Federal Agency Urges Freight Rail Companies to Take Immediate Safety Measures to Inspect Protective Coverings Over Pressure Relief Valves

A federal agency has issued a new advisory urging major freight rail companies to take immediate safety measures to inspect the protective coverings over the pressure relief valves. This advisory, issued by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), a branch of the US Department of Transportation, does not mandate the measures.

The advisory comes as federal investigators probe further into the February 3 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, and the subsequent release of a toxic chemical. Cleanup efforts continue, and state and federal officials have told area residents that their air and drinking water are safe, even though some have been diagnosed with bronchitis and other problems that medical professionals suspect are linked to chemical exposure.

Several of the tank cars had aluminum coverings meant to protect the valves and relieve pressure from tank cars to prevent damage. Norfolk Southern officials released and burned off one particular cancer-causing chemical, vinyl chloride, to avoid an explosion.

It is not yet known whether the transport or disposal processes for the contaminated material poses any risk to people nearby, but its arrival nonetheless caught some officials off guard in distant states. The PHMSA advisory is meant to ensure that freight rail companies are taking the necessary safety measures to protect the public from any potential risks.