"The number of spills and other accidents from railroad cars carrying crude oil has skyrocketed in recent years, up from one or two a year early in the previous decade to 88 last year."
"Only four of those were classified as serious by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), and none involved injuries. So they didn't even approach the human tragedy caused by a runaway oil train in Quebec earlier this month.
But the jump highlights a side effect of crude oil production growing faster than pipeline capacity: more rail accidents. Much of the increase involves crude shipments from North Dakota, where booming Bakken Shale oil drilling is producing more oil than its limited pipelines can transport."
Mike Soraghan reports for EnergyWire July 17, 2013.
SEE ALSO:
"Crude on the Tracks: Oil Spills From Trains Skyrocket" (Grist)
"Deadly Derailment Won't Stop Oil on Trains" (AP)
"Oil Train Concerns in the Pacific Northwest" (Living On Earth)
"Oil Train Tragedy in Canada Spotlights Rising Crude Transport by Rail" (National Geographic News)
"Analysis: Quebec Rail Disaster Shines Critical Light on Oil-By-Rail Boom" (Reuters)
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