To: Anthony Foxx, Secretary of Transportation, US Department of Transportation
Ban Oil Trains
Illinois PIRG
The oil train disaster in Galena Illinois is the latest example of an exploding oil bomb derailing and putting our communities at risk. These trains travel through residential areas, major cities, and near millions of people. It's time to ban oil trains before another disaster happens and even more damage is done.
Why is this important?
The increasingly common practice of transporting crude oil by rail poses a significant risk to the health, well-being, and safety of our communities. The U.S. Department of Transportation recently predicted 10 crude oil train derailments per year for the next twenty years, leading to possible damages in the billions and deaths in the hundreds. With an estimated 40 crude oil trains traveling through the Chicago area each week and more through countless smaller communities around Illinois, the time for reform is now.