Rep. Ron Kind Applauds Higher Standards for Crude Oil Stabilization

Washington, DC – U.S. Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) welcomed the news that North Dakota regulators moved to strengthen the stability standards for Bakken crude oil beyond the standards enforced at the federal level. Rep. Kind has been a strong advocate for oil stabilization prior to shipment by rail.

“This improved safety standard is a step in the right direction. Now, the Department of Transportation needs to increase federal standards to ensure that the crude oil being shipped through our communities is as safe as possible,” said Rep. Kind. “In light of recent rail accidents in Wisconsin and elsewhere in the nation, there is real urgency to improve the way we transport crude oil. Moving forward, we need to enhance track inspections, upgrade our train tracks, and get community-wide transparency regarding the contents of these trains so everyone knows exactly what is passing through their neighborhoods.”

North Dakota’s Industrial Commission moved to require all Bakken crude oil producers to remove the most volatile components from the oil before it is shipped, making it even safer than current federal regulations call for. Stabilizing the oil reduces the vapor pressure within the tanks, making the oil less combustible.

Rep. Kind has been a vocal advocate for improved rail safety in Wisconsin and nationally. This summer, Rep. Kind sent a letter to DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx asking that his agency explore stabilizing crude oil before it is shipped. A copy of that letter can be read here. He followed up with a September letter to the DOT and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration with several suggestions for improving the safety of oil transportation, including improved tank car standards, reduced train speeds, increased transparency about tank car contents, and oil stabilization. That letter can be read here.