01.15.14

Hoeven: DOT Must Issue Timely Standards on Tanker Car Construction

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement in response to the Department of Transportation’s disclosure today that it will not finalize rules governing the construction of rail tanker cars until sometime after January 2015:

“The DOT today indicated it will not finalize rules governing the construction of new rail tanker cars until sometime after January 2015. We are concerned that unless DOT provides guidance sooner, the timeline will be too long for industry to transition to newer, safer tanker cars in a timely way. We initially asked for expedited rules in December 2012, and now we are learning that the finalized rule won’t be ready for another year. Industry needs regulatory certainty to make the investments necessary to move forward.

“This week, we will meet with DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx and industry leaders to try to determine what and when sufficient guidance will be available prior to the finalized rule so that industry can begin to transition as soon as possible. Also, I will be speaking with Office of Management and Budget Director Sylvia Burwell, who reviews the proposed rule prior to its release, to see if it can be provided to the public sooner. The federal agencies working on this issue need to devote the necessary resources to get it done in a timely way. In addition, we are evaluating legislation to further advance the timeline, as well.”