Letter to The Honorable Joseph H. Boardman, Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration
The following is the text of Senator Clinton's letter:
The Honorable Joseph H. Boardman
Administrator
Federal Railroad Administration
United States Department of Transportation
1120 Vermont Avenue, N.W. - 7th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20005
Dear Mr. Boardman:
Today's train derailment in Oneida, New York is yet another troubling incident in what has become a series of rail accidents across New York. Even more concerning, this incident involved explosive and hazardous materials with the potential to cause widespread damage, injury and even loss of life. Today's accident should be a wake up call. We cannot continue to treat these derailments as isolated incidents. We need an investigation of railroad safety across the state to prevent the next derailment before it occurs.
Today's accident was just the latest in a series of recent rail incidents in New York. In early December of last year, two train derailments occurred in the cities of Cheektowaga and Buffalo. On January 16, 2007 a freight train transporting 30,000 gallons of liquefied propane was derailed in Maspeth, Queens. As a result, local businesses and homes were evacuated and a Long Island Railroad train was forced to divert its operation onto a different track. On the very same day in East Rochester, several cars carrying tractor trailers derailed, some of which ended up on locals lawns. As a result several homes were evacuated and power lines were downed leaving hundreds of people without power.
Earlier this year your agency announced an investigation into railroad safety in Erie and Chautauqua counties. In light of today's incident, I ask that you expand this investigation to include all of New York.
I hope you take my request into consideration. It is necessary for the security of all New Yorkers that railroads throughout the state run safely. I look forward to working with you to address this need as quickly as possible.
Sincerely yours,
Hillary Rodham Clinton
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