Crude oil rail cars, like the ones shown here, are becoming more prevalent on the nation’s rail lines, including those that run through Chautauqua County.

Senator Charles E. Schumer is gaining some allies in his effort to strengthen regulations regarding the transportation of crude oil over the country’s railways – some of which run through Chautauqua County.

On Thursday Schumer announced that – for the first time – Senators from six key states have joined together to urge the federal Office of Management and Budget – also known as OMB – to quickly finalize tough, new, and comprehensive standards for the movement of crude oil by train.

Schumer, along with fellow NY Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Senators from Ohio, Minnesota, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are now urging OMB to issue the strongest possible rules immediately, in order to protect the communities whose backyards these trains travel through each day.

U.S. Senator Charles Schumer

WASHINGTON – Senator Charles Schumer is using a recent train derailment in West Virginia as evidence that more needs to be done to ensure proper safety for the transportation of oil across our nation’s railways.

Schumer called on the Department of Transportation and the Office of Management and Budget Thursday to expedite the release of finalized rules and new comprehensive car standards for trains carrying oil in the wake of the West Virginia accident.

Schumer’s call comes after it was revealed that the crude-oil rail cars that were part of the massive explosion in West Virginia this week would likely not meet the proposed rules and new car standards that the federal Department of Transportation (DOT) is pursuing.

Schumer said it was critically important that OMB and DOT not weaken these rules as they are finalized, in light of the West Virginia accident.

Schumer said that the accident in West Virginia demonstrates yet again that weak, rupture-prone cars, are endangering communities and first responders throughout New York and across the United States, and he urged the DOT and OMB to finally release their rule.