Merkley Blasts Trump Administration Move to Undo Key Oil Train Safety Protections

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the Trump administration Department of Transportation announced that it will roll back 2015 rules requiring enhanced safety for oil trains:

“Oil trains are rolling explosion hazards, and as we’ve seen all too many times—and all too recently in Mosier—it’s not a question of ‘if’ but ‘when’ oil train derailments will occur. Degrading oil train safety requirements is a huge step backward and one that puts our land, homes, and lives at risk.”