Latest news with #NationalResponseCenter
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Crews race to cleanup oil spill along Louisiana coastline
NEW ORLEANS – Nearly 200 personnel are working to contain an oil spill along the coast of Louisiana that threatens to pollute marshes around Plaquemines Parish. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the agency was alerted to a leaking well about 20 miles southeast of Venice over the weekend. A unified command was established and deployed thousands of feet of boom in an attempt to contain the oily residue. The agency reports that more than 23,000 gallons of oily water have been collected so far, and drone video shows streaks of a brownish-black substance along the shoreline. "Our top priority remains the safety of the public and our responders," Gregory Callaghan, a captain with the U.S. Coast Guard, said in a statement. "The Unified Command is working around the clock to secure the source of the discharge as safely and quickly as possible. We are committed to minimizing further impacts to the environment." New Satellite Imagery Reveals Expanse Of Oil Spill In Caribbean The exact amount of discharged oil remains unknown as crews continue efforts to plug the once-active well. Aerial surveillance by drones and helicopters has not detected any immediate health concerns for humans, as the impacted area is located some distance from communities. Officials remain concerned about the potential impact on wildlife, including birds, fish and other species that inhabit the marshlands. Authorities have not reported any significant harm to animal populations at this time, though the situation is still developing. Several hotlines have been established for boaters and the public to report sightings of oil or injured wildlife. The National Response Center can be reached at 800-424-8802, and the Wildlife Hotline can be contacted at 832-514-9663. Officials have not disclosed what may have triggered the well to start leaking, nor whether elevated water levels from the Mississippi River are complicating containment and cleanup efforts. 'It Unravels From The Bottom': Scientists Work To Save Louisiana's Shrinking Wetlands The current leak is significantly smaller than the Deepwater Horizon spill that devastated the Gulf Coast in 2010. During that incident, an estimated 134 million gallons of oil were released over 87 days, impacting coastal communities from Texas to Florida. Investigators determined that the historic spill was caused by an explosion triggered by the ignition of methane gas. NOAA reports that several environmental restoration projects remain ongoing and are expected to continue beyond article source: Crews race to cleanup oil spill along Louisiana coastline
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Second life for bills more broadly defining hazmat trains
Two rail-related hazardous materials safety bills have been reintroduced in Congress stemming from the East Palestine, Ohio, derailment of 2023. The legislation by Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Pa., broadens the definition of a 'high-hazard flammable train' and sets reporting requirements for railroads for derailments involving hazardous materials. It would also require railroads to reimburse first responders for costs resulting from derailments. Deluzio, Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and 14 other Democrats are co-sponsoring the Decreasing Emergency Railroad Accident Instances Locally (DERAIL) Act. It would define high-hazard trains to include a train with one or more loaded tank cars carrying a Class 3 flammable liquid such as gasoline or ethanol, or one with one or more cars of a Class 2 flammable gas, such as compressed hydrogen, ethylene or butylene. The bill would also require a railroad to report, within 24 hours, any derailment involving a train 'carrying material toxic by inhalation' to the National Response Center, as well as state and local officials. 'The DERAIL Act that I'm re-introducing with Rep. Khanna is an important step to finally strengthen our rail regulations and improve rail safety in western Pennsylvania, East Palestine, and across the country,' said Deluzio in a release. Khanna in a separate release said the bill 'will expand our safety regulations and help prevent future tragedies. Leaders from all parties must speak out loudly for better safety regulations.' A version of the bill introduced in February 2023 died in committee. Deluzio and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., are sponsors of the Assistance for Local Heroes During Train Crises Act, which would create a new Hazardous Train Event Emergency Reimbursement Fund. It would require railroads and shippers to contribute no less than $10 million annually to the fund through fees determined by the secretary of transportation. Emergency response entities would receive reimbursements of $250,000 to $3 million following response to a hazardous-materials rail emergency to replace equipment, cover overtime pay or address other expenses from such an emergency. 'It is time to make the railroads pay for the messes they cause in our communities,' Deluzio said in a release. 'This bill will help communities across the country better prepare for future derailments with improved information-sharing and will cover the cost of damaged equipment, overtime pay, and more — all paid for by the companies that ship and carry these materials.' Fitzgerald said the bill will 'ensure real accountability and give first responders the support they deserve. When crisis strikes, first responders step up — we must do the same for them.' The earlier version of the bill, introduced in April 2023, failed to advance beyond the House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials. Find more articles by Stuart Chirls builder CEO Tekorius appointed to Federal Reserve branch Weekly US rail traffic back ahead of 2024 levels ONE, LX Pantos in Boxlinks venture for US domestic intermodal The post Second life for bills more broadly defining hazmat trains appeared first on FreightWaves.
