Industries & Department of Transportation Agree Prevention Is Key to Improving Rail Safety

WASHINGTON, January 16, 2014 – API President and CEO Jack Gerard made the following statement after meeting today with Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx, federal regulators, and representatives from the railroad industry to discuss ways to improve the safety of transporting crude oil by rail.

“Rail safety is vitally important,” said API President and CEO Jack Gerard. “As Secretary Foxx said today, prevention must be part of our focus by keeping trains on the tracks and preventing rail accidents in the first place. Strong rail cars are an important part of the equation, but the first step is to address the root causes of rail accidents.

“API has led the way in improving the safety of rail tank cars by building since 2011 next generation tank cars that exceed federal standards. These new cars already make up nearly 25 percent of the crude oil tank car fleet and will be 60 percent by 2015. The oil and natural gas industry will continue to work with regulators and the rail industry to make shipment by rail even safer.

“The domestic energy revolution has given Americans a unique opportunity to take control of our energy future. Families and workers across the country are benefitting from new jobs, greater revenue to the government, and our strengthening energy security.”

API represents all segments of America’s oil and natural gas industry. Its more than 580 members produce, process, and distribute most of the nation’s energy. The industry also supports 9.8 million U.S. jobs and 8 percent of the U.S. economy.