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Sen. Bob Casey announces new legislation for ‘bomb trains’

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Explosions and massive balls of fire that can be seen for miles… These are the types of accidents, caused by Bakken crude oil, that stat...

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Explosions and massive balls of fire that can be seen for miles… These are the types of accidents, caused by Bakken crude oil, that state and national leaders are trying to prevent. Chances are if you live in or around Harrisburg, you've seen them. 25 of them travel on Harrisburg's tracks every week.

The Department of Transportation announced a new set of rules for all trains that carry crude oil on Friday. And now, just three days later, U.S. Senator Bob Casey is pushing for even tighter guidelines with new legislation that he says will better protect the public.

Sen. Casey says the new set of rules that the DOT released on Friday is a step forward, but it's not enough. He wants to cement those rules by passing his own.

"The derailments indicate that we've got a problem," said Sen. Casey.

The new set of rules announced Friday require the tanker cars that carry crude oil to be upgraded to a newer safer car. But, Casey's legislation takes that one step further and establishes a $175 fee for each shipment carried by the older tank cars. Among other things his legislation also gives a tax credit to companies that upgrade to the newer cars before 2019.

"There's a - I think a legislative prerogative here that we need to make sure that we take advantage of," said Sen. Casey.

If passed by Congress, Casey's legislation requires more training and educational programs. But, that's something that crews here in PA have already become familiar with.

"The additional help and assistance from the training aspect as well as the safety of the new cars will be much appreciated and I'm sure will alleviate a lot of fears and concerns from many of the residents in the commonwealth have as this moves forward," said fire commissioner, Tim Solobay.

Casey says the fee he wants to impose on the older tanker cars would go towards clean up costs from oil accidents, and preparedness and training grants for first responders in communities where large quantities of crude oil travel.

There's no word on if Harrisburg is one of those areas.

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