Democrats Propose New Regulations for Trains Carrying Hazardous Materials

Two House Democrats proposed a measure on Tuesday that would tighten regulations for trains carrying hazardous materials in response to the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, last month.
Reps. Ro Khanna (Calif.) and Chris Deluzio (Pa.) introduced the Decreasing Emergency Railroad Accident Instances Locally (DERAIL) Act after residents of their states were left worried about their safety and livelihoods.
The DERAIL Act (pdf) aims to broaden the definition of the “high-hazard flammable train” (HHFT) classification for trains carrying hazardous materials in a bid to ensure rail carriers take necessary safety precautions.
The legislation proposes to add Class 2 flammable gases to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) HHFT definition (pdf) and gives the Secretary of Transportation the authority to add other materials as necessary for safety….}