1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Short Line Railroad Safety Enhancement Act of 2014”.
Short Line Railroad Safety Enhancement Act of 2014
A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of Transportation to partner with industry to strengthen the safety culture and safety practices of short line and regional freight railroads.
2. Findings
Congress makes the following findings:
The use of new oil recovery techniques, particularly in regions without a sufficient number of developed pipeline networks, has led to rapid growth in the transportation of crude oil by rail.
Recent accidents in North America involving trains carrying crude oil, such as the July 2013 tragedy in Lac-Megantic, Quebec, have brought the need for enhanced safety into focus.
Short line and regional railroads have workforces and resources that are much smaller than large Class I railroads, but these railroads are expected to handle the same commodities safely.
Cooperative safety reviews, assessments, and training approaches can enhance safety by fostering an enhanced safety culture. Cooperation between industry and the Federal Railroad Administration’s Research and Development Program would enhance rail safety with respect to the transportation of crude oil by rail and in all other areas of rail transportation.
3. Short line and regional railroad safety grants
Section 20108 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(d) Short line and regional railroad safety training initiative
“(1) Grants authorized—The Secretary may award grants to private or nonprofit organizations involved in, or affiliated with, transportation by Class II and Class III railroads.
“(2) Use of funds—Grant funds awarded under this subsection shall be used for research, development, evaluation, and training efforts that are designed to enhance rail safety practices and safety culture.
“(3) Authorization of appropriations
“(A) Fiscal year 2015—There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2015 for grants under this subsection.
“(B) Fiscal years 2016 through 2019—There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2016 through 2019 for grants under this subsection.
“(C) Availability—Amounts appropriated pursuant to this paragraph shall remain available until expended.”