Virginia Senators push for oil transit reform

Virginia Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine are putting major pressure on Federal regulators to move quickly to finalize and publish new safety regulations on oil trains. 

The Office of Management and Budget is considering new proposed regulations from the Department of Transportation, but final regulations are not expected to be released until spring.

The recent push comes after a massive train derailment in Mount Carbon, West Virginia that evacuated hundreds of families from their homes. Senator Kaine also referenced the Lynchyburg train derailment in April of 2014.

In both incidents, Bakken crude oil was being transported.

Senator Kaine said, "the sooner these standards are in place, the sooner manufacturers can bring safer tank cars to market....Until then, thousands of Virginians along this route bear the risk of future accidents."

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