HR 851 Introduced – ECP Brakes

Last month Rep. Herrera-Beutler introduced HR 851, the Oil and Flammable Material Rail Transportation Safety Act. This bill would reinstate the electronically-controlled pneumatic brake provisions of 49 CFR 174.310 for highly-hazardous flammable unit trains (HHFUT). This bill is identical to HR 7076 from last session. Since Herrera-Beutler is still not on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the committee to which this bill was assigned for consideration, this bill will die from lack of attention unless she attracts a cosponsor assigned to that Committee.

Bills Introduced – 01-29-19

Yesterday with both the House and Senate in session there were 58 bills introduced. One of these will receive additional mention in this blog:

HR 851 To reinstate requirements pertaining to electronically controlled pneumatic brake systems on high-hazard flammable unit trains, and for other purposes. Rep. Herrera Beutler, Jaime [R-WA-3]

Interestingly, ECP brakes were required on HHFT by an act of Congress and then Congress required DOT to conduct a detailed cost benefit analysis of the requirement in subsequent legislation. The results of that analysis resulted (as directed by Congress) in the elimination of the ECP brake requirement. Herrera-Beutler represents a district that is strongly opposed to the transit of crude-oil trains through their communities.