearing at Capitol

Tommy Thompson announces he will not run for governor

TwitterFacebook

Sports Headlines

Giannis breaks franchise scoring record, Bucks beat Nets in OT

Wisconsin’s Davis declares for NBA Draft

Badgers to face Arizona State in Las Vegas Bowl

Williams likely out for the season with broken hand

Packers releasing TE Jace Sternberger

More Sports

Tweets by @WRN

Get our news delivered to your inbox:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Copyright © 2022 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC

 

Loading Comments...