How cities are handling surge in oil trains

Mile-long trains carrying millions of gallons of crude have become a common sight in cities around the U.S., raising concern about the possibility of a catastrophic derailment near crowded neighborhoods or critical infrastructure. In the wake of a half-dozen fiery crashes this year, The Associated Press surveyed nearly a dozen cities with populations of more than 250,000 to gauge how prepared they are to respond to an oil-train derailment. Emergency officials in every city say they're aware of the threat and are taking steps to address it, but the level of preparedness differs from city to city. ----- BUFFALO, NEW YORK - City does not have an emergency plan that specifically addresses oil trains, but says it's developing one. - City participated in tabletop exercise in 2015 sponsored by CSX and involving several agencies and contractors. - Railroad paid for tank car simulator and kits for capping leaks on pressurized railcars. - City discussed potential dangers with railroad. ----- CHICAGO - Has oil-train emergency plan. - Variety of tabletop exercises and training exercises have taken place in and around Chicago involving railroads, first responders and government officials. - City recently developed pilot training program for first responders. - Fire department has sent about 25 members to train in Colorado so far this year, paid for by railroad. - Mayor Rahm Emanuel proposed national hazardous materials freight fee on oil producers and industrial oil consumers to generate money for rail infrastructure and safety improvements. ----- CLEVELAND - Has oil-train emergency plan. - City took part in tabletop exercise involving derailment and hazmat release, but it wasn't specific to crude. - Planning underway for regional derailment tabletop exercise for 2016. ----- MILWAUKEE - City does not have a specific oil-train emergency plan, but its comprehensive plan includes procedures for containment and vapor suppression. City plans to draft a Milwaukee County Rail Response Plan. - Fire department provided basic training on crude shipments and accidents to more than 800 members. - Hazmat team has trained with specialists from railroads; members have also received training in Colorado. - City has met numerous times with railroads. - Railroads have paid for training, equipment, including foam trailer. ----- MINNEAPOLIS - No oil-train emergency plan; city relies on "major hazardous materials event" response plan. - City has conducted live training for rail incidents and sent hazmat team members to Colorado for oil response training. - Sen. Al Franken wants trains rerouted around Twin Cities. - Rail industry has paid for "awareness level training" for firefighters. ----- SEATTLE - Emergency plan has sections related to oil and hazardous materials. - City took part in King County's tabletop exercises in 2014 and 2015. City working with railroad to set up a Seattle-specific exercise later this year. - Fire officials, Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad met to discuss train tunnel under downtown; City Council asked railroad to restrict oil shipments along stadiums and through tunnel. - Railroad has paid for training, equipment. ----- NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - City has emergency response plan specifically for oil-train accidents. - Fire department's special operations and hazardous materials units took part in training scenarios based on response plan. - Railroad hasn't paid for training. ----- NEW ORLEANS - Emergency plan includes city-owned New Orleans Public Belt Railroad, a major rail line through city that connects with six private railroads. - Railroad has self-imposed speed limit of 10 mph to reduce likelihood, severity of derailments. - New Orleans Public Belt railroad provided tank car to fire department training academy. - Fire department has sent 12 members to train in Colorado, include six in 2015; railroads foot bill. ----- PHILADELPHIA - City has oil-train annex to hazardous materials emergency plan. - City held "functional exercise" with CSX railroad in October 2014. - Office of Emergency Management conducted internal training on crude oil emergencies that included mass notification and evacuation, activation of emergency shelters, overall emergency response coordination and recovery. - CSX has provided training to fire department. City intends more planning and training. ----- PITTSBURGH - No oil-train emergency plan, but city is adding section to existing emergency operations plan. - City plans to both meet with railroads and to introduce training exercises once emergency response guidelines are finished. - Hazardous materials team has attended railroad-sponsored tank car training. ----- SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - No oil-train emergency plan, but city says 2008 hazmat response plan is undergoing revisions. - City did tabletop exercise on June 4 with 70 participants from local, state agencies and railroads. - City meets about once a month with railroads. - Railroads paid to send four fire department employees to Colorado for crude-by-rail training. - City had been seeing as many as nine oil trains a week last year, but more recently there have been few, if any, trains passing through. Published: Tue, Sep 08, 2015