Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Tank Car Safety and Security Act of 2015”.
Tank Car Safety and Security Act of 2015
A BILL
To ensure the safety of DOT–111 tank cars by improving standards for new tank cars and upgrading existing tank cars, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 DOT–111 tank car improvements
In general— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall revise regulations regarding DOT–111 tank cars to—
improve the tank car design standards for new cars to include an outer steel jacket around the tank car and thermal protection, full-height head shields and high-flow capacity pressure relief valves; and
require additional safety upgrades to tank cars built after October 2011 by including installation of high-flow-capacity relief valves and design modifications to prevent bottom outlets from opening in the case of an accident.
Security Enhancements— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration shall issue such regulations as are necessary to enhance the security of tank cars by requiring that all rail safety coordinators ensure that no tank car containing crude oil is left unattended during any period of time that such tank car is being transferred between railroad carriers or between a railroad carrier and a shipper.
Phase out plan— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall submit a plan to the appropriate committees of Congress to phase out, on an aggressive basis, older-model DOT–111 tank cars used to move flammable liquids that are not retrofitted to meet new Federal requirements established under this section.