Train carrying oil derails near Oregon's Columbia river gorge

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Train carrying oil derails near Oregon's Columbia river gorge

Associated Press in Portland, Oregon
Friday 3 June 2016 22.58 BST

A train towing cars full of oil derailed on Friday in Oregon’s scenic Columbia river gorge, sparking a fire that sent a plume of black smoke high into the sky.

The accident happened around noon near the town of Mosier, about 70 miles east of Portland. It involved eight cars filled with oil, and one was burning, said Ken Armstrong, state forestry department spokesman. There were no fatalities or injuries.

It wasn’t immediately clear how much oil was spilling from the oil cars, or how much damage there might be to the area. Maia Bellon, director of Washington state’s Department of Ecology, says no oil has been spotted in the Columbia River.

Environmentalists reacted quickly to the accident and called it a reminder of why oil should not be transported by rail.

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Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jun/03/oregon-oil-train-derails-columbia-river-gorge

[progressoid]

1. Ok so,

oil transported by rail is bad. Oil by pipeline is bad. Oil by tanker is bad.

How exactly are we going to get our oil transported then?

[AuntPatsy]

2. The problem is lack of enforced safety regulations, no one wants to part with money

that would ensure they remain or get richer, fear of the cost of safety first is what ensures these accidents, then insurance steps in and covers expenses for those safety failures made legal by present day bought and paid for politicians....

The reasons why these accidents continue....