There’s nothing more romantic than the train whistle blowing as it chugs on the tracks through town until you think about what it is hauling. The Delaware Riverkeeper Network is providing the opportunity to learn more about crude oil transportation currently being moved by CSX rail through local towns including Hopewell and Pennington Boroughs.
On Thursday August 6th, Hopewell Borough Council will hear a presentation by Deputy Director of the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, Tracy Carluccio, who will provide more information including potential dangers to the public and environment. Delaware Riverkeeper Network is dedicated to the Delaware River Watershed, the protection and restoration of all its communities and represents individuals who live within and outside of the Watershed.
The focus will be both about prevention of oil spills as well as preparedness in the case of an emergency. Carluccio will give a background of the difference between oil transported by rail and gas transported by pipeline, explain the state of regulation including why the rate of oil transporting has ramped up significantly in volume and frequency in the past few years. She will talk about why the data about the routes, volume, number of trains and destinations is so difficult to attain from the United States Department of Transportation and will share what of this information has been released by the federal government. She will also explain tanker cars’ and designs and why this is not an appropriate method to transport oil.
And lastly, Carluccio will offer suggestions to the Borough Council on what protections are already in place, what the Borough can do to increase safety in the case there is an accident, and recommend passing a resolution.
The presentation will be at the Borough Council meeting next week on THURSDAY AUGUST 6, 2015 AT 7PM (note that council meetings are usually held on Mondays).
