A Senate Resolution urging the United States Department of Transportation to prohibit the transport of crude oil through populated areas of New Jersey.

Whereas, The transport of crude oil has increased more than 4,000 percent in North America in the past six years as a result of the increased production of crude oil from the Bakken Shale formation in North Dakota; and

Whereas, Due to limits in oil pipeline capacity, the majority of crude oil from the Bakken Shale formation is transported by rail; and

Whereas, An estimated 30 million gallons of crude oil per week are transported by rail from North Dakota to refineries and storage facilities in New Jersey and neighboring states, traveling through some of New Jersey's most densely populated areas; and

Whereas, Approximately 7 million gallons of crude oil per day are transported by rail through the Bergen county municipalities of Northvale, Norwood, Harrington Park, Closter, Haworth, Dumont, Bergenfield, Teaneck, Bogota, Ridgefield Park and Ridgefield; and

Whereas, The National Transportation Safety Board, which is the federal agency responsible for investigating transportation accidents, has designated many of the rail tank cars that carry crude oil as substandard for carrying highly flammable liquids, including crude oil from the Bakken Shale formation, which has a lower flash point than other crude oils and is more prone to ignite in a rail accident; and

Whereas, The July 2013 train derailment of rail tank cars carrying crude oil in Lac-Mégantic, Québec, which caused the deaths of 47 people, the evacuation of thousands of people, and the destruction of many homes and businesses, provided a clear example of the devastation that crude oil train derailments can cause; and

Whereas, The transportation of large quantities of crude oil by rail creates public health and safety risks for New Jersey residents who live near railroads; and

Whereas, The United States Department of Transportation is evaluating new safety regulations that address the transport of crude oil by rail but do not include the outright prohibition of transporting crude oil near populated areas; and

Whereas, With the great risk to public health and safety that is created by the transport of large quantities of crude oil, this House opposes the transport of crude oil through the populated areas of New Jersey and supports the municipalities that have called upon the United States Department of Transportation to place a moratorium on the practice; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:

1. This House urges the United States Department of Transportation to prohibit the transport of crude oil through the populated areas of New Jersey.

2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the President of the United States, the Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation, and each member of the United States Congress elected from this State.

STATEMENT

This resolution urges the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) to prohibit the transport of crude oil through populated areas of New Jersey.

As a result of the increased production of crude oil from the Bakken Shale formation in North Dakota, the transport of crude oil has increased in North America. Due to limits in oil pipeline capacity, a majority of the crude oil from the Bakken Shale formation is transported by rail.

An estimated 30 million gallons of crude oil per week are transported by rail from North Dakota to refineries and storage facilities in New Jersey and neighboring states with approximately 7 million gallons per day traveling through some of New Jersey's most densely populated areas. The transportation of large quantities of crude oil creates public health and safety risks for the New Jersey residents who live near railroads.

The USDOT is evaluating new safety regulations that will address the transport of crude oil by rail but do not include an outright prohibition of transporting crude oil near populated areas. The proposed safety regulations are insufficient as complete public safety measures as the transport of large quantities of crude oil creates a great risk to public health and safety in the populated areas of New Jersey.