Recent oil train accidents have drawn attention to the safety of oil tankers, train tracks and ability of first responders to effectively manage oil train accidents.

Chicago Tribune reports that on May 1, the federal government revealed new regulations concerning the safety of rail cars. These regulations include thermal insulation and pressure relief valve. Critics claim that the new regulations don’t provide enough protections for heat and fire, though.

In addition to the new rules, the U.S. Department of Transportation kept a rule from 20 years ago that tank cars must be able to survive being engulfed in a pool-type oil fire for a minimum of 100 minutes. Some industry groups are pushing for that rule to be expanded to 800 minutes.

The 100 minute time was established for first responders to be able to assess the derailment and evacuate the public, but the more time, the better for first responders, especially since it is unlikely that a fire would last for only 100 minutes.

Via: Chicago Tribune > New rules for oil tank cars don’t offer enough fire protection, experts say

More about oil trains

• Amount of Bakken crude oil transported through Ohio by rail raises concerns April 3, 2015
• Oil & rail industries develop crude-by-rail safety course for first responders March 27, 2015
• Senator Casey advocates for better training of first responders to oil train accidents March 17, 2015
• Fayette County train derails, sends crude oil tanker cars into Kanawha River Feb. 16, 2015
• Bakken oil passes through Ohio on way to East Coast refineries Feb. 3, 2015
• Rail meets the shale oil industry July 18, 2014