The Association of American Railroads (AAR) responded to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) proposed rulemaking on the safe movement of flammable liquids by rail, including crude oil and ethanol.  While AAR is examining the details of the proposed rulemaking and will provide full comments at a later date, President and CEO Edward R. Hamberger today made the following statement:  “This long-anticipated rulemaking from DOT provides a much-needed pathway for enhancing the safe movement of flammable liquids in the U.S.  Railroads are playing a critical role in our country’s progress toward energy independence, moving more energy products like crude oil and ethanol than ever before. 

“The fact that the proposed rule incorporates several of the voluntary operating practices we have already implemented demonstrates the railroad industry’s ongoing commitment to rail safety. We look forward to providing data-driven analyses of the impacts various provisions of the proposal will have on both freight customers and passenger railroads that ship millions of tons of goods and serve millions of commuters and travelers across the nationwide rail network every day.”