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Sen. Brown calls for safer railroad regulations

Henry Molski
hmolski@enquirer.com
Cincinnati fire crews respond to the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge Thursday morning to investigate a reported chemical spill originating from a train car.

An early morning scare on the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge Thursday highlighted a problem that Sen. Sherrod Brown has been keen to fix for some time.

Officials were concerned that chemicals may have spilled from a train tanker car onto the roadway around 8:30 a.m. Workers in hazmat suits responded to the bridge, which was forced to close for more than an hour. The issue was later called "normal venting."

Minutes after the bridge reopened to traffic, Brown was busy calling for stronger safety standards for rail cars transporting hazardous materials in Ohio in a planned press conference at the Hamilton County Special Operations Center in Cincinnati.

"I just heard we had some type of a rail spill this morning," Brown said as he stepped behind a microphone to speak. "That was good timing."

Brown did not take the matter light heartedly. The senator noted that Ohio's position as the third most common state for rail accidents in the United States was unacceptable.

"We've seen too many derailments of trains with unsafe cars, often carrying crude oil and other hazardous material. It's time to put a stop to these dangerous and costly spills," Brown said. "That's why I introduced legislation that would help reduce risks to communities near railroad tracks by phasing out older tank cars, providing a tax credit to help companies upgrade to newer, safer cars, and helping communities better prepare for accidents."

Senator Sherrod Brown addresses the media in Cincinnati Thursday morning.

Also joining Brown on Thursday were Cincinnati Fire Department Chief Richard Braun and state Rep. Christie Bryant Kuhn. Both Braun and Kuhn spoke in support of Brown's efforts.

"This is another tool that will help us immensely," Braun said regarding new funds from Brown's proposal.

The legislation, cosponsored by Brown, plans to remove unsafe tank cars from service and give first responders in local communities the resources they need should any accidents occur.

The bill also provides funding to better equip communities and first responders after a rail accident.

This is not the first time Brown has spoken up for transportation legislation. In March, Brown wrote to the Office of Management and Budget and demanded that the office work with the Department of Transportation to finalize new standards first proposed last year.

In July 2014, Brown also applauded the proposed rule to increase safety standards on new and existing rail cars.