“As oil by rail shipments have increased in recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of incidents involving crude oil by rail. Nationally, rail incidents rose from several per year prior to 2010 to 155 in 2013, and 90 thus far in 2014. More crude oil by volume was spilled
in rail incidents in 2013 than was spilled in the nearly four decades prior.
California is experiencing similar trends, albeit on a smaller scale to date. Incidents involving oil by rail in California increased from 3 in 2011 to 25 in 2013; as of May, there have been 24 thus far in 2014.Total petroleum spills by rail in California (crude oil and other) increased from 98 in 2010 to 182 in 2013.
Most reported incidents document a relatively small volume of oil released, but as detailed below, the potential for high-consequence incidents will increase as
more oil is transported by rail.”
http://www.caloes.ca.gov/HazardousMaterials/Pages/Oil-By-Rail.aspx
By KATHRYN A. WOLFE and BOB KING 6/18/14
“In the 11 months since a runaway oil train derailed in the middle of a small town in Quebec, incinerating 47 people, the rolling virtual pipelines have unleashed crude oil into an Alabama swamp, forced more than 1,000 North Dakota residents to evacuate, dangled from a bridge in Philadelphia and smashed into an industrial building near Pittsburgh. The latest serious accident was April’s fiery crash in Lynchburg, Virginia, where even the mayor had been unaware oil was rolling through his city.” http://www.politico.com/story/2014/06/exploding-oil-trains-energy-environment-107966.html
CBC News Jun 20, 2014
BY RORY CARROLL Reuters June 18
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/06/18/usa-crude-rail-oakland-idUSL2N0OZ2GC20140618
AP June 18
The department orders railroads to provide specifics to state officials so responders can better prepare for emergencies.
“BILLINGS, Mont. — U.S. transportation officials said Wednesday that details about volatile oil train shipments are not sensitive security information, after railroads sought to keep the material from the public following a string of fiery accidents, including one last July in Lac-Megantic, Quebec, that killed 47 people.”
By Diane Bailey, Senior Scientist with Natural Resources Defense Council June 18, 2014
http://www.nrdc.org/energy/ca-crude-oil-by-rail.asp
Martinez Environmental Group 